(a) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, may offer, to children with developmental disabilities or children with severe mental illness or severe emotional disorders who otherwise would not qualify for medical assistance under this Article due to family income, home-based and community-based services instead of institutional placement, as allowed under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2.
     (b) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and the Division of Specialized Care for Children, University of Illinois-Chicago, shall submit a bi-annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1 of every even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, regarding the status of existing services offered under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2. This report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.


        (1) The number of persons who currently receive these
    
services.
        (2) The nature, scope, and cost of services.
        (3) The comparative cost of providing those services
    
in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility.
        (4) The funding sources for the provision of
    
services, including federal financial participation.
        (5) The qualifications, skills, and availability of
    
caregivers for children receiving services.
        (6) The number of children who have aged out of the
    
services offered under paragraph 7 of Section 5-2 during the 2 years immediately preceding the report.