An Illinois nursing home reform bill signed into law this week includes funding for a supportive living alternative that is part of the continuum of care offered by some senior living providers.
Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed HB246 into law on Tuesday at a Pathway to Living community, tying nursing home funding to staffing levels and quality measures, and creating a new pay scale for certified nursing assistants. The law also provides more than $500 million to support the state’s most vulnerable older adults, with additional funds for the state’s supportive living model, a Medicaid-funded nursing home alternative.
The supportive living program, sometimes referred to as an affordable assisted living model, is administered through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The program was developed under the Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver program as an alternative to nursing homes for low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities. Supportive living residents can choose from a menu of services not routinely covered by Medicaid, including intermittent nursing care, social / recreational programing, health and exercise programs, medication oversight, ancillary services, personal care, laundry and housekeeping, maintenance, and meals and snacks.
The program provides affordable housing and healthcare for 11,500 low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities in 154 supportive living communities across the state. Residents must qualify for nursing home level care but not need 24-hour skilled care. According to the state, the daily supportive living program Medicaid rate is 54.3% of the nursing home rate, saving the state between $176 million and $221 million annually while allowing individuals the chance to live in a less restrictive community setting.
Prtizker signed the legislation into law at Victory Centre of Roseland, an independent living and supportive living community operated by Chicago-based senior living developer, owner and operator Pathway to Living.
“The additional revenue provides more funds for staffing, caregiving, programming and amenities, so we can offer older adults an affordable, quality housing and care option to help them fulfill their dreams and accomplish their goals,” Victory Centre of Roseland Executive Director Crystal Wills said in a statement. “Supportive living will now be more accessible, attractive and affordable than ever before to Illinois seniors who qualify for financial aid and whose care needs can be best met in a residential care setting.”
The legislation “recognizes the enormous need, now more than ever, to protect Illinois seniors and people with disabilities that are entrusted to our care,” Affordable Assisted Living Coalition Executive Director Karin Zosel said in a press release issued by the governor’s office.
“Through the new investments in the supportive living program provided by this legislation, Illinois will further strengthen the long-term care continuum for vulnerable residents across the state of Illinois,” she said.
The law goes into effect July 1.
