The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) released in late November a concept paper describing how Medicaid Health Homes might be implemented in Illinois. Health Homes are authorized under the Affordable Care Act to provide care coordination to people with two or more chronic diseases, or one chronic disease and increased vulnerability for another one.
The federal government permits states can include HIV as a Medicaid Health Home chronic condition. The goal of the Medicaid Health Home program is to provide enhanced care coordination for vulnerable individuals with complex health care needs. States receive additional federal funding for two years after implementing Health Homes.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has advocated for Illinois to adopt Health Homes for several years. AFC is pleased to see the state moving forward, and provided extensive comments on the state’s concept paper. AFC will continue to monitor development of health homes over the next several months.
