State of Illinois - shorting Funding obligations to agencies serving people with developmental disabilities | June 21, 2012

Below is information from a few different sources...





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The News-Gazette article by Debra Pressey, staff writer

WASHINGTON — A national organization is calling on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to investigate the action being taken in Illinois that will short agencies serving people with developmental disabilities for one month of services provided in the current fiscal year ending June 30.

"Not only is such action morally unacceptable, we assert that it is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Supreme Court Olmstead Decision, as well as federal law and regulation governing the Medicaid program," states a June 20 letter to Sebelius from the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors.

The organization is calling for the investigation in response to a June 18 letter sent to agencies by Kevin Casey, director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities at the Illinois Department of Human Services.

The letter states Illinois can't pay for one month of services in the current fiscal year for day programs, child group homes, community living facilities, therapies, equipment, training and individual support services advocacy, and will be deferring payments and services into the new year after the new budget is finalized.

Providers were also warned to expect ongoing delays in payment at the comptroller's office.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said she will prioritize payments for programs serving the developmentally disabled starting immediately in the new fiscal year, but warned the unpaid bills to hospitals, businesses, schools and service agencies awaiting payment at her office now total $4.4 billion.

# Link to letter from The National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD):

http://www.news-gazette.com/sites/all/files/pdf/2012/06/20/Sebelius_Letter_on_Casey_Letter_6202012.pdf


(NEW): In a statement released Wednesday, Januari Smith, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Human Services, said some service providers will experience a brief delay in payments due to insufficient funding in the Department of Human Services budget. “Payments will be processed in 11 days when the new fiscal year begins,” she said. “Providers are encouraged to continue to provide these vital services through the remainder of the fiscal year without interruption. Service providers will be receiving another letter making clear that payment will be received once the new fiscal year begins and that this is not an indication of reduction of services but rather a short payment delay.”

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