Health News
Blog Post by Margie Schaps, Executive Director, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group
Last month the Cook County Health & Hospitals System received word from the Federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare that their request for an 1115 Waiver to the Illinois Medicaid system had been conditionally approved, pending the State of Illinois officially accepting the ?terms and conditions? of the Waiver. So, as of right now, the expectation is that the State will make this official within the next couple of weeks.
CountyCare, as the new Medicaid program will be known, has been provided for through the Affordable Care Act. CountyCare will allow the CCHHS to enroll tens of thousands of currently uninsured people into this Medicaid Program. People can begin applying on November 5th by phone 312-8648200 or toll free at 855-6718883. Coverage will start January 1, 2013.
This provides a great opportunity and enormous challenge for the health system to transform care by creating patient-centered medical homes rather than relying on expensive and inefficient use of emergency rooms. The focus of the program will be primary care centric with all specialty care, diagnostic and inpatient services coordinated through the medical home.
Eligible people include:
Not all doctors within the CCHHS system will be part of the network, and there will be many community health centers that will be part of the network (this list has not officially been released yet)
The CCHHS website has a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.cookcountyhhs.org/patient-services/county-care/
Advocates, providers and patients still have unanswered questions, many of which have been submitted by us to the CCHHS leadership and consultants. We anticipate getting answers to these in the coming weeks and will provide updates to this blog post as we get the information.
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- Illinois Takes Three Big Steps Forward In Health Reform Implementation
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- The State Budget Aftermath - What's Next?
On May 25, 2012, the Illinois legislature voted to pass Senate Bill 2840, which will make drastic cuts to the state?s Medicaid program, in order to help close a $2.7 billion deficit. The news has been confusing, but the bottom line is that many of the...
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Health News
The Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) 1115 Medicaid Waiver?What is CountyCare?
Blog Post by Margie Schaps, Executive Director, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group
Last month the Cook County Health & Hospitals System received word from the Federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare that their request for an 1115 Waiver to the Illinois Medicaid system had been conditionally approved, pending the State of Illinois officially accepting the ?terms and conditions? of the Waiver. So, as of right now, the expectation is that the State will make this official within the next couple of weeks.
CountyCare, as the new Medicaid program will be known, has been provided for through the Affordable Care Act. CountyCare will allow the CCHHS to enroll tens of thousands of currently uninsured people into this Medicaid Program. People can begin applying on November 5th by phone 312-8648200 or toll free at 855-6718883. Coverage will start January 1, 2013.
This provides a great opportunity and enormous challenge for the health system to transform care by creating patient-centered medical homes rather than relying on expensive and inefficient use of emergency rooms. The focus of the program will be primary care centric with all specialty care, diagnostic and inpatient services coordinated through the medical home.
Eligible people include:
- Live in Cook County
- Be 19-64 years old
- Have income at or below 133% FPL
- Not be eligible for ?state Plan? Medicaid
- Not be eligible for Medicare
- Be a legal immigrant for 5 years of more or a US citizen
- Have a social security number of have applied for one
Not all doctors within the CCHHS system will be part of the network, and there will be many community health centers that will be part of the network (this list has not officially been released yet)
The CCHHS website has a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.cookcountyhhs.org/patient-services/county-care/
Advocates, providers and patients still have unanswered questions, many of which have been submitted by us to the CCHHS leadership and consultants. We anticipate getting answers to these in the coming weeks and will provide updates to this blog post as we get the information.
- Accountable Care Entities (aces): A New Coordinated Care Model In Illinois
SB 26 to be signed by the Governor into law on July 22, 2013, will expand Medicaid to over 600,000 new potential enrollees but it will also usher in a new form of coordinated care in Illinois for these new Medicaid enrollees as well as existing families...
- Obamacare Is Here ? But Is It Working For People With Hiv?
Read AFC's CountyCare report and press release. On January 1, 2014, national health care reform will kick into high gear, providing new health insurance options for millions of people across the country. And thanks to visionary leadership...
- Illinois Takes Three Big Steps Forward In Health Reform Implementation
After the November election confirmed the permanent status of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Illinois wasted no time getting the law?s reforms under way. In less than a month, three big changes have brought the state closer to ACA implementation: 1. On...
- The State Budget Aftermath - What's Next?
On May 25, 2012, the Illinois legislature voted to pass Senate Bill 2840, which will make drastic cuts to the state?s Medicaid program, in order to help close a $2.7 billion deficit. The news has been confusing, but the bottom line is that many of the...
- Moving Forward: Current Waivers For Coordinated Care Projects In Illinois
?Care Coordination,? along with related terms like ?managed care? and ?medical home? have become the buzz words of health care reform. The terms refer to new types of health care delivery models that many states and programs are turning to as the key...