Provider Notice Issued 08/19/2020

Long Term Acute Care Hospital Coverage for Certain Non-Citizens

This notice clarifies coverage for long term acute care (LTAC) hospital services for non-citizens ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status.  

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Medicaid emergency medical coverage for non-citizens covers COVID-19 treatment for those who are not eligible for Medicaid due to immigration status. Client submission and state approval of a complete application for emergency medical coverage is required before providers can be reimbursed. 

HFS has determined that hospitalizations at long term acute care hospitals (LTACs) are included in Medicaid emergency medical coverage during the public health emergency; therefore, HFS will reimburse at each LTAC’s established Medicaid rate for such admissions. If the transferring hospital has not already applied for emergency medical coverage on behalf of the client, the LTAC must do so. 

LTAC certification of admission and continued stay review requirements will be suspended for this population only. System programming to bypass the eQHealth Solutions utilization review requirements is not complete. Until programming is implemented, LTACs are instructed to hold fee-for-service claims for this population of patients.   

Providers should submit claims to the HRSA COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement Portal when patient income is too high to qualify for emergency medical coverage for non-citizens. Additionally, free COVID-19 testing is available to uninsured Illinois residents regardless of immigration status for dates of service beginning February 4, 2020. More information is available in the HFS Provider Notice released on May 18, 2020.

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the Bureau of Professional and Ancillary Services at 877-782-5565.

Kelly Cunningham

Interim Medicaid Administrator