HFS has received the necessary federal approval for the Jan. 1, 2025, rate increase to take effect.

We have an important update on the rate increase for in-home nurses originally set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has received the necessary federal approvals for the rate increase to take effect.

You will see the updated rates reflected on your next Prior Authorization for In-Home Shift Nursing letter (also known as the 2352).

The rate increase affects:

• Registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN) and certified nursing assistant (CNA) care
• In-home and facility-based respite care
• Nurse training rates

The increased rates are:

• RN, $57.78 per hour
• LPN, $48.15 per hour
• CNA, $32.10 per hour

You can find the updated rate table on our website’s Home Care Rate Table page.

The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) will begin paying nursing agencies the newly approved rate when our new CarePay claims software system goes live. We currently expect to launch CarePay in mid-May.

We are communicating with our enrolled home nursing agencies about this update as well.

After we transition to CarePay, DSCC will work with home nursing agencies to adjust payments for nursing services dating back to Jan. 1. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to your DSCC Care Coordinator. We are here to help!

We developed a tip sheet to help guide parents and caregivers through the steps to become a CNA.

We continue to wait for approval to allow parents/legally responsible adults (LRAs) to become paid caregivers if they are a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and employed by a nursing agency.

We understand that our participant families are eager for this change to take effect. Allowing parents and caregivers who are CNAs to become paid caregivers is an important step in strengthening support for families of individuals who need in-home shift nursing.

To help families prepare as we await approval, we’ve put together a Certified Nursing Assistant Resources Tip Sheet.

This tip sheet aims to guide parents and caregivers through the steps to become a CNA. It links to several websites for your convenience and provides general guidelines.

• CNA Resources Tip Sheet in English
• CNA Resources Tip Sheet in Spanish

You can also find the CNA Resources Tip Sheet on our Home Care Nursing Information for Families page.

Our Family Advisory Council reviewed this tip sheet to make sure it’s as helpful for families as possible.

Please remember that currently, parents/LRAs can only be paid for providing skilled nursing services to their children if they hold an active registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) license. This rule applies to parents/LRAs of all children approved for Home Care Program services, regardless of the child’s age.

The plan to allow CNAs as paid family caregivers requires an amendment to the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Those Who Are Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent (MFTD waiver). It also requires the creation of a new state plan amendment. Both approvals must be in place to allow for this change.

There is currently no set timeline for the state plan amendment and the MFTD waiver amendment to be approved.

Once approved, we will notify you as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact your DSCC Care Coordinator at (800) 322-3722.

Families have until Jan. 30, 2025, to share their input on a state plan amendment allowing CNAs to become paid family caregivers.

Families can now share their feedback to allow more parents/legally responsible adults (LRAs) to become paid caregivers for their children at home.

The public comment period is currently open for a state plan amendment allowing parents/LRAs to become paid caregivers if they are a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and employed by a nursing agency.

Currently, parents/LRAs are paid for providing skilled nursing services to their children if they hold an active registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) license. This rule applies to parents/LRAs of all children approved for Home Care Program services, regardless of the child’s age.

Allowing parents and caregivers who are CNAs to become paid caregivers is an important step in strengthening support for families of individuals who need in-home shift nursing.

This change requires an amendment to the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Those Who Are Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent (MFTD waiver). It also requires the creation of a new state plan amendment. Both approvals must be in place to allow for this change.

The public comment period for the new state plan amendment is now open until Jan. 30. You can read the public comment notice for the state plan amendment on the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) website.

Here is how you can review the amendment and share your feedback.

Review the Amendment

• Visit the HFS website to download and/or print a copy of the proposed state plan amendment.
  
• Email HFS.BPPC@illinois.gov to request a digital copy of the proposed state plan amendment.
  
• Review a hard copy of the proposed state plan amendment at HFS’ offices at:
  
  • 201 South Grand Ave. E.,
    Springfield, IL 62763
    
  • 401 S. Clinton
    Chicago, IL 60607

Share Your Feedback

HFS is accepting public input on the proposed state plan amendment through Jan. 30, 2025.

You can share your feedback in two ways:

• Email your input to HFS.BPPC@illinois.gov.
• Mail your written input to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Attention: Bureau of Program and Policy Coordination, 201 South Grand Ave. E., 2nd floor, Springfield, IL 62763

This public comment process is one of the best ways you can make your voice heard.

Next Steps

In addition to the new state plan amendment, we have worked closely with HFS to incorporate this new rule into the MFTD waiver. This waiver amendment is currently under federal review for approval.

There is currently no set timeline for the state plan amendment and the MFTD waiver amendment to be approved.

Once approved, we will notify our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participant families as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact your DSCC Care Coordinator at (800) 322-3722.