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 04/02/13

Admission Requirements

​To: Supportive Living Facilities (SLF) in the Dementia Pilot Program​
Date:​ April 2, 2013​
Re:​ Admission Requirements​

This notice is to inform SLFs participating in the Dementia Pilot Program of a change to the resident admission requirements.

89 IL Adm Code Section 146.630(a) states that residents in a participating SLF's dementia care unit must have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related form of dementia that has been confirmed by a physician. The Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services informed the Department that admission to the Supportive Living Program waiver cannot be based on a specific diagnosis. Therefore, the Department will now require that persons admitted to a participating SLF dementia care unit meet the following criteria.

Residents in a SLF dementia care unit must exhibit symptoms related to internal pathological changes in the brain. Those symptoms must affect intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning, in that it is unsafe for them to reside alone. Examples of diagnoses that could meet this definition include Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Pick's disease, brain injury or brain atrophy. The SLF must maintain supporting documentation of symptoms and diagnosis from the resident's physician.

All other admission requirements for residents in a SLF dementia care unit still apply. SLF staff must continue to assess a potential resident to make sure his/her needs are able to be met in the SLF's dementia care unit.

Questions regarding this notice should be directed to the Bureau of Long Term Care at 217-524-0372.

Theresa A. Eagleson, Administrator

Division of Medical Programs