Illinois Statutes Chapter 305. Public Aid § 5/5-11.1. Cooperative arrangements; contracts

§ 5-11.1. Cooperative arrangements; contracts. The Illinois Department may enter into cooperative arrangements with State agencies responsible for administering or supervising the administration of health services and vocational rehabilitation services to maximize utilization of these services in the provision of medical assistance.

The Illinois Department shall, not later than June 30, 1994, enter into one or more cooperative arrangements with the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities providing that the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities will be responsible for administering or supervising all programs for services to persons in community care facilities for persons with mental illness, including but not limited to intermediate care facilities, that are supported by State funds or by funding under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.  1 The responsibilities of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities under these agreements are transferred to the Department of Human Services as provided in the Department of Human Services Act.  2

The Department may also contract with State health and rehabilitation agencies and other public or private health care and rehabilitation organizations to act for it in supplying designated medical services to persons eligible under this Section. Any contracts with health services or health maintenance organizations shall be restricted to organizations which have been certified as being in compliance with standards promulgated under the laws of this State governing the establishment and operation of health services or health maintenance organizations. The Department may also contract with insurance companies or other corporate entities serving as fiscal intermediaries in this State for the federal government in respect to Medicare payments under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act  3 to act for the Department in paying medical care suppliers. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to abrogate any existing doctor/patient relationships with Department of Healthcare and Family Services recipients or the free choice of clients or their guardians to select a physician to provide medical care. The provisions of Section 9 of the State Finance Act  4 notwithstanding, such contracts with State agencies, other health care and rehabilitation organizations, or fiscal intermediaries may provide for advance payments.