Nonprofits sue state over Illinois group home oversight plan

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Three nonprofit groups are suing the state to stop a new case management plan for thousands of Illinoisans who receive publicly funded care in group homes.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports Wednesday that the groups filed their lawsuit in Springfield federal court, requesting a preliminary injunction against the Illinois Department of Human Services. The lawsuit claims that the new case management and service coordination plan for Medicaid recipients violates federal law.

Mary McGlauchlen is executive director of Central Illinois Service Access in Lincoln, which is one of the three agencies suing the state. McGlauchlen called the new oversight system "a recipe for disaster."

DHS spokeswoman Meghan Powers says the agency is "committed to ensuring a smooth transition for families and the people we serve."

No court hearing is scheduled on the injunction request.

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Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com