Section 410 ILCS 460/131-15 - Grants; eligibility standards(a) The Department shall do the following: (1)(A) Develop application criteria and standards of eligibility for groups or organizations who apply for funds under the program.(B) Make available grants to groups and organizations who meet the eligibility standards set by the Department. However: (i) the highest priority for grants shall be accorded to established sickle cell disease community-based organizations throughout Illinois; and (ii) priority shall also be given to ensuring the establishment of sickle cell disease centers in underserved areas that have a higher population of sickle cell disease patients.(2) Determine the maximum amount available for each grant provided under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1).(3) Determine policies for the expiration and renewal of grants provided under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1).(4) Require that all grant funds be used for the purpose of prevention, care, and treatment of sickle cell disease or for educational programs concerning the disease. Grant funds shall be used for one or more of the following purposes: (A) Assisting in the development and expansion of care for the treatment of individuals with sickle cell disease, particularly for adults, including the following types of care:(i) Self-administered care.(iv) Other evidence-based medical procedures and techniques designed to provide maximum control over sickling episodes typical of occurring to an individual with the disease.(B) Increasing access to health care for individuals with sickle cell disease.(C) Establishing additional sickle cell disease infusion centers.(D) Increasing access to mental health resources and pain management therapies for individuals with sickle cell disease.(E) Providing counseling to any individual, at no cost, concerning sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait, and the characteristics, symptoms, and treatment of the disease.(i) The counseling described in this subparagraph (E) may consist of any of the following:(I) Genetic counseling for an individual who tests positive for the sickle cell trait.(II) Psychosocial counseling for an individual who tests positive for sickle cell disease, including any of the following: (aa) Social service counseling.(bb) Psychological counseling.(cc) Psychiatric counseling.(5) Develop a sickle cell disease educational outreach program that includes the dissemination of educational materials to the following concerning sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait: (C) Schools and universities.(6) Adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.(b) The Department may contract with an entity to implement the sickle cell disease educational outreach program described in paragraph (5) of subsection (a).Added by P.A. 102-0004,§ 131-15, eff. 4/27/2021.