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Provider Notice Issued 03/12/2025
| To: | Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities - Nursing Facilities (NF), Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID), Supportive Living Program (SLP), Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Facilities (MC/DD) and Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities (SMHRF) |
| Date | March 12, 2025 |
| Re: |
Long Term Care Provider Changes to the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) Portal and Additional Application Information |
This notice informs long term care (LTC) providers of changes to the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) Portal and the effects on application submission.
There is now an option in ABE called “Apply without an Account.” Applications submitted this way are not routed to the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) LTC Medical Field Operations (MFO) office. They are sent to the applicable DHS local office based on the zip code of the address, which is delaying processing.
LTC providers must submit applications as a Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) LTC provider, an HFS Application Agent, or create an individual account for the resident. This will ensure that applications are routed to the correct LTC MFO office. LTC providers should not submit applications through the “Apply without an Account” option.
Information on obtaining ABE access and submitting applications:
Long Term Care Providers
The transition to multi-factor authentication (MFA) using ILogin and ILPartner has increased the security of customer information but has caused unique problems for certain types of providers.
Providers can submit applications in multiple ways listed below. Some of these options allow managing multiple applications.
A. Become an HFS Application Agent – many applications can be submitted through a single provider account along with support documents.
a) Utilize the ABE Provider Portal as an HFS Application Agent to perform the following tasks:
i. Submit Applications for customers.
ii. Submit required support documents at the time of application or shortly after.
iii. Track simple status of an application, i.e. submitted, pending.
b) The Provider user can still become an Approved Representative for the individual as long as they submit the appropriate Approved Representative Consent Form.
B. Create individual emails for participants and become their Approved Representative. The email is used for initial verification and then used as a login.
a) Another option is to use a question as a security method, so a phone number is not required. Make sure to upload the Approved Representative Consent Form.
C. Enroll your facility/building as an HFS Long Term Care Provider.
a) ABE Provider Portal User Guide as an HFS LTC Agent
b) Utilize the ABE Provider Portal as an HFS Long Term Care Provider to perform the following tasks:
· Submit documents associated with LTC admission.
· Submit proof documents for resources or income.
· Submit TPL information.
· Submit redeterminations/renewals.
D. Use the LTC Provider Portal functionality in ABE to submit Applications as well as support documents.
a) Can also submit the Approved Representative Consent Form.
Notes:
1. The Provider may not submit paper applications for residents/patients per Provider Notice issued 12/12/14.
2. Effective November 1, 2014, all LTC providers submitting applications for residents who are applying for Medicaid eligibility are required to use the on-line application system, ABE.
3. HFS will be offering a future training specific to LTC Providers regarding the transition to MFA and the various options in ABE for providers.
Questions regarding this notice should be directed to the Bureau of Long Term Care at 1-844-528-8444.
Kelly Cunningham, Administrator
Division of Medical Programs