Above: CountyCare staff, pictured at its Children’s Health Fair at Provident Hospital in August, have been critical in providing exceptional services to its Medicaid members, resulting in the plan being ranked as the highest-ranked Medicaid plan in Illinois by the National Committee on Quality Assurance.
For more than 10 years, CountyCare has served the Cook County community as its largest Medicaid managed care plan. We’ve weathered many storms over that decade, becoming a more resilient and nimble organization each time.
As the American health care system faces more uncertainty than it has in many years, the role of payors like CountyCare is increasingly important. That’s why, as its associate chief medical officer, I’m committed to preserving the support and continuity of care that our nearly 400,000 members rely on.
The National Committee on Quality Assurance, the leading health care accreditation organization, recently ranked CountyCare as Illinois’ top Medicaid plan.
Thanks to the dedication of our staff and health care providers, our members reported high satisfaction with their overall health plan and the services it offers.
It’s easy to see why. CountyCare delivers no-cost health, vision, and dental coverage to all members, including pharmacy and mental health benefits. We’ve also encouraged our members to invest in their health through the innovative rewards program, offering incentives to those who complete annual checkups, and get recommended vaccinations or preventive screenings. To make doctors’ visits more accessible and adaptable to our members’ schedules, we partnered with Modivcare to provide free rides to and from their appointments.
But beyond that, CountyCare serves as a partner and a champion for our members. We ask our neighbors what support they need most — and listen.
Earlier this month, we welcomed expecting parents to our community baby shower in the Chatham neighborhood, giving away free car seats, diapers, and Sleep Safe kits. We know that a healthy community begins with healthy births, which is why we connect members to resources for fresh food, pre- and post-natal care, community resources, and parenting support.
This year, we also hosted health fairs addressing men’s, women’s, and children’s individual needs. Attendees accessed on-site primary care, dental, and preventive screenings, and immunizations, as well as free barber and beauty services, books for kids, and essential support from local organizations. By ingraining ourselves in the community, CountyCare gains valuable perspectives on the challenges facing our neighbors and how we can meet those needs.
Looking ahead, CountyCare is evolving to ensure that we can best serve our members, whatever the future may hold.We have already made fundamental shifts to become more agile and responsive to change, providing more online and telehealth services while expanding our partnerships with local hospitals and clinics.
Most importantly, we’ve considered the everyday lives of our members and woven in health care that meets them where they are. Personal health is unique to each individual, and our broad network of physicians, providers, facilities, and covered services reassures our members that they’re in good hands. Whatever stage of your journey you may be in, CountyCare is a plan built around you.
When so much feels unpredictable, we can’t let healthcare be one of them. Cook County Health and CountyCare’s mission to ensure that all may live their healthiest lives remains paramount to our work, and we will continue to keep it at the center of everything we do.
