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The U of I rate study is getting a lot of
attention. It was funded with $300,000 to look at the costs of community
based programs vs. the revenue coming from the state of Illinois. The study
is being done by Dr. Elizabeth Powers and Dr. Nicholas Powers if the
Institute of Government and Public Affairs. The study is based on financial
analysis of 85 DD day programs including ECC, 70+ MI programs, 200 CILA
operations, and 20 nursing homes. There was a 35% to 40% return rate for
responses. Statistically, this is an unbelievable return rate. Normally, a
20% return is considered phenomenally high. The results are somewhat self
evident, but this is the first time many of these outcomes have been
documented. DHS has issued a critical response. The basic results from the
study:
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Funding for community services is low for a state of Illinois wealth and
is behind 40 other states.
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Funding for services is drained and dominated by large institutions which
serve the smallest percentage of people. Staff in institutions are paid
more and receive better benefits than staff working in community settings.
There is a consistent theme that the rates
used by the State to fund community programs has very little refection of
actual cost. The state feels it is appropriate to fund community services at
75% of costs yet covers it’s own services at 100%. The current system used
to develop a rate payment structure has been based more on philosophy than
actual cost. Community agencies have been able to function within those
rates, so the rates are felt to be effective. Economic realities are
catching up at such a rate that the continued ability of agencies that get
90% of their funding from the State to pay their bills and simply stay in
business is questionable.
Click
here to get a copy of the Preliminary U of I Study.
You will need the Adobe Reader to read this
file. Much more to come. |
Illinois
