UPCOMING EVENTS
You are invited to join the Protect Our Care Illinois (POCIL) Coalition on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 from 12pm – 1pm CST for a Virtual Community Conversation on HR1 & Illinois Medicaid Changes - What HR1 Means for Illinois Medicaid.
We know that health care is under attack in Illinois and across the country. Provisions in HR1 are already beginning to reshape Medicaid, threatening coverage for millions of Americans, including many right here in Illinois. At the same time, the Affordable Care Act continues to face ongoing challenges that put affordable coverage at risk for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Now more than ever, it's critical that advocates, providers, and community members understand what's at stake and how to respond.
Community Conversation, HR1 and Illinois Medicaid: Navigating the Changes Ahead
📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
🕐 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
💻 Virtual (Zoom Webinar)
This conversation will cover:
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What's changing with Illinois Medicaid because of HR1
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How these changes could impact Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid
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Practical steps you can take to help reduce harm to your clients, patients, and community members
👉 Register here: Webinar Registration
Protect Our Care Illinois (POCIL)
Community Conversation
HR1 and Illinois Medicaid:
Navigating the Changes Ahead
Learn that appropriate services and supports is heavily dependent on parents’ and guardians’ ability to navigate a very complex system and to advocate for their child.
(PDF, 1.2 MB | Last updated: June 2021)
REFERRAL & SUPPORT TOOLS
REACH: Policy Recommendations
Proposed policy recommendations related the reach initiative and the whole child task for report.
(PDF, 99.6 KB | Last updated: 2022)
Early Intervention Standardized Referral Form
FS 650 (N-7-14): Allows HFS to share information with your child's assigned primary care provider and treating doctors within the group, for care coordination.
(PDF, 109 KB | Last updated: March 2018)
Early Childhood Special Education Referral Fax Back Form
HFS 652 (R-3-18): Notify your referral source about the outcome of an Early Intervention (EI) Referral.
(PDF, 307 KB | Last updated: April 2019)
SNAP RESOURCES
On July 4, 2025, the federal government passed H.R. 1, a new law, which makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Link in Illinois. These new changes affect thousands of Illinoisans' SNAP eligibility, require them to take extra steps to receive their SNAP benefits, or put them at risk of losing their benefits altogether.
See below for resources to determine SNAP eligibility, additional information on changing work requirements, and assistance meeting requirements and maintaining benefits.
We also want to direct you to organizations that are specializing in food assistance and sharing information that may be critical to helping continue benefits for Illinoisans. We hope this information is helpful to you, your family, and your communities, as we know and believe that no one should go hungry.