The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has approved three more health systems to participate in the state's Medicaid accountable care organization initiative, which begins July 1.
Evanston-based NorthShore University HealthSystem, Arlington Heights-based Alexian Brothers Health System and a group of hospitals led by St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood each received state approval to form Medicaid accountable care entities, or ACEs, according to a Crain's Chicago Business report. That leaves Illinois with nine ACEs total, eight being in the Chicago area.
The three aforementioned systems failed to make the cut earlier this year. Applicants were notified in February about whether they had received preliminary approval or fell into the second tier and needed to provide more information to the state. Jim Parker, a deputy administrator in Illinois' DHFS, said NorthShore, Alexian Brothers and St. Bernard's hospitals expanded their provider networks or enhanced protocols for how they would coordinate patient care, according to the report.
NorthShore's ACE expects to treat up to 45,000 patients, while Alexian Brothers and the ACE led by St. Bernard are each planning on an initial group of 40,000 patients.
More Articles on Medicaid ACOs:
What You Should Know About Medicaid ACOs
Vermont Rolls Out Medicaid ACOs
7 States Establishing Medicaid ACOs