Illinois legislators unanimously approved a $700 million budget increase for nursing homes in the state to increase staffing levels and the quality of care, The Chicago Tribune reported April 8.
Reimbursement standards require facilities to meet at least 70 percent of federal staffing level guidelines and would be based on CMS quality star rating. The boost also provides funding for a new pay scale for certified nursing assistants based on tenure and job levels.
The legislation also implements the federal Patient Driven Payment Model, which aims to meet the clinical needs of each patient while preventing "upcoding" to increase bills without providing necessary care, according to the Tribune.