Credentialing Overview
The Illinois Department of Human Services has implemented minimum qualification standards for each EI Credential to ensure the highest quality of services are provided to infants and toddlers in Illinois. Minimum qualification standards, including licensing, degree, education, and/or certification requirements, are available below.
To provide services, either independently or with an agency, the applicant must first qualify, be issued an EI Credential for the profession for which they wish to be credentialed, and complete the CBO Enrollment Application (if applicable).
Note: The EI Credential is directly linked to billing for services. Unless an individual intends to provide and bill for services in the Illinois EI System, there is no need to hold the EI Credential. If an individual does get credentialed and enrolled to provide services but does not receive authorizations or bill for more than 12 consecutive months, the provider is subject to being inactivated from the EI Provider System.
FY 2027 Early Intervention Provider Rates by Procedure Codes
** = CBO enrollment is required (see additional requirements).
FAQ for FY 2027 Early Intervention Provider Rates
New rates will take effect October 1, 2026.
During this challenging budget year, we are excited that the Early Intervention program received a funding increase. This allows us to continue to maintain the level of current services, invest in systemic improvements in the operating systems to drive greater equity and efficiency, and make progress towards competitive compensation for EI providers, especially for those providers furthest from or just at 50% modeled cost. In order to ensure a smooth transition of services and supports as programs transition in July, the provider rate increase effective date is October 1. This timeline reflects the time needed to effectuate the rate change while mitigating disruption.
The purpose of this rate increase is to continue the state’s progress to support the Early Intervention program toward more competitive compensation for EI providers.
Of the $15 million of increased appropriations for the Early Intervention program, $5.5 million is for maintenance of the existing program services, about $3.5 million is for provider rate increases, and $6 million is to begin to make systemic improvements in the operating systems to drive greater equity and efficiency. These systemic improvements will benefit families, providers and CFCs and provide the program the much needed upgrade to improve service delivery.
IDEC developed the updated provider rates using a range of information and tools, including the recent Early Intervention cost model. We updated rates for providers whose rates are currently at or below 50% of the modeled cost. Every provider is now at 50% or more than the modeled cost.
In 2023, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Early Childhood commissioned the cost model study to better understand the decline of Early Intervention (EI) providers in Illinois and to quantify what it will take to expand the supply of providers. The cost model is not a funding formula or funding approach. IDEC is using this tool as the best-available data to understand the costs of service delivery and the labor markets for each EI provider type.
- Audiology: 22%
- Aural Rehab: 2%
- Developmental Therapy: 4%
- Occupational Therapy: 2%
- Physical Therapy: 7%
- Psychology: 2%
- Social Work: 2%
- Vision: 4%
Certain services, such as service coordination, will not receive rate increases, as well as others since they are already at or above 50% of modeled costs, including:
- Interpretation/Translation
- Medical Diagnostics
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Speech Therapy
Similar to last year, IDEC targeted this rate increase specifically at provider types paid at or below 50% of modeled costs, based on the best available data. Following the FY 2026 rate increases, certain services, such as nutrition, nursing, and interpretation and translation, are already closer to the modeled cost to provide that service. Of course, this is not to say that these services do not face issues with payment or rates being aligned to the modeled cost of services. However, in a challenging budget environment, IDEC is prioritizing targeted rate increases to bring as many of the 16 core Early Intervention services to at least 50% of modeled costs. IDEC will continue to monitor rates and use available data to guide future rate decisions.
IDEC does not expect widespread or systemic disruptions to billing. As the state has done with previous rate increases, IDEC will work with the Early Intervention Central Billing Office to make the changes necessary to update payment amounts for service dates on and after October 1, 2026.
Each year, IDEC works with the Governor’s Office to support the development of the Governor’s Budget Proposal for the upcoming state fiscal year. IDEC then works with the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) to advance the Governor’s budget proposal through the ILGA, which has to pass the budget. IDEC will use all available tools to make recommendations to improve the health of the Early Intervention system, especially focused on systemic improvements that will drive greater participation (access), greater reach (equity), and programs that work (efficacy). This may include changes to reimbursement rates.
As always, stakeholders receive updates through official communications, including additional Provider Information Notices and other IDEC notices posted at https://providerconnections.org/ or visit the updated IDEC website at idec.illinois.gov and sign up for the newsletter.
For additional questions about the Early Intervention program, please contact IDEC at Questions.IDEC@illinois.gov.