University of Chicago Medicine severs ties with Medicaid insurer IlliniCare

Thousands of low-income patients may have to scramble to find new doctors this month after University of Chicago Medicine became the latest major health system to break up with IlliniCare Health, an insurer that administers benefits for the state's Medicaid program.

U. of C. Medicine follows Northwestern Medicine and Advocate Health Care in walking away from IlliniCare Health, one of 12 Medicaid managed care organizations in the state. Medicaid managed care organizations are insurers that handle benefits for Medicaid, a state- and federally funded health insurance program for the poor.

When the contract ends next month, about 8,000 IlliniCare members will no longer be able to get in-network services from U. of C. Medicine or University of Chicago Physicians Group, according to U. of C. Medicine. IlliniCare pegs that number closer to 4,000 patients.

That includes members who are part of a program serving women, children and adults who gained coverage as part of Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act as well as a program serving older adults, people who are blind, and people who are disabled.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-university-of-chicago-ends-medicaid-agreement-0804-biz-20170803-story.html