Access to Care Covered Procedures
As a participating physician in Accesss to Care you are aware of the great need for primary health care among the uninsured population. Access to Care is a program designed to help those in need of health care services connect to a physician who is willing to help his/her community. Access to Care is NOT insurance. Many patients may use the term insurance, but an insurance plan would cover more than just primary health care services.

In reviewing the list of procedures conducted on Access to Care patients that were denied, breast ultrasounds immediately came to the attention of ATC staff. Ultrasounds of any kind ARE NOT COVERED by Access to Care. Unfortunately by September 30th, 53 patients went to the local hospital to have a breast ultrasound conducted even though patients had received a list of services NOT covered, which contains ultrasounds. Bills for all ultrasound procedures are denied by Access to Care which makes the patient responsible for paying this bill. As an ATC participating physician, you may fax a referral form to Beatriz Ortega, Case Manager, who will set up an appointment for ultrasounds at Stroger or Oak Forest Hospitals, which are part of Cook County's health system. At these facilities, patients pay an amount determined by their income. By sending in a referral for an ultrasound, patients will be able to avoid the expense of this procedure being done at the local hospital. As of September 2007, Beatriz had received only 19 requests for breast ultrasounds.

The Health Affairs Committee of Access to Care periodically reviews the procedures to be covered by the program. The program covers most lab tests and x-rays that relate to primary health care services. If your office does not have the lists of the covered procedures and would like to receive one, simply call Kate Barnickel, at 708-531-0680. If your patient requires tests other than those listed, you may send a referral form for the procedures to be conducted at Oak Forest or Stroger Hospitals. This will avoid the claim for those services being denied by Access to Care.

The Board and Staff of Access to Care thank all the physicians for their generosity in caring for the underserved and uninsured population in Cook County. Without your dedication to helping those in need, Access to Care would not exist.

Prescription Drug Programs
Access to Care would like the physicians to be aware of information that all Access to Care patients have received. You may have had some patients come in to request a new prescription for a 3-month supply of their medications. This is for the RX OUTREACH program.

In this program Access to Care patients may receive some generic medications through the mail. For a 90 day supply medications are either $20, $30 or $40. This is a money saving medication program. All Access to Care patients are eligible for RX Outreach, as well as anyone with an income under 300% of federal poverty guidelines. (Access to Care patients have incomes below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.) This program includes some medications not covered by Access to Care. It covers GENERIC drugs only. If you have any questions about RX Outreach, call 1-800-769-3880.

Target and Walmart/Sam's Club offer many GENERIC only medications for as little as $4 for a 30 day supply. ATC patients were given a list of medications available at Target and Walmart/Sam's Club.

Walgreen's is the pharmacy provider for the Access to Care program. The patient must have his/her Access to Care card to obtain medications at Walgreen's. Patient's received a list of medications covered by Access to Care. Generic medications are $10 for a 30 day
supply. Brand name medications are $20 or $30 for a 30 day supply. Only medications purchased at Walgreen's will be covered by the program. Access to Care will pay for most brand name medications if a generic equivalent is unavailable or you indicate that there is a medical reason the patient is unable to take the generic medication.

The Cook County Prescription Discount Card is available to anyone living in Cook County. It is not insurance, it is a DISCOUNT card. This card can be used when a prescribed medication is not covered under any plan. This program is provided for citizens of Cook County through a joint effort of Cook County and the National Association of Counties. This card is accepted by 9 out of 10 pharmacies nationwide. For more information about this program call 1-877-321-2652.

Access to Care physicians and the Media
Thank you to Access to Care participating physicians who have generously offered to speak with media representatives about Access to Care. Participating physicians have related their thoughts about Access to Care and its impact on patients' lives.

Having an Access to Care patient and physician speaking about the program helps the public to understand the problems uninsured people face. Members of the media do their best to accomodate physicians' schedules so as not to disrupt patient care. If you or a member of your staff would be willing to speak with media representatives, please call Kate Barnickel at the Access to Care administrative office, 708-531-0680 x 26.

Media coverage not only informs people who may need the services of Access to Care, but can also help to secure new funding sources. Without your help and dedication, Access to Care could not exist. The contributions of physicians to Access to Care has been conservatively estimated to be worth $2.5 million.

Thank you!!!