The Illinois Council on Aging met Aug. 22 to provide a budget update.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:
The Illinois Department on Aging "works to improve the quality of life for Illinois’ older citizens by helping them live independently in their own homes and communities."
OLDER ADULT SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Date: August 22, 2016 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Minutes approved November 14, 2016)
Locations: Illinois Department on Aging, 160 N. LaSalle St., 7th floor, Chicago Illinois Department on Aging (at the DNR bldg.), One Natural Resources Way, Springfield
IN ATTENDANCE: Committee Members Carol Aronson- Shawnee Alliance for Seniors Amy S. Brown –CRIS Healthy Aging Center Sherry Barter Hamlin – River-to-River Residential Corporation Dr. Thomas Cornwell – HomeCare Physicians Cindy Cunningham – Illinois Adult Day Service Association Jan Grimes – Illinois HomeCare and Hospice Council Terri Harkin – SEIU Health Care – Illinois and Indiana Kaye Kibler – Willowbrook Memory Support Houses Andrew Kretschmar (for Jennifer Belkov) – Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Jonathan Lavin – AgeOptions Phyllis Mitzen – Health and Medicine Policy Research Group Ancy Zacharia – Home Care Physicians
Ex-officio Committee Members: Jennifer Reif, Deputy Director (for Jean Bohnhoff, Director) – Department on Aging Jamie Freschi – State Long Term Care Ombudsman Bonnee Hartman (for Kelly Cunningham) – Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Guests: Gustavo Saberbein – Help at Home, LLC
Department on Aging staff: Jodi Becker, Brent Ellis, Cindy Bushur-Hallam, John Eckert, Sophia Gonzalez, Jose Jimenez, Lora McCurdy,
NOT IN ATTENDANCE: Committee Members June Benedick – Parish Nurse St. Paul Lebanon & St. Mark Lutheran Andy Chusid – Health Care Council of Illinois Carla D. Fiessinger – Monaham Law Group Kelly Fischer – Journey Care Hospice Robyn Golden – Rush University Medical Center Lori Hendren – AARP Susan Hughes – UIC Community Health Sciences School of Public Health Michael Koronkowski – UIC College of Pharmacy Dave Lowitzki – SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana Patricia O’Dea-Evans – A Silver Connection Samantha Olds Frey – Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans Susan Real – Caregiver – East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging Jason Speaks – Leading Age Illinois Louise Starmann – Citizen Member Cathy Weightman-Moore – Catholic Charities LTC Ombudsman Program
Ex-officio – Committee Members not in attendance: Debra Bryars – Department of Public Health Linda Gonulsen – Department of Human Services Megan Spitz – Illinois Housing Development Authority Representative – Department of Veterans Affairs Representative – Governor’s office
Introductions & Call to Order: Jennifer Reif, Deputy Director welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made. John Eckert asked for a motion to call the meeting to order. Kay Keebler motioned to call the meeting to order and Sherry Barter Hamlin seconded. All were in favor.
Approve minutes of Full OASAC May 16, 2016 Meeting: John Eckert asked everyone to review the minutes from May 16, 2016 and asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Carol Aronson made a motion to approve the meeting minutes, Jon Lavin seconded. All were in favor, the minutes were approved unanimously without additions or corrections.
Update on Budget: Jodi Becker, CFO shared that the Department is processing FY16 payments as quickly as possible and they will be sent to the Comptroller. Becker shared that there is no budget for FY17. Currently the Medicaid FY17 payments will be processed according to a court order and the FY17 Non-Medicaid payments will be pending. Jon Lavin asked if the 18th month Stop Gap Budget was for everyone. Becker responded that $390 million included Non- Medicaid for FY16 billing but did not include Non-Medicaid for FY17. Amy Brown asked if the Department could provide something in writing regarding the status of the budget and which payments are being made at this time. Becker responded that she was not sure that the Department has something in writing at this time but she would check with GOMB. Becker shared that the Stop Gap Budget is intended to cover from July 2015 through December 2016; but the Department does not know how much money will be left available for FY17 until all FY16 payments are made. John Eckert asked if there were any other questions for Jodi Becker and announced that she will be retiring at the end of the month. Members recognized Becker for her service as CFO and wished her well upon retirement.
Update on Community Reinvestment Program (CRP): Deputy Director Reif shared that the Department has met individually with every AAA to discuss the vision for CRP. In addition Department IT staff have been visiting Aging network sites in an effort to launch the new IT system in 2017. Jon Lavin asked if responses to the first set of comments on CRP are available and if there will be a second opportunity for comments. Deputy Director Reif responded that the Department is still working on all of the feedback and that it is not too late to submit comments. She added that a September meeting will be set up to discuss the details of the program that will include Fiscal and IT.
HHS Transformation Initiatives & UAT Update: John Eckert discussed the HHS Transformation initiative from the Governor’s office. There are four guiding principles being followed. The first one is to create a consumer–centric system in which all programs, policies, processes and technologies place individuals at the center. The second principle is to modernize service delivery by offering people in Illinois the evidence-based support they need, when they need it and in the communities and settings best suited for them. The third principle is to pay for outcomes with value and to develop evidence- based practices in the service delivery that moves from the fee for service to a value based payment. The fourth principle is to organize to deliver and ensure a strong, streamlined organization, coordinated operations and a workforce skilled to serve the people in Illinois at the right place and time and the right care and cost. Eckert added that the Transformation initiatives will be expanded periodically with short- and long-term areas of focus. Behavioral Health services were chosen as a focus point after examining the behavioral landscape and to address growth in the mental health and substance use populations. The Transformation Behavioral Health group has had its first initial meeting. There will be two scheduled Town Hall hearings for stakeholders to provide input. OASAC members were encouraged to participate in the hearings. McCurdy added that the Department is partnering with HFS and DHS to focus on Behavioral Health and Supportive Housing services.
McCurdy added that Eckert is part of the inter agency group working on strengthening the State’s Pre- admissions screening processes and deflection efforts, McCurdy shared that the Department is working with The Lewin Group consultants on a Choices for Care evaluation study. Jon Lavin asked if it was possible for The Lewin Group to come and talk to OASAC. McCurdy stated that she would invite them the next OASAC Full meeting to discuss the study’s findings.
Lora McCurdy shared that the Department has been working with HFS, DHS, and the Governor’s office on implementation of the call center for Balancing Incentive Program (BIP). The Department will serve as the lead for the call center. She noted that the BIP initial screen is still being reviewed. No other updates on UAT are available. Carol Aronson asked about the comments submitted to the Department during the CCPAC meeting. Jose Jimenez responded that those comments were in relation to the 3 year No Wrong Door Plan and shared that HFS is the lead for UAT. Aronson wanted to make sure the comments are taken into consideration for UAT.
Quality Data: Update on Client Satisfaction Survey & Participant Outcome Status Measure (POSM) Lora McCurdy shared that the Department is required to comply with the performance measures under its Medicaid Elderly HCBS Waiver. A number of the metrics address the quality of the services provided and obtaining the participant’s perspective on quality related topics The Care Coordination Units complete the Participant Outcome Status Measures (POSM) survey with the participant at the initial assessment and at the annual re-evaluation. The Department has strengthened its communication with the CCUs regarding the compliance requirements around POSM completions. DoA has worked with CCUs to address issues related to uploading information into the required system and technical assistance was provided to the CCUs via FAQs and conference calls, which resulted in an improvement in POSM completions. In addition, the Department reviewed individual answers to questions related to services received and found that a low score was noted in a question related to availability of paid care supports. Another factor that the Department is looking at is how each of the CCUs is ranking. McCurdy asked for feedback from OASAC. Phyllis Mitzen suggested that the Department explore the participant’s responses in more depth that were related to service availability. Mitzen added that it was important to note that there is a difference in what services are available and what services a participant actually wants. McCurdy shared that service plans are being reviewed to ensure that they reflect the individuals’ goals. Another suggestion was to look at the turnover rates for homecare workers and qualitative data. McCurdy shared that other types of data are collected by the Department (e.g. Client Satisfaction Surveys and Quality of Life Data).
Jose Jimenez stated that Illinois has begun to look at its current process for service plan development in light of the new federal waiver requirements related to Person Centered Planning Person Centered Planning The Department has scheduled training on Person Centered Planning for the CCUs beginning in late October. The Lewin Group will be providing the training
Update on Legislation: Brent Ellis provided a legislative update on the bills affecting aging. SB 2929 requires the CCUs to share the required documentation on the outcome of the pre-screen process with nursing facilities rather than the hospital discharge planner. The legislation was signed and goes into effect on January 1, 2017. The Department is collaborating with its sister agencies on the necessary revisions to the Choices for Care policy.
HB 4552 was signed July 15th and adds the State’s Attorney Office to entities that are entitled to request APS records. HB4826 was a Department initiative to reduce the excessive meetings for the fatality review teams from six to four. HB5009 was signed on August 5th and extends the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program’s jurisdiction to include the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities. HB5603 revises the right for residents in LTC facilities who choose to have video recording devices in their rooms to receive written consent from their roommates. HB5805 was signed August 15th and extends the period prosecution for financial exploitation crimes to seven years. HB5924 goes into effect January 1, 2017, and under this bill the Guardians of a Ward shall make reasonable attempts to contact the Ward’s adult children if notification request has been made in the event that the Ward is admitted to a hospital, hospice, passes away, and on funeral arrangements. Andrew Kretschmar from the Alzheimer’s Association thanked the Department for the work on SB2929. John Eckert noted that Legislative updates will be posted on the Department’s website.
Other issues & Announcements: John Eckert informed members and guests that Alex Burke is asking for ideas on legislation initiatives A question regarding expedited re-admissions and CCU services getting started within 2 days was asked. Lavin asked, related to the passage of SB2929, how universal prescreens were occurring. Lora McCurdy shared that work was going on with The Lewin Group regarding evaluating Choices for Care and how SB2929 will be impacting the CCU hospital discharge planners in providing documentation to the NFs. She shared that Department anticipates having to change the policies but also look at any additional recommendations in the study in terms of coordinating with hospitals, NFs and state Department partners.
Motion to Adjourn: John Eckert asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Carol Aronson made a motion to adjourn. Amy Brown seconded the motion. All were in favor, the motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 2:53 p.m.
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