SPRINGFIELD – To ensure children with complex medical needs continue to receive proper care, State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would establish the Certified Family Health Aide Program for Children and Adults.
“With the current nursing shortage, community-based health care centers have turned to family caregivers to meet the needs of children and family members who are dependent on around-the-clock care,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “While these family caregivers are trained on methods to provide specialized care and fill in gaps in nursing hours, they are typically unpaid.”
A children’s community-based health care center is a designated site that provides nursing care, clinical support services and therapies for children with complex medical needs who are deemed clinically stable by a physician. Through the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program, children and adults enrolled in the program prior to their 21st birthday who meet eligibility requirements are able to remain in their own homes or live in a community setting to receive care, instead of moving into an institution.
Senate Bill 2434 would direct the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to develop a certification pathway for family caregivers to provide assistance with in-home nursing services for their own family member.
The measure would also require children’s community-based health care centers to provide family caregivers with additional training and would make these caregivers eligible for compensation.
“In addition to the extreme costs of health care, families face additional financial strain with the loss of income when the responsibility of caring for a loved one falls upon the family,” said Villa. “Providing a pathway to ensure these caregivers are eligible for compensation supports the financial security of these families and ensure that children with complex medical needs do not go without care.”
Senate Bill 2434 passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee Wednesday.
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