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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice Issued 09/29/2020

​Date:  September 29, 2020                                                                           

 

 

To:     All Medical Assistance Program Providers

 

Re:    HFS CARES Portal is Open for Funding Applications

______________________________________________________________________

 

The HFS CARES Portal is now open and can be found at the following link:

 

                                https://caresapp.hfs.illinois.gov/

 

The HFS CARES Portal will be open from 8:00 a.m. today, September 29, 2020, through 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 31, 2020. While the portal is available 24/7 during this timeframe, online and call-in assistance is available during the times listed below.

 

This notice follows up on the September 15, 2020 Provider Notice regarding the distribution of CARES Act funding. All provider notices regarding the HFS CARES payment program will be found on a special CARES Payment link on the Department’s special Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates website at:

 

                                 https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

 

 

Per federal guidelines, an agreement between the Department and the Subgrantee must be signed and any funds awarded through this process must be utilized on specific CARES qualifying expenditures prior to December 31, 2020.

 

Provider Eligibility

CARES Act funding must be used to cover COVID-19 pandemic related health care expenses that were not part of the provider’s annual budget established before March 1, 2020. Eligible providers must have experienced economic hardship in the form of increased health care expenses, expenditures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and/or decreased utilization and revenues as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Medicaid healthcare providers operating in the State of Illinois will have the opportunity to apply for assistance, but not all will be eligible for funding. The application form will inform entities whether they are eligible to submit an application based on the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) provided. Funding will be awarded based on applicants meeting the eligibility criteria outlined in the HFS CARES Program. Funds will be prioritized for providers serving Medicaid members and to fill gaps not addressed by other resources. Per General Assembly appropriation, at least 30% of the funds will be allocated to high impact areas of the state. 

 

 

HFS CARES Portal

Medicaid healthcare providers enrolled with HFS can apply for financial assistance by submitting an online application through the HFS CARES Portal. Applicants can create a portal log-in and begin reviewing and collecting required application documents to be submitted. Once a username and password login are established to start a new application, applicants will be able save the application to finish at a later time. It is recommended that providers use Chrome or Edge browsers when accessing the HFS CARES portal for optimal performance.

 

A support line is available to assist applicants with questions regarding the HFS CARES Program from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday at 866-385-0600. Call center support is available in English and Spanish.

 

Providers may send questions regarding the CARES payments via email to HFS.CARES@illinois.gov.

 

 

Theresa Eagleson

Director