A federal judge on Tuesday gave her preliminary approval to a settlement that could eventually help thousands of disabled, low-income Illinois residents live more independently while saving the state money in the process.
State officials and advocates for the disabled lauded their agreement as a money-saving milestone after U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow gave it her initial backing and set a Dec. 20 hearing for fielding comments and objections.
If the judge gives the deal her final approval, it could affect not only 20,000 low-income people with physical disabilities and mental illnesses living in Cook County nursing homes, but also thousands more nursing home residents throughout Illinois.
Illinois could save $2,320 per person annually by housing Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities in houses and apartments with community services instead of in nursing homes, advocates and state officials agreed.