IL SB1573

Establishes a nursing home labor force promotion program by January 1, 2020, funded through the Equity in Long-term Care Quality Fund, including public relations campaigns, scholarships for nursing assistants and nurses, and retention incentives for nursing home workers.

Allocates 60% of scholarships to counties with 3,000,000+ residents and provides preferential consideration for certified nursing assistants, single parents, and applicants from economically depressed areas or communities with high Medicaid, immigrant, or minority populations.

Requires a streamlined long-term care Medicaid eligibility application process by July 1, 2019, minimizing applicant burden by collecting only necessary data and integrating online data sources to expedite verification.

Mandates nursing facilities submit all medical assistance applications online via the ABE website after 3 regional trainings, with scanned supporting documentation and additional forms included electronically.

Establishes provisional Medicaid eligibility status effective June 29, 2018, for applicants not receiving final determinations within federal deadlines, with providers reimbursed for services rendered during the provisional period.