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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice Issued 10/20/2017

 

Date:         October 19, 2017

 

To:            Hospitals and Community Mental Health Providers

 

Re:            Update to the Crisis and Referral Entry Service (CARES) Transition to the Integrated Eligibility System (IES)

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this notice is to inform providers that the Crisis and Referral Entry Service (CARES) will begin the transition to the Integrated Eligibility System (IES) on October 19, 2017 and complete this process on October 24, 2017.

 

CARES serves as the centralized point of intake for the Screening, Assessment, and Support Services (SASS) program and is available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.  CARES will remain fully operational during the transition to IES; as such, providers must continue to contact the CARES line at 1-800-345-9049 (TTY: 1-800-905-9645) in order to ensure eligibility for the SASS program, consistent with HFS policy.

 

The transition to IES will alter some CARES protocols, as the creation of new Recipient Identification Numbers (RINs) for SASS eligible participants cannot be completed during the following time periods:

 

·       October 19, 2017 through October 24, 2017

·       Between 7:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M., Monday through Friday;

·       All Weekends; and

·       All Illinois State Holidays.

 

During one of the time periods listed above, upon determining a child is eligible for the SASS program and requires the creation of a new RIN, CARES will issue the child a pre-created RIN and proceed with all other functions as normal.  All pre-created RINs will have a standardized name similar to “HFS Social”.  During the next business day, CARES will seek to update the demographic details of the pre-created RIN to ensure the RIN reflects the actual demographic details of the participant.

 

Providers will be able to confirm eligibility for impacted SASS-eligible participants via the Electronic Data Exchange vendors, Recipient Eligibility Verification (REV) system, the Automated Voice Response System (AVRS), and the Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) system.  However, providers should anticipate that the names and birth dates associated with the RINs will not match the participants they are serving until the demographic data has been updated in the IES system and that information has had a chance to update all other associated data systems.

 

Providers should postpone the submission of claims for any impacted SASS eligible participants until they are able to verify the participant’s RIN has been updated with the appropriate demographic information.  Providers are encouraged to allow adequate time for updates to the demographic information associated with a RIN to be posted before calling CARES or HFS.

 

 

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the Bureau of Behavioral Health via email at HFS.CBH@illinois.gov or by calling 217-557-1000.

 

 

Felicia F. Norwood

Director