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Help
for Medicaid patients with Chronic Illness Many people live with chronic illnesses that need daily attention, such as asthma or diabetes. But in today's busy world, it can be hard to keep track of when you need to refill a prescription, or when it's time for a checkup. Here in Illinois, we have created Your Healthcare Plus, a new chronic illness management program designed to help Illinois families learn new ways to take charge of their illness, so they can live longer, healthier lives. Through Your Healthcare Plus, Illinois-based nurses and social workers team up to provide patient education and coaching to reinforce the doctor's orders. They help remind people with asthma to get a flu vaccination every year, or educate patients with diabetes about the importance of long-term blood sugar control and ways to control blood pressure. Your Healthcare Plus also seeks to improve the patient/physician relationship by helping participants find a primary care physician, assisting patients with setting and keeping appointments, arranging transportation to doctor's appointments, and facilitating communication between the primary doctor and other specialists. We know how important our doctors are in providing the best possible care to our patients. That's why, over the last year, we met with practitioners and professional organizations throughout Illinois to help design Your Healthcare Plus, to suit the needs of Illinois physicians as well as Medicaid beneficiaries. Chronic illness management helps people gain better control over their disease, and better control over their lives. Your Healthcare Plus is delivered statewide by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and McKesson Health Solutions, and is available to nearly 170,000 eligible adults and children who receive Medicaid in Illinois. I want to encourage families who are interested in helping themselves or their loved ones to get more information about the program. Contact Dr. Leary via e-mail: frederic.leary@mckesson.com Visit the "Your Healthcare Plus" web site: http://www.yourhealthcareplus.com/ ### Dr. Fredric D. Leary is the Illinois Medical Director for Your Healthcare Plus and is past-president of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.
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