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Provider Notice Issued 04/15/2021
- Temporary and Permanent Supportive Housing;
- Community Outreach and Engagement;
- Linkage to Community Treatment; and
- Non-Traditional Support Services (such as emergency medications, food, clothing, cell phones, and transportation).
Date: April 15, 2021
To: Illinois Hospital and Long Term CareProviders
Re: Update: Williams Consent Decree - Front Door DiversionProgram
The purpose of this notice isto remind Illinois Hospital and Long Term Care providers about the Front Door Diversion Program and describe how torefer individuals who are not currently enrolled in Medicaid.
By informational notice dated August 6, 2020, the Department informedproviders that the Williams Consent Decree, entered on September 29, 2010, insettlement of the Williams v. Quinn class action lawsuit, requires the State to promote settings thatmaximize individuals' independence, choice, and opportunities to develop anduse independent living skills. To this end, the Department of Human Services (DHS)through its Division of Mental Health (DMH) operates and funds a Front DoorDiversion Program (FDDP) to prevent unnecessary admissions to institutionalsettings.
What isthe Front Door Diversion Program?
The FDDP is a DHS grant-funded program, the goal ofwhich is to ensure every individual determined able to live in acommunity-based setting be offered community-based services and supports inorder to prevent unnecessary admissions to Specialized Mental HealthRehabilitation Facilities (SMHRFs). The FDDP provides services and supports toindividuals who would otherwise likely be admitted to SMHRFs, such as:
FDDP services are delivered through one of sixcommunity providers: Thresholds, Trilogy, Envision Unlimited, National YouthAdvocate Program, HRDI, and Kenneth Young Center.
Who is Eligiblefor the Front Door Diversion Program?
DHSrequires that an individual be Medicaid-eligible and have a currentPre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) with a Level 2Determination and Disposition of “Eligible for Nursing Facility – Diverted toCommunity Option.” Once a Front Door agency receives a referral from the PASRRscreener, the Front Door agency assesses the individual’s needs. If the agencydetermines it can serve the individual with the needed resources in thecommunity, the individual is offered community placement.
Update: IDHS will expedite determinations on Medicaidapplications for individuals who are referred to and can be served by the FDDP,but who are not currently enrolled in Medicaid. If the referring provider initiated a Medicaid application on behalf ofthe individual being referred,
FDDP providers may ask the hospital about thestatus and number (often referred to as a “T” number) of that application tofacilitate the expedited process with DHS.
How toContact the Front Door Diversion Program
Information about how to access FDDP services can befound here.
Currently, 36 hospitals work with the FDDP in Cook,DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, and Kankakee counties. Hospitals that are not currentlyengaged with the FDDP or are in areas not paired with a community provider areencouraged to contact DHS to inquire about the feasibility of expansion to yourhospital. Contact information can be found through the link above.
Questions about FDDP may be directed to dhs.dmhfrontdoorpas@illinois.gov.
TheFuture of Front Door
DHS is continuing to evaluate ways to improve theFDDP. As its sister agency, HFS will continue to seek input and informproviders of important developments as they occur. It is our hope that the FDDPwill become integrated into the hospital discharge planning process and will alwaysbe considered a first and preferred option to facility placement.
KellyCunningham, Administrator
Divisionof Medical Programs