While getting and keeping Medicaid services has never been easy, the challenges are about to increase for Illinois residents.

As of November 1, 2019, any prescription, referral, or order for medical tests must be written by a medical professional who is enrolled in the Illinois Medicaid Program Advanced Cloud Technology (IMPACT) program.

This change applies to physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, and any other medical professional such as physician assistants and advanced practical nurses.  Essentially, anyone in the medical community in Illinois will have to be enrolled in IMPACT in order to provide services or write a prescription for someone on Medicaid.

It is important to understand that it is not enough for the supervising physician to be enrolled in IMPACT.  Anyone writing the prescription or order for tests, even if under the direct supervision of an enrolled medical professional, must also be enrolled.  This requirement, at a minimum, will create greater inefficiencies in the delivery of medical services.

This change has been proposed for a while, and then delayed, and it appears now that November 1, 2019 will be the formal implementation date.  To the extent you would like to voice your concerns directly to the IL Department of Health Care and Family Services (HFS) you can reach them at 800-226-0768.  If you are concerned about whether or not your medical professional is enrolled in IMPACT, you can search for their name in the IMPACT database found here:
http://ext2.hfs.illinois.gov/hfsindprovdirectory