Speeding up nursing applications

Tim Bivins
Posted 8/6/18

Illinois has several new laws that address a backlog of applications for nursing home care, boost protections for DCFS workers and provide more first responders with medicines for allergy-related emergencies.

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Speeding up nursing applications

Posted

Illinois has several new laws that address a backlog of applications for nursing home care, boost protections for DCFS workers and provide more first responders with medicines for allergy-related emergencies.
Nursing home reforms
During the last 10 years, delays in getting individuals approved for nursing home care have led to a backlog of 15,000 cases, with some taking up to a year to resolve. The problems stemmed from a complicated bureaucratic process of rules and regulations at the federal and state levels, an antiquated computer system, and a staffing shortage.
The governor’s office took steps to upgrade the computer system, hire more staff and open a third enrollment hub. And during the spring legislative session, a bipartisan team of legislators worked with the long-term care industry and crafted sweeping reforms, which were signed into law on Aug. 2.
Senate Bill 2385 and Senate Bill 2913 streamline and simplify the process of enrolling in Medicaid and address outdated and ongoing problems in Illinois’ long-term care industry.
Senate Bill 2385 provides a process and form for Medicaid long-term care applicants and beneficiaries to release their financial records directly to the state for the purpose of determining Medicaid long-term care eligibility.
One of the biggest challenges getting approval for Medicaid-funded long-term care is obtaining financial information, with financial institutions raising concerns about releasing data. Senate Bill 2385 recognizes the need to protect personal information while also considering the needs of family members or care providers to have access to that critical information by creating a standardized form to send financial data directly to the state.

Senate Bill 2913 implements a number of sweeping reforms to simplify the process of enrolling in Medicaid and in the annual redetermination of Medicaid status, including:
• Each resident used to have to go through a new application process every year to prove they still qualified financially. This process cost the state immensely, in both money and manpower, and was a waste when it was determined that nearly 100 percent requalified anyway. Now, only those with changes in finances need to complete new forms.
• Individuals who have been on Medicaid for six months or longer before going into long-term care will have a simplified enrollment process.
• The new law allows for electronic filing of applications instead of paper applications.
• The state will set up training sessions and webinars to help individuals and facilities better understand the application process.
DCFS workers protection
A new law recently signed by the Governor will boost protections for Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers. I introduced Senate Bill 3105 in response to the death of a Dixon woman who worked as a DCFS child protective investigator. Pamela Knight of Dixon was beaten while attempting to take a child into protective custody.
Approved by unanimous support of lawmakers this spring Senate Bill 3105 encourages police protection for DCFS workers who don’t have co-workers available to accompany them on a call that involves a high-risk report of child abuse or neglect, or a case that involves a person who could be violent.
It is not a mandate, but it arranges for both agencies to create a time where they can go into that environment safely. It also allows law enforcement officers to cross jurisdictions to assist DCFS workers who visit multiple locations during an investigation.
The DCFS workers I am talking to say they are seeing an uptick in violence and potentially violent situations, even in their offices, when they have individuals come to their offices. So there is concern there also.
EpiPens
On July 31, the Governor signed legislation that encourages medical professionals’ participation in the initiative to equip police officers with epinephrine auto-injectors (also known as EpiPens) for allergy-related emergencies.
Senate Bill 2226 protects prescribing medical authorities from civil or professional liability when a police officer delivers an epinephrine auto-injection during an allergy-related emergency. The bill also clarifies protection already afforded to police officers. It specifies that a physician, physician’s assistant or advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive authority who provides a prescription or standing order for epinephrine for an Illinois police department will not be subject to civil or professional liability for law enforcement’s misuse of the medication.
The Annie LeGere Law, effective in January 2017, allows for Illinois police officers to carry and administer epinephrine auto-injectors on duty as an emergency measure to reverse life-threatening allergic reactions following proper training and procedural requirements. The law was inspired by Annie LeGere, a 13-year-old from Elmhurst who died from a fatal allergic reaction that could have been prevented with epinephrine.