Skip to main content
  • Medicaid Provider Alert: Provider revalidation has begun and those not completing the process risk disenrollment.  Check your account now to learn when your revalidation is due. More information here.
Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice issued 07/09/08

Emergency Department Diversion Grant Applications

To:​

Participating Community Mental Health Providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Hospital​

​Date: ​July 9, 2008
​Re:

Emergency Department Diversion Grant Applications ​

This Informational Notice is to notify you that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will soon make available grant funds for two Emergency Department (ED) Diversion projects, one in the Chicago area and one in an area that serves HFS beneficiaries from rural areas. The grants are made under the authority of Section 6043 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 via funding through the Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  Information regarding the federal grants can be found at:

http://www.cms.gov/

HFS would like to encourage interested parties to begin actively working to develop collaborative relationships in advance of the official Request for Application (RFA).  HFS’ grant proposal identified that two sites would be selected within the first six months of the grant award.  HFS will be releasing an RFA in the near future.  Given that proposals in response to the RFA will need to be developed and submitted within a short time period (no longer than 8 weeks), interested members should begin developing the required collaborative relationships. The following grant requirements were part of HFS’ original grant proposal:

  • Development of a new FQHC site in close proximity to a community hospital emergency room.

  • Collaboration among an FQHC, community hospital and community mental health provider.

  • Co-location of urgent medical and psychiatric care to address persons with both mental health needs and medical co-morbidities who would benefit from differential diagnosis to ensure medical illnesses are not treated psychiatrically or vice versa.

The purpose of the ED Diversion grant is to provide an immediate alternative to emergency room care for persons seeking care for either non-emergent medical or mental health conditions, and using a peer-staffed and recovery focused approach in the mental health service intervention.  Further, the project must educate and link all Illinois Health Connect eligible clients to a medical home.

The RFA will detail the requirements for proposals and an Applicants Conference will be offered.  Interested parties are strongly encouraged to begin evaluating peer-supported mental health crisis response services and options for collaborations.

If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Healthcare Quality Improvement at 217-557-1000.

Theresa Eagleson, Administrator

Division of Medical Programs