SR 342 — OPPOSE DNS SCORE CHANGE

*LRB09911631GRL34647r* SR034209900SR0342 Enrolled LRB099 11631 GRL 34647 r SENATE RESOLUTION WHEREAS,NO. On February 18, 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner's administration released its proposal for the Fiscal Year 2016 State budget;

342 WHEREAS, On February 18, 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner's administration released its proposal for the Fiscal Year 2016 State budget;

the Illinois Department on Aging and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services also announced that it intended to save money by making it more difficult to enter the Community Care ProgramProgram, Supportive Living Facilities, and nursing homes by changing the minimum threshold for eligibility;eligibility consistent with the change announced by the Department of Human Services;

and 09900SR0342 Enrolled -2- LRB099 11631 GRL 34647 r WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services would carry the administrative responsibility for SR0342 -2- LRB099 11631 GRL 34647 r creating the change by seeking federal approval to amend 2 1915 (C) Home and Community-Based Services Waivers to change the Determination of Need Assessment score requirement;

changing the score would also prevent 16,000 seniors from becoming eligible for Medicaid waiver service in the next year, and 21,000 more would be eliminated in reassessment in the next year;

and WHEREAS, The membersMembers of this bodyBody find it unconscionable to deny 47,000tens of thousands of people with disabilities and seniors the opportunity to livereceive independentlyvital incare theirand communities;support services;

and WHEREAS, The proposed change to the Determination of Need score was made without any input from disabilitythose that advocate for the needs of individuals with disabilities and seniorthe advocates;elderly;

and 09900SR0342 Enrolled -3- LRB099 11631 GRL 34647 r WHEREAS, Each senior living independently with support from the Community Care Program saves Illinois Medicaid approximately $24,000 a year by living in the community instead SR0342 -3- LRB099 11631 GRL 34647 r of a nursing home;

and WHEREAS, ThousandsEach ofresident workersresiding in thea Homenursing Serviceshome Programwith andsupport from the CommunityState's Medicaid Long Term Care Program wouldsaves beIllinois lefttaxpayers withouthundreds employmentof whenthousands consumersof aredollars madeby ineligible;preventing unnecessary emergency room and hospital visits;

therefore,and beWHEREAS, itThousands RESOLVED,of BYworkers THEin SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we state our opposition to the proposedHome changeServices ofProgram, the DeterminationCommunity ofCare NeedProgram, Scoreand minimumIllinois thresholdnursing fromhomes 29 to 37, which would resultbe in thousands of people with disabilities and seniors being left without criticalemployment supportwhen forconsumers activitiesare ofmade dailyineligible; living in their own homes;

andtherefore, be it further RESOLVED, ThatBY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urgestate theour Governoropposition andto the Illinoisproposed Departmentchange of Humanthe ServicesDetermination toof withdrawNeed anyscore andminimum allthreshold plansfrom 29 to amend37, thewhich Medicaidwould Stateresult planin tothousands changeof thepeople Determinationwith disabilities and seniors being left without critical support for activities of Needdaily scoreliving requirements;in their own homes and access to critical medical care in nursing homes;

and be it further RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor and the Illinois Department of Human Services to withdraw any and all plans to 09900SR0342 Enrolled -4- LRB099 11631 GRL 34647 r amend the Medicaid State plan to change the Determination of Need score requirements;