The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) sent out a blast email on February 15 informing providers that the February mailing of the HFS medical cards will be the final time medical cards are sent on a monthly basis. HFS will send the new annual medical cards in the next few weeks.
HFS also announced that the February mailing has been delayed and apologized for this inconvenience.
Providers should not refuse service to HFS clients due to not having a February card. Clients should not be encouraged to contact their DHS office to get a temporary card.
The client's recipient identification number does not change and can be used to determine eligibility or PCP status. If the client's medical card number is not available, it is possible to verify client eligibility and PCP assignment using the HFS MEDI System using a client's name and either their date of birth or their Social Security number.
The Illinois Health Connect Provider Services Help Desk can verify PCP status, but cannot verify client eligibility. Call 1-877-912-1999, extension 3. The IHC Provider Services Help Desk is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Automated Voice Response System (1-800-842-1461) can verify client eligibility as long as the client's medical card number is available.
