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Public Notice of Alternative Benefit Plan (ADP) For Newly Eligible ACA Adults

Illinois Register

Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Notice of Public Information

  1. Statute requiring agency to publish information concerning proposed changes in methods and standards for establishing medical assistance payment rates for medical services in the Illinois Register: 5 ILCS 100/5-70(c)

  2. Summary of information: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires states to provide adults who are covered via the Medicaid expansion with an Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP). An ABP is implemented through a state plan amendment and ABP services are a specific set of services available to a targeted group of individuals – in this case, the ACA adult eligibility group. 

    HFS invited public input on the ABP in the fall of 2012. (At that time, ABPs were referred to as “benchmark Medicaid plans”.) Broadly speaking, most respondents indicated that Illinois’ ABP should include the same services available to Medicaid clients in Illinois’ state plan today, with the possible exception of Long Term Supports and Services (LTSS), which are more oriented to Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (the SPD population).

    The federal government did not release the final administrative rules on the ABP until July 2013. It appears the goal was to create as much continuity as possible with the Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) offered by commercial health plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Among other issues, emphasis was placed on certain “exempt groups,” including the “medically frail.”

    HFS is seeking public input as we finalize an ABP for Illinois, with consideration of issues outlined below: 

    Key Objectives for the Illinois Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP)

HFS Recommendations

  1. Illinois’ ABP should be based on its existing Medicaid benefit package to promote equity and coverage of necessary services. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) recommends that the ABP be comprised of all Illinois Medicaid state plan services, i.e., be in full alignment with Illinois’ current state plan. This approach ensures that ACA Adults receive the same services as current Medicaid clients. Illinois’ state plan services are designed with a low-income population in mind, and therefore are well suited to the needs of ACA Adults.
  2. Illinois should cover habilitative services to meet federal requirements to cover all essential health benefits. Habilitative services allow individuals to maintain or attain certain functioning levels and are distinct from rehabilitative services, which focus on restoring individuals to functioning levels lost due to injury, illness, etc. The ABP should include habilitative services that mimic the rehabilitative services currently covered in the state plan, specifically: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and services for individuals with speech, hearing, and language disorders. Habilitative services should be added to the state plan so that all adult Medicaid clients will have access to them and the Medicaid benefit packages continue to be in full alignment.   
  3. Long Term Supports and Services (LTSS). ACA Adults who apply for institutional LTSS should undergo the same assessment as the SPD population. The ACA Adults and the SPD population will continue to have different eligibility requirements consistent with federal requirements. Consistent with Governor Quinn’s commitment to community integration, community-based LTSS should also be available to ACA Adults. 
  4. Copays.  Copays shall be fully aligned between the ABP and the current state plan. 
  5. In summary, the ABP for ACA adults will include:

Considerations

Next Steps

 Name and address of person to contact concerning this information:

Bureau of Program and Reimbursement Analysis

Division of Medical Programs

Healthcare and Family Services

201 South Grand Avenue East

Springfield, IL 62763-0001

E-mail address: bpra@illinois.gov

 

Interested persons may review these proposed changes on the HFS Webpage. Local access to the Internet is available through any local public library. In addition, this material may be viewed at the DHS local offices (except in Cook County). In Cook County, the changes may be reviewed at the Office of the Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, 401 South Clinton Street, Chicago, Illinois. The changes may be reviewed at all offices Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. This notice is being provided in accordance with federal requirements found at 42 CFR 447.205.