Provider Notice issued 10/20/2023

This notice serves as a reminder to all Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) that effective July 1, 2022, the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities (IDHS DDD) mandated that Independent Service Coordination (ISC) agencies provide annual outreach to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in all ICFs across Illinois. This outreach satisfies the State’s requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead to ensure that individuals with I/DD are aware of all options for their support needs.  

On July 1, 2023, the ISC agencies initiated the annual outreach to all individuals not currently on the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) list who currently live in an ICF. As a reminder, the purpose of this outreach is to provide: 

·         Information on all Developmental Disability services available to the individual, including Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver funded services. 

·         The date and time the ISC agency plans to be at the facility and will be available to meet. 

·         An offer for in-person, virtual, or telephone meetings, based on the individual’s schedule to discuss options. 

·         An offer to register the individual on PUNS, if they are interested in HCBS Waiver funded services (individuals residing in ICFs must be selected from the PUNS list in order to begin receiving HCBS Waiver funded services). 

ISC agency staff will reach out to your facility to discuss the list of individuals that are served, and to gather additional information about the individuals’ service needs as well as guardian contact information (if applicable). In addition, the ISC agency is responsible for ensuring that individuals have an opportunity to choose if they want to remain in their current setting and/or to explore other options, as mentioned above.  

This notification is for informational purposes only. Individuals wishing to meet or discuss options for their support needs with an ISC agency shall be offered the opportunity to do so. A detailed FAQ can be found on the Division’s ADA/Olmstead Outreach webpage.  

In order to find an ISC agency, please use the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) office locator. For “Office Type”, select Developmental Disability Services and then select the appropriate residential county.

Calls can also be directed to the DDD Hotline at: 1-888-DD-PLANS or 1-866-376-8446 (TTY).

Additionally, questions can be sent to the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Comments email address at DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov.

Kelly Cunningham, Administrator

Division of Medical Programs