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  • Medicaid Provider Alert: Provider revalidation has begun and those not completing the process risk disenrollment.  Check your account now to learn when your revalidation is due. More information here.
Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice issued 07/15/05

To: Long Term Care (NF, ICF/DD and SLF) and Pharmacy Providers

Date: July 15, 2005

Re: Flu Vaccine

 

This year, long term care facilities will be responsible for contacting their pharmacy to obtain the influenza vaccine for all Medicaid-eligible residents of the facility. The department will not provide influenza vaccine and medical supplies. The influenza vaccine will be billed to the department by the supplying pharmacy. Facility staff (medical director or licensed nurses) must administer the influenza vaccine to all Medicaid-eligible residents.

The Department of Public Health requires that long term care facilities secure a physician’s order for the administration of the influenza vaccine. In reviewing the health care needs of a long term care resident, the attending physician may decide that the pneumococcal vaccine is indicated in addition to the influenza vaccine. The pneumococcal vaccine is also available from, and should be billed by, the supplying pharmacy.

 

Medicare Part B must be billed by the pharmacy prior to billing the department for any resident who is eligible for Medicare Part B services.

 

Questions from long term care facilities should be directed to the department’s Bureau of Long Term Care at 217-524-7245. Pharmacy questions should be directed to the department’s Bureau of Pharmacy Services at 217-782-5565, ext. 7 .

 

                                                 Healthcare and Family Services                      
                                                     Public Aid has a new name.

 

The name of the Department of Public Aid (DPA) has changed to Healthcare and Family Services, HFS for short.

 

You will soon see the new name on forms, letters and the Internet. Until existing form supplies are exhausted, however, we will continue to use materials bearing the former DPA name and logo. Either version of documents should be considered official regardless of the department name they bear.

 

Only our name has changed. HFS’s programs, staff, office locations, mailing addresses and phone numbers remain the same as DPA’s.

 

We believe our new name more clearly reflects our mission of service to the State of Illinois including providing access to health care for over two million Illinoisans. In our work, we deeply appreciate your participation in our programs. We hope this change poses no inconvenience or confusion for you.

 

Anne Marie Murphy, Ph.D.
Administrator
Division of Medical Programs