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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING COUNTYCARE’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Cook County Health (CCH) has a nearly 200 year history of caring for all residents of Cook County, regardless of ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, CCH is a staunch advocate of health equity and is committed to furthering programs and services that ensure health care coverage and access for all; and
WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 allowed for the expansion of Medicaid eligibility to low-income adults, along with several other important health care regulations and policies; and
WHEREAS, on October 26, 2012, the State of Illinois and County of Cook earned a Section 1115 demonstration waiver from the federal government that allowed CCH’s Medicaid managed care plan, CountyCare, to begin enrolling and providing health coverage to adults in Cook County newly eligible for Medicaid under the ACA one year in advance of the ACA implementation date; and
WHEREAS, thanks to the collaboration between the federal government, the State and Cook County government, CCH’s CountyCare was able to offer essential health coverage to individuals a year earlier than statewide Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, in its first year, CountyCare enrolled 82,000 members across Cook County; and
WHEREAS, CountyCare focused on enrolling vulnerable, uninsured individuals most at risk for falling through the cracks of the regional health care system, including low-income individuals, those who were unhoused, and those detained at the Cook County jail; and
WHEREAS, by the time Medicaid was expanded in Illinois, CountyCare covered nearly half of the total statewide enrollment of newly-eligible adults in Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, today, CountyCare is the largest Medicaid managed care plan in Cook County with more than 420,000 members; and
WHEREAS, CountyCare developed and sustains a robust network of health care providers, including CCH facilities and many health systems across the region, offering members a broad array of locations to seek medical, dental, vision and behavioral health care; and
WHEREAS, CountyCare has received many accolades over the past decade for its operations and member services, including being ranked as the highest managed care plan in the state by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and accreditation for demonstrating a commitment to quality by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA); and
WHEREAS, October 26, 2022, represents the 10th anniversary of CountyCare serving the residents of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, CountyCare has served more than 938,000 members over the past 10 years, facilitating more than 32 million medical claims and 75 million prescriptions. The health plan has also covered 781,000 well child visits and the births of nearly 43,000 babies; and
WHEREAS, CountyCare continues to demonstrate its commitment to the health of its members and communities across Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulate Cook County Health and CountyCare on its 10th Anniversary and do hereby gratefully acknowledge the entire CountyCare team for their significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of Cook County residents.
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