Cook County Working On A Managed-Health-Care Plan For Uninsured Residents

Cook County Working On A Managed-Health-Care Plan For Uninsured Residents

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The Cook County Board approved a program for uninsured people, who frequently end up using the county hospital’s emergency room as the only place they know they can get care. 

Reliance on the ER is expensive for the county, and is less effective for patients than coordinated, preventative care, officials said. 

Under the new program, patients would have a primary care physician within the county health system. That doctor could refer them to other services — including medical tests, procedures, and care from specialists — within the system.