YouthCare HealthChoice Illinois

Warmest wishes for a healthy and happy new year, from YouthCare HealthChoice Illinois.

As 2024 draws to a close, we extend our gratitude to the nearly 70,000 compassionate professionals in our provider network and celebrate your commitment to service. You give our friends, families, and neighbors the greatest gift of all: an opportunity to live healthier. Thank you and best wishes for the holiday season.

Our very own Marc Fagan, Psy.D., Plan President and Lyndsey Garbi, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Blueberry Pediatrics were featured on WGN-TV with Jewell Hillery. Watch here to learn more about our partnership to serve our members: https://bit.ly/4fnzg64

Last month, Gary Pate, Senior Trainer at YouthCare, facilitated a discussion about trauma reminders and positive childhood experiences with a group of 40 Chicago Westside Sports youth coach volunteers. This is an excellent example of how community members strive to create safe spaces for youth to grow and thrive. Each team has three coaches: a police officer, a representative from a faith-based organization, and a representative from a non-profit organization. The program is administered by The City of Refuge. Stephanie Marquardt is the Executive Director. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4g57ZGN.

We are thankful to our in-network providers for continuing to help foster children thrive and stay well. And we are grateful to foster parents for ensuring kids and teens in their care are supported, nourished, and encouraged to live healthy. Wishing all a healthy and joyous Thanksgiving.  

We know at times it can be a challenge for our members in rural areas to access healthcare. YouthCare is partnering with providers who offer telehealth to help bridge this gap. Read our recent announcement about one of these providers: https://bit.ly/410JJku #NationalRuralHealthDay

The flu virus continuously mutates, so a yearly vaccine is important to protect you and those around you. Yet continuing vaccine hesitancy means more children and adults are unnecessarily susceptible to the flu and the potential for severe illness. See Fluvention® resources from Meridian: https://bit.ly/3UXXsoA Promote and encourage flu vaccinations as part of a collective effort to safeguard members and communities. YouthCare is managed by Meridian of Illinois, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation.

Illinois Medicaid providers—revalidation is underway. Revalidation must be timely or providers risk removal from Medicaid without the ability to bill for services. Because revalidation notices are only sent via email, you should log into IMPACT to ensure ALL email addresses listed under the “Basic Information” page are accurate for your organization. Know when to expect your notice: Look for your “Revalidation Period” on the “Basic Information” page in IMPACT. Don’t attempt to revalidate until you receive your email notice. Organizations with multiple service locations and/or NPI numbers must revalidate each service location and/or NPI number separately. Never ignore a revalidation notice from HFS, even if you think you have already completed the process. Get full details in our provider notice: https://bit.ly/4fUqe1q

YouthCare’s Senior Trainer, Gary Pate, presented at the Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Conference held October 17 and 18 in Springfield. A team of employees, including Dr. Marc Fagan, YouthCare Plan President, were also there to showcase all that YouthCare offers to foster children within the state of Illinois.

To help you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy Halloween, here are some tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. • Wear costumes that say “flame resistant” on the label. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon. • Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping. • Wear makeup and hats rather than costume masks that can obscure your vision. • Test the makeup you plan to use at least 24-48 hours in advance. Put a small amount on the arm of the person who will be wearing it. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop where the makeup was applied, that's a sign of a possible allergy. • Vibrantly colored makeup is popular at Halloween. Check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the colors are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use them. This is especially important for colored makeup around the eyes.