Illinois expands Medicaid assistance for housing, food, reentry services

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The federal government has given Illinois the green light to expand Medicaid coverage to address the root causes of health disparities. Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters in Chicago Monday that his administration is preparing to launch new services focused on housing, food insecurity and transitions from incarceration.

The federal 1115 waiver allows states to develop innovative ways to improve access, quality and equity in healthcare. Pritzker said this expanded Medicaid assistance can help the state's most vulnerable while reducing the burden on Illinois taxpayers.

"When these basic needs like housing and nutrition go unmet, individuals are two and a half times more likely to have poor physical health, five times more likely to have mental health challenges and twice as likely to report higher healthcare utilization," Pritzker said.

Illinois Capitol — The Capitol building where the bill could be heard at next week in assignments committee.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will provide short-term post transition housing and rental assistance. HFS can also use federal funding for nutrition counseling, home delivered and medically-tailored meals and nutrition prescriptions.

"Illinois is the first state approved to address community violence under an 1115 waiver, allowing for screening and needs assessment, trauma therapy and other services for Medicaid beneficiaries who have survived violence or are currently experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence," said HFS Director Lizzy Whitehorn.

Illinois will also cover pre-release benefits for inmates residing in jails, prisons and youth correctional facilities. Incarcerated people eligible for Medicaid could receive physical and behavior health consultations, medications and substance use treatment 90 days before returning to society.

"Incarcerated people and formerly incarcerated people are often overlooked or dismissed as not worthy of the same support and opportunities that anyone else in this county expects," said Ahmadou Dramé, director of the Illinois Justice Project. "But the truth is, being sentenced to prison should not be a sentence to sickness of disease."

Illinois was one of five states to receive federal approval for re-entry services. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will work with other state agencies and community organizations to implement this plan.