Portion of DSCC Families Now Enrolled in Managed Care

February 4th, 2020

HealthChoice Illinois logo

DSCC continues to provide care coordination services and support for affected families.

Illinois children with special healthcare needs who receive Medicaid are now enrolled in managed care.

Managed care is a type of health insurance program. When you enroll in managed care, you become a member of a health plan. HealthChoice Illinois is the new managed care program that is now required statewide.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) moved children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Feb. 1.

This transition affected participants enrolled with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) who both:

  • Receive Medicaid and
  • Do not have private health insurance

DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for DSCC families now enrolled in a HealthChoice Illinois health plan.

We are developing contracts with each HealthChoice Illinois plan so families continue to receive the right support for their unique needs and goals.

We will share more information about our partnership with each HealthChoice Illinois health plan once contracts are complete.

DSCC staff is here to help affected families with any questions about your new health plan.

You may contact your local DSCC regional office or reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.

Reminder: Deadline Approaching for Families Affected by Managed Care Transition

January 8th, 2020

HealthChoice Illinois logo

Families transitioning to Medicaid managed care must select a health plan by or shortly after Jan. 10.

HealthChoice Illinois is the new Medicaid managed care program that is now required statewide.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will move children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Feb. 1, 2020.

These families must choose a HealthChoice Illinois health plan and primary care provider (PCP) by or shortly after Jan. 10. (Please note the specific deadline for your family is included in the enrollment packet you received from HealthChoice Illinois last month).

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) urges families affected by this transition to research which plan is right for them.

If a family does not choose a plan before the deadline, HFS will automatically assign them a plan and PCP.

Enrollment in a HealthChoice Illinois plan is mandatory for most DSCC families who both:

  • Receive Medicaid and
  • Do not have private health insurance

Note that if your child is a Home Care Program participant, your child will not transition to a HealthChoice Illinois plan. This transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who meet the criteria above.

There are at least four HealthChoice Illinois health plans to choose from.

We developed a list of questions to help our participant families select the best plan for their family’s needs. The “MCO Selection Tip Sheet for Families” is available at https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/available-brochures-pamphlets/. (Note the tip sheet is also available in Spanish.)

We strongly encourage families to use these tip sheet questions and reach out to a HealthChoice Illinois enrollment broker.

More information about Illinois’ managed care program is available at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/choose/compare-plans.

DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for affected families beyond the Feb.1 transition.

We remain committed to supporting our families and making this transition to a new health plan as seamless as possible.

Families may contact their local DSCC regional office with questions. They may also reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.

New Deadline for Families Affected by Managed Care Transition

December 19th, 2019

HealthChoice Illinois logo

Families transitioning to Medicaid managed care must select a health plan by Jan. 10.

Children with special healthcare needs will move into Medicaid’s managed care program on Feb. 1.

HealthChoice Illinois is the new Medicaid managed care program that is now required statewide.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will move children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Feb. 1, 2020.

HFS is sending enrollment packets to affected families this month. These families must choose a HealthChoice Illinois health plan and primary care provider (PCP) by Jan. 10.

If a family does not choose a plan before Jan. 10, HFS will automatically assign them a plan and PCP.

Enrollment in a HealthChoice Illinois plan is mandatory for most DSCC families who both:

  • Receive Medicaid and
  • Do not have private health insurance

Note that if your child is a Home Care Program participant, your child will not transition to a HealthChoice Illinois plan. This transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who meet the criteria above.

There are at least four HealthChoice Illinois health plans to choose from.

We developed a list of questions to help our participant families select the best plan for their family’s needs. The “MCO Selection Tip Sheet for Families” is available at https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/available-brochures-pamphlets/.

We strongly encourage families to use these tip sheet questions and reach out to a HealthChoice Illinois enrollment broker.

More information about Illinois’ managed care program is available at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/choose/compare-plans.

DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for families beyond the Feb.1 transition. We will share more details about this process once they become available.

We remain committed to supporting our families and making this transition to a new health plan as seamless as possible.

Families may contact their local DSCC regional office with questions. Families may also reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.

Process to Move Portion of DSCC Families to Managed Care Begins

December 13th, 2019

HealthChoice Illinois logo

Children with special healthcare needs will move into Medicaid’s managed care program on Feb. 1.

HealthChoice Illinois is the new Medicaid managed care program that is now required statewide.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will move children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Feb. 1, 2020.

Enrollment in a HealthChoice Illinois plan is mandatory for most DSCC families who both:

  • Receive Medicaid and
  • Do not have private health insurance

Note that if your child is a Home Care Program participant, your child will not transition to a HealthChoice Illinois plan. This transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who meet the criteria above.

HFS is sending enrollment packets to affected families this month. These families must choose a HealthChoice Illinois health plan and primary care provider (PCP) by mid-January.

There are at least four HealthChoice Illinois health plans to choose from.

We developed a list of questions to help our participant families select the best plan for their family’s needs. The “MCO Selection Tip Sheet for Families” is available at https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/available-brochures-pamphlets/.

More information about Illinois’ managed care program is available at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/choose/compare-plans.

DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for families beyond the Feb.1 transition. We will share more details about this process once they become available.

We remain committed to supporting our families and making this transition to a new health plan as seamless as possible.

Families may contact their local DSCC regional office with questions. Families may also reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.

Move to Managed Care Extended

October 16th, 2019

HealthChoice Illinois logo

New Feb. 1 deadline gives affected DSCC participants more time to research and select a Medicaid managed care plan.

HealthChoice Illinois is the new Medicaid managed care program that is now required statewide.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) originally planned to move children with special healthcare needs into a HealthChoice Illinois health plan on Nov. 1, 2019. HFS has extended the start date.

The new start date is Feb. 1, 2020. The extended timeframe will help ensure a smoother transition for affected families.

This delay means affected children will remain enrolled with UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) in the meantime.

Enrollment in a HealthChoice Illinois plan is mandatory for most DSCC families who both:

  1. Receive Medicaid and
  2. Do not have private health insurance.

Note that if your child is a Home Care Program participant, your child will not transition to a HealthChoice Illinois plan. This transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who meet the criteria above.

Affected families will receive new enrollment packets from Illinois Client Enrollment Services in mid-December. We will share more information about the deadline to select a HealthChoice Illinois plan and primary care provider once it becomes available.

There are at least four HealthChoice Illinois health plans to choose from.

We developed a list of questions to help our participant families select the best plan for their family’s needs. The “MCO Selection Tip Sheet for Families” is available at https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/available-brochures-pamphlets/.

More information about Illinois’ managed care program is available at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/choose/compare-plans.

DSCC staff is working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for families beyond the Feb.1 transition. We will share more details about this process once they become available.

“DSCC is committed to supporting our families and making this transition to a new health plan as seamless as possible,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas Jerkovitz said.

Families may contact their local DSCC regional office with questions. Families may also reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.

Portion of DSCC Families to Move to Managed Care

September 16th, 2019

HealthChoice Illinois logo

NOTE: The timeline for the Medicaid managed care transition has been extended. Read more at https://dscc.uic.edu/move-to-managed-care-extended/.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has expanded its Medicaid managed care program.

Managed care is a type of health insurance program. When you enroll in managed care, you become a member of a health plan. HealthChoice Illinois is the new managed care program that is now required statewide.

This change will affect some participants’ enrollment status with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC).

Enrollment in a HealthChoice Illinois plan is mandatory for most DSCC families who both:

  1. Receive Medicaid and
  2. Do not have private health insurance

Note that if your child is a Home Care Program participant, your family will not transition to a HealthChoice Illinois Plan. This transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who meet the criteria above.

There are at least four HeatlhChoice Illinois health plans for families to select.

Affected families must choose a HealthChoice Illinois health plan and primary care provider (PCP) by Oct. 15. If a family does not choose a plan before Oct. 15, HFS will assign one.

“Our staff will support our families to make this transition to a new health plan as seamless as possible” DSCC Executive Director Thomas Jerkovitz said.

We developed a list of questions to help our participant families select the best plan for their family’s needs. The “MCO Selection Tip Sheet for Families” is available at https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/available-brochures-pamphlets/.

We urge affected DSCC families to please watch their mail for an enrollment packet from Illinois Client Enrollment Services.

More information about Illinois’ managed care program is available at https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/choose/plans-by-county/cook. Illinois Client Enrollment Services plans to mail packets the week of Sept. 16.

DSCC staff is currently working with HFS and its partners to continue our care coordination services for families affected by this transition. DSCC’s financial assistance should also be available to affected families. We will share more details about this process once they become available.

DSCC Care Coordinators will reach out to affected families to collect updated information about their child. Care Coordinators will also continue to work with participants to develop their plan of care.

Again, this transition only affects DSCC’s Core Program participants who receive Medicaid and do not have private health insurance.

“Through these changes, DSCC will remain a resource for affected families. We value their partnership and will continue to help connect their children to the proper services and support,” Jerkovitz said.

Families may contact their local DSCC regional office with questions. Families may also reach us at (800) 322-3722 or dscc@uic.edu.