Stakeholders joined Gov. JB Pritzker Monday to highlight the state’s recently approved 1115 waiver application, which aims to address social determinants of health and behavioral health.
“Illinois is leading the way in this work and once again setting the nationwide standard for what equitable, effective and people-centric healthcare should look like,” Pritzker said at a press conference at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “You’ve heard the phrase ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ Well, that’s what this waiver means for Illinoisans all across our state.”
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the plan earlier this month. The approval is effective through June 2029.
Advocates highlighted several provisions during Monday’s event, including coverage of pre-release services for incarcerated individuals. Lizzy Whitehorn, director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, said services can begin up to 90 days before a person’s release.
Whitehorn said Illinois is also the first state to receive approval to allow for screening and needs assessments, trauma therapy and other services for Medicaid beneficiaries who have survived violence or are currently experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence.
“By moving toward Medicaid coverage of services that have otherwise been provided in siloed state agencies and from different levels of government, we can propel the groundbreaking work of this administration to prevent and end homelessness, to prevent firearm violence and to better support re-entry,” Whitehorn said.
Other elements highlighted were programs that will provide short-term post-transition housing, medically necessary home remediation, nutrition counseling, home-delivered and medically tailored meals and nutrition prescriptions targeting health risks.
No timeline was given for when the new programs will roll out. Whitehorn said Monday that work continues with HFS’ sister agencies, community organizations, managed care organizations and others to “stand up these new services in a thoughtful and responsible way.”
Three provisions part of the original waiver request are still under review by CMS, according to the Pritzker administration.
Those include a grant program to fund safety-net hospitals, the redirection of some disproportionate share hospital funding to fund strategies and interventions for improving the health of underserved communities and funding for social determinants of health assessments and training of community health workers.
“The state prioritized health-related social needs and re-entry for initial approval and will continue discussions with the federal authorities on other components of its request,” the administration said in a statement.