Deal in Illinois disability lawsuit goes to judge

CHICAGO — A settlement reached in a class-action lawsuit involving the rights of disabled Medicaid residents in nursing homes has been presented to a federal judge in Chicago.

The settlement ultimately could affect about 20,000 people with disabilities living in Cook County.

In the deal's first phase, the state would spend $10 million to help at least 1,100 of those residents move into houses or apartments. More people would be helped in the second phase.

The settlement requires that the new housing arrangements cost the state the same or less than if the disabled residents had remained in nursing homes.

The settlement states that Illinois could reap an average annual net savings per person of at least $2,320 by housing people in apartments with community services instead of nursing homes.