Physicians volunteer to participate and choose the number of patients they will add to their practice. They are compensated at the rate of $68.00 per patient per year.
ENROLLMENT FEES
Non-Refundable Annual Enrollment Fees are:
$20 for one person
$40 for two people
$50 for three or more people in one family
Fees are based on family size of eligible applicants.
Family is defined as
husband, wife, number of children under age 21.
SERVICES PROVIDED:
Patients pay:
$5 per office visit
$5 for lab and radiology tests of specimen drawn
$10 for generic,
$20 for preferred brand name,
and $30 for non-preferred brand name prescription
medication.
Patients on maintenance medication pay these co-payments for a 30 day supply.
BENEFITS:
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Patients receive diagnosis and treatment for nominal fees. The most common diagnoses among adult patients are diabetes and hypertension. Individuals with these chronic conditions are monitored on a continuous basis and are able to receive medication to manage their illnesses.
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Patients are able to receive care in the private office of their personal Access to Care® physician.
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The program encourages physicians to contribute their time and skills in the spirit of community service.
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The administrative office facilitates physicians' referrals to public ambulatory specialty clinics.
THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL:
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Over 82,000 individuals have been served since the program was implemented as a demonstration project in 1988; the program was expanded throughout the 735 square mile area of suburban Cook County and served nearly 14,000 individuals in 2005. In April 2005, the program launched a demonstration program in northwest Chicago. Chicago clients must live west of Pulaski Road AND north of North Avenue.
Get your copy of Patient Profiles
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Currently, almost 700 participating physicians have volunteered to provide care for over 28,000 individuals.
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96.7% of participating physicians report satisfaction with the program
Get your copy of Salute to Doctors
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65% of adults reported good or excellent health after one year of participation, contrasted with only 53% reporting that status before joining the program.
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Funded by both public and private sources, the program's largest source of funding is the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
Get your copy of the 2004 Annual Report
ENDORSEMENTS:
Access to Care® has been endorsed by the Institute of Medicine of Chicago, the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, The American College of Physicians/Northern Illinois Region and is supported by the Chicago Medical Society.