DHFS-GRANTS-FOOD DESERTS

Amends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Law. Provides that subject to appropriations, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall establish and administer a grant program that provides grants to multi-specialty healthcare facilities that serve urban populations in areas identified to be food deserts by the Illinois Department of Public Health in its Illinois Food Deserts Annual Report. Provides that, to receive a grant under the program, a multi-specialty healthcare facility must provide accessible services and have expertise in mental health, nutrition, family medicine, alternative medicine, sports medicine, pain management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social determinants of health. Requires the Department to assess the effectiveness of the grant program by monitoring (i) enrollment levels in each multi-specialty healthcare facility and (ii) the blood pressure, body mass index, and mental health assessments of enrolled patients. Provides that funding for the grant program shall not exceed $10,000,000. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the grant program. Effective July 1, 2022.