Cook County Health Board Undertakes Strategic Planning

Cook County Health Board of Directors Meeting - November 30, 2018

CountyCare Update:

• Total CountyCare Medicaid managed members September 2018 is 335,126. 
  
• 50,149 of CountyCare members are receiving their care in Cook County Health clinics. 
  
• Medicaid Open Enrollment has started.  Open enrollment happens once a year when Medicaid members can change plans.  Illinois Healthcare and Family Services began mailing out letters letting members know the date they can sign up for 2019 plans. 
  
• CountyCare is promoting itself during open enrollment as the largest Medicare managed care plan in Cook County by using texts/emails to members and providers; by sponsoring member events; by using social media, Facebook and You Tube; by using website information; and with ads on bus shelters, CTA, and banners.

Recent statistics show system-wide, Cook County Health provides 42% of charity care in Cook County.  Illinois non-profit hospitals receive property tax exemptions based on the charity assistance given to their communities even though there is a wide definition of charity care and community benefits.  The subject of Cook County non-profit hospitals providing charity care is an issue.

Subjects to be addressed in future countywide Cook County Health strategic planning:

• locations of health care delivery systems
  
• social determinants in life expectancy
  
• population shifts
  
• population demographics
  
• suburbanization of poverty
  
• elderly and disabled populations and their special needs
  
• access to healthy food, food insecurity
  
• areas of high unemployment rates as economics affect health and social conditions
  
• suburban public transportation
  
• Primary Care Physicians as key entry to Cook County Health specialists
  
• if Cook County Health clinics have followed population shifts
  
• competition with large non-profit health system

Observer - Michele Niccolai                                                                 Meeting Length:  2 hours