Expansion of Telehealth

Cook County Health Board of Commissioners  
​Managed Care Committee
​January 19, 2024

The MANAGED CARE COMMITTEE accepted an emphasis on the expansion of the telehealth service into urgent care by Quarters 3 and 4, 2024.  There was no discussion and no details were provided to the committee at the meeting. 

REPORTS
Report on CountyCare Health Plan Metrics (in power point slides) was presented and discussed:

• Total Enrollment as of 01/05/2024 is 432,589 which is a 32% market share.
• Medicaid managed care enrollment decreased 2.7% county-wide each month, since redetermination resumed in June 2023, with CountyCare enrollment decreasing at the same rate.
• 2023 metrics
  • Increase in call abandonment rate from .35% on 47,791 calls in Oct2023 to .82% on 41,586 calls.  Almost 1% of calls abandoned on 13% fewer calls.  Still meets State Goal of < 5%. 
  • 6.4% fewer calls answered < 30secs in Dec 2023 to 91.43%.
  • Acute admits decreased slightly from 2022-2023.
  • Covid vaccination rate for one dose = 49.9% & 44.97% for series. CDC benchmark = 94.45%.
  • Highest rating from National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) across all MCO’s.
  • 53 of 230 new provider organizations added in 2023 were for Behavioral Health.
  • FY2024 focus includes 
    • Expansion of Telehealth in three phases
      • Q1&2 2024    Telepsychiatry, 
      • Q3&4 2024    Urgent Care, 
      • Q1&2 2025     Other specialties.
    • Reduce unpaid claims using population-based payment, in which CountyCare leads other MCO’s.

ITEMS TO WATCH:

• State of Illinois (SOI) is publishing RFP for Managed Care in Q2 2024.  First draft of response is completed. Consultant will be selected in the near future

ITEMS OF INTEREST:

• The actual enrollment for Dec 2023 and Jan 2024 were 25,000 and 40,000 higher than the budget projected.  
• More abandoned calls and longer delay before answered over three-month period Oct-Dec 2023.
• Less than 50% uptake on Covid vaccinations, less than 12% on Covid Booster.
• Unpaid claims over 60 days are decreasing.

ITEMS PROMPTING THE MOST DISCUSSION

• Flexible Housing Program – source of funding is ARPA and Illinois “Quality” $ from top ratings. 
• Workforce- Hired 231 positions, 80% team satisfaction.  Moving away from contracting labor.
• Housing Programs, Increased health benefits for immigrant (any status) adults and seniors.
• Health Benefits for Immigrant and Adults & Seniors (HBIA/S) (started by SOI 18-24 months ago) current enrollment is 9,217, projected at 40,000 between Jan-Apr2024.
• CountyCare is the only MCO that removed co-pays and cost-sharing for HBIA/S.  Committee was complimentary of assistance to this population, but wants report again in three months.

Observer - Victoria L Cerinich