Section 1125.320  Purpose of the Project – Information Requirements

The applicant shall document that the project will provide health services that improve the long‑term nursing care or well-being of the market area population to be served.  The applicant shall define the planning area or market area, or other, per the applicant's definition.

a)         The applicant shall address the purpose of the project, i.e., identify the issues or problems that the project is proposing to address or solve.  Information to be provided shall include, but is not limited to, identification of existing problems or issues that need to be addressed, as applicable and appropriate for the project.  Examples of this information include:

1)         The area's demographics or characteristics (e.g., rapid area growth rate, increased aging population) that may affect the need for services in the future;

2)         The population's morbidity or mortality rates;

3)         The incidence of various diseases in the area;

A)        The population's financial ability to access LTC (e.g., financial hardship, increased number of charity care patients/residents, changes in the area population's insurance or managed care status);

B)        The physical accessibility to necessary LTC (e.g., new highways, other changes in roadways, changes in bus/train routes or changes in housing developments).

b)         The applicant shall cite the source of the information (e.g., local health department Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Need (IPLAN) documents, Public Health Futures, local mental health plans, or other health assessment studies from governmental or academic and/or other independent sources).

c)         The applicant shall detail how the project will address or improve the issues listed in subsection (a), as well as the population's health status and well-being.  Further, the applicant shall provide goals with quantified and measurable objectives with specific time frames that relate to achieving the stated goals.

d)         For projects involving modernization, the applicant shall describe the conditions being upgraded.  For facility projects, the applicant shall include statements of age and condition and any regulatory citations.  For equipment being replaced, the applicant shall also include repair and maintenance records.