Illinois’ Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant application is open for public comment until July 21

Illinois families, you have an opportunity to share your input on the state’s latest Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Title V Block Grant application and report.

The MCH Title V Block Grant is a federal and state partnership to improve the health and well-being of all mothers, infants and children. The block grant is authorized by Title V of the Social Security Act.

Every state receives MCH Title V Block Grant funds. At least 30 percent of these funds must support services for children and youth with special healthcare needs.

The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) has managed Illinois’ Title V program for children and youth with special healthcare needs since 1937.

Each year, states must complete an application for future funding and an annual report of our MCH activities from the last federal fiscal year. DSCC has partnered with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to help with Illinois’ latest application.

The 2024 MCH Title V Block Grant Application and 2022 Annual Report are posted on the IDPH website. You can also see Illinois’ updated MCH Title V Block Grant Action Plan for 2021-25, which includes the Title V priorities, national performance measures and strategies.

You can share your comments or recommendations on these documents until noon on July 21.

Please send comments to Title V Coordinator Cassidy Chambers at Cassidy.Chambers@illinois.gov.

More details are on the IDPH website.

For more information about DSCC’s Title V role, check out our Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report.

The deadline to share feedback is June 30.

Families have an opportunity to share feedback on proposed updates to the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent (MFTD) Children.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is the Medicaid agency responsible for the MFTD waiver. Many families in the Home Care Program have children who receive services through the MFTD waiver.

HFS must renew Illinois’ MFTD waiver every five years. HFS and the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) have partnered to make several changes as part of this year’s renewal process.

To review the full list of waiver updates, you can:

• See page 2 of the electronic copy of the proposed renewal application.
  
• Review a hard copy at HFS’ offices at:
  
  • 201 South Grand Ave. E.,
    Springfield, IL 62763
    
  • 401 S. Clinton
    Chicago, IL 60607

HFS now seeks public input on these changes. (You can read the public comment notice on the HFS website.)

The deadline to provide feedback is June 30.

You can share your feedback in two ways:

• Via email to HFS.HCBSWaiver@illinois.gov
• Via mail to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Attention: Waiver Operations Management, 201 South Grand Ave. E., 2FL, Springfield, IL 62763

HFS will send your comments to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of the waiver approval process.

If you have questions, please contact HFS’s Waiver Operations Management Unit at (217) 524-4148 or (844) 528-8444.