Procurement Opportunities

The Community Care Program, administered by the Illinois Department on Aging, offers a statewide network of services to persons age 60 and over. These services offer eligible older adults of Illinois the opportunity to remain in their own homes as an alternative to inappropriate or premature institutionalization in a nursing facility.

Illinois certifies providers for services under the Community Care Program. Any willing and qualified agency may participate in this open procurement process.

NOTICE: Statewide Provider Management Training
The Illinois Department on Aging will host trainings every year, generally held in April and September. Details will be sent to qualified providers upon application approval by the Department, at which time the provider will be allowed to complete registration for the training.

• Adult Day Service
  Adult Day Service is designed especially for older adults who want to remain in the community but who cannot be home alone during the day due to a physical, social and/or mental impairment. Adult day service also provides respite for family caregivers, especially those who are employed outside the home, and socialization for isolated older adults. Services offered in adult day service centers include health, medication supervision, personal care and recreational/therapeutic activities. Nutritious lunches and snacks are served, and special diets are provided.



• Emergency Home Response Service
  Emergency Home Response Service (EHRS) is a 24-hour emergency communication link to assistance outside the home for older adults with documented health and safety needs and mobility limitations. This service is provided by a two-way voice communication system consisting of a base unit and an activation device worn by the client that will automatically link the older adult to a professionally staffed support center.



• In-Home Service
  In-Home Service provides assistance with household tasks such as cleaning, planning and preparing meals, doing laundry, shopping and running errands. Homemakers also assist clients with personal care tasks, such as dressing, bathing, grooming and following special diets.

Service Provider Eligibility Requirements

A service provider must comply with administrative requirements, service specifications and other required operational information for each type of service under the Community Care Program.

Please carefully review the following information before completing your certification packet:

• Adult Day Service
  – Administrative Requirements for Certification (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1505)
  – Provider Administrative Minimum Standards (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1510)
  – Provider Responsibilities (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1520)
  – Standard Requirements for Adult Day Service Providers (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1550)
  – General Adult Day Service Staffing Requirements (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1555)
  – Adult Day Service Staff (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240. 1560)



• Emergency Home Response Service
  – Please see EHRS Provider Certification for information on the current provider certification process for this service.



• In-Home Service
  – Administrative Requirements for Certification (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1505)
  – Provider Administrative Minimum Standards (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1510)
  – Provider Responsibilities (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1520)
  – Standard Requirements for In-home Service Providers (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1525)
  – General In-home Service Staffing Requirements (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1530)
  – In-home Service Staff Positions, Qualifications, Training and Responsibilities (89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1535)

Certification Packet

The certification packet consists of the following documents. NOTE: Each applicant must submit BOTH a Legal Entity Application and the appropriate Service Specific Application.

1. Legal Entity Application
   Complete only one application per In-Home Service and/or Adult Day Service legal entity. (Note: This is not applicable to Emergency Home Response Service.)
   
   
   • Legal Entity Application for Provider Certification (PDF)
   
   
   
   • Legal Entity Application Instructions (PDF)



2. Service Specific Applications
   
   
   • Adult Day Service
     A separate application must be submitted for each Adult Day Service site
     
     
     • Adult Day Service Application Instructions (PDF)
     
     
     
     • Application for Adult Day Service (PDF)
     .
   
   
   
   • In-Home Service
     A separate application must be submitted for each Planning and Service Area (PSA) in which services will be provided. For geographic information, refer to the PSA Map, the Chicago City Map (PDF) and the Suburban Cook County Map (PDF).
     
     
     • In-Home Service Application Instructions (PDF)
     
     
     
     • PSA 01 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 02 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 03 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 04 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 05 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 06 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 07 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 08 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 09 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 10 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 11 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 12 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)
     • PSA 13 Application for In-Home Service (PDF)

All forms must be completed accurately before processing can be started. Any incomplete packet will be returned. Be sure to maintain a copy for your records.

Return your completed certification packet to:
Illinois Department on Aging
Attn: Office of Service Development and Procurement
One Natural Resources Way, Suite 100
Springfield, IL 62702-1271

We appreciate your interest in becoming a service provider under the Community Care Program!

Certification Process

There are six steps to the Service Provider Certification Process (see 89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1600, Provider Agency Certification):

1. Application
   • Complete and submit your Certification Packet (see above).
   • Pass review of your Certification Packet.


2. Review
   • Schedule and pass a precertification review of on-site operations at your agency unless a performance review of the provider agency has already been completed by the Illinois Department on Aging or its designee within the prior 12 months.
   • Complete any required remediation based on the review.


3. Certification
   • Receive Service Provider Certification from the Illinois Department on Aging.


4. Management Training



5. Contracting (see 89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1607, Standard CCP Provider Agreement)
   • Complete and submit your Provider Agreement.
     
     Provider Agreements will be entered with qualified provider agencies on a schedule determined by the Illinois Department on Aging, but no more frequently than semiannually after initial certification.


6. Renewal
   • Recertification

Denial of Certification

Any provider agency denied initial certification of qualifications or recertification for the provision of Community Care Program services shall be afforded the opportunity to submit another request to the Illinois Department on Aging after a 60-day period of time from issuance of the determination or notification of a final decision or other action on an objection filed pursuant to Section 240.1645.

The provider agency may also object to the decision in a form and manner prescribed by the Illinois Department on Aging in the written notification of denial (see 89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1645, Objection to Certification Decision).

Appeal Rights

A provider may file an objection, in limited circumstances, if a certification request is denied by the Illinois Department on Aging.

An objection regarding a certification decision must be in writing and must be received at the Illinois Department on Aging Springfield office on or before the tenth calendar day from the date of the applicant's receipt of the notice of the objectionable action. If the objection is not received before the close of business on the tenth calendar day, the objection shall be disregarded.

Each objection must contain a full and concise statement of the facts and circumstances of the action that is alleged to be objectionable, legally or otherwise, and a statement of the relief sought.

See 89 Illinois Administrative Code 240.1645, Objection to Certification Decision.

Open Certification Schedule

The Illinois Department on Aging is accepting certification packets from all Planning and Service Areas (PSAs) of the state of Illinois.

Current Certified Providers

A combined list of Adult Day Service and In-Home Service Providers can be found in the Directory of Agencies Serving Seniors.

Management Training

See Conferences, Trainings, Events and Meetings for a current list of training events and meetings.

Assistance and Resources

For assistance in the certification process, contact the Illinois Department on Aging Office of Service Development and Procurement.

Resources:

• Enabling Statute: Illinois Act on Aging (see Illinois Compiled Statutes, Executive Branch 20 ILCS 105/).
  
  To view other statutes, see Statutes and Administrative Rules.



• Community Care Program Web page.



• Frequently Asked Questions on the Community Care Program.



• To view publications and Web sites related to the Community Care Program, see:
  – Publications
  – Related Web sites