Bill > HB4917

This bill amends the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Act to improve flexibility and funding for participants. It requires state departments to work together to maximize federal and state funding, including integrating money currently used for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers to support PACE enrollment. A "unified budgeting approach" will treat funding for long-term care as a single pool, allowing money to move easily when someone chooses PACE over traditional waiver services. To ensure participants can choose their care, the bill establishes a "service-neutral enrollment mechanism," meaning individuals eligible for a HCBS waiver will be considered eligible for PACE without a new medical assessment. If someone is on a waiting list for a HCBS waiver and decides to join PACE, their place on the waiting list and its value will be protected and applied to PACE costs to keep state budgets balanced. The bill also allows participants to switch between PACE and traditional HCBS models during open enrollment or if their medical needs change, as long as they don't lose care or Medicaid eligibility, and mandates the use of a "Unified Assessment Tool" to ensure a participant's health information can be easily transferred between different care systems.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4917&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104