Chicago Department of Public Health Weekly Media Brief
#AskDrLunawith Daniela Vélez-Clucas
ENGLISH
Medicaid redeterminations will occur throughout this year and the next and it is vitally important that people on Medicaid take steps to ensure they don’t lose their benefits. The Shriver Center of Poverty Laws' Immigration and Health Justice attorney, Daniela Vélez-Clucas, spoke with Dr. Geraldine Luna this week to explain what people need to know and do to retain benefits and how the process works. 2.1 million adults and 1.5 million children in Illinoisare enrolled in Medicaid coverage. Starting this week Medicaid enrollees will be receiving letters from the Department of Health and Family Services asking to submit for eligibility reviewal.
Watch this segment (starting at 00:17:18) to be prepared to retain your healthcare coverage benefits as your turn comes up.
Dr. Arwady also discusses Medicaid re-enrollment on her live stream this week(27 minute mark).
SPANISH
Las redeterminaciones del Seguro de Medicaid se llevarán a cabo a lo largo de este y el próximo año, y es de suma importancia que las personas que estén inscritas al Seguro de Medicaid, comiencen a realizar los trámites correspondientes para evitar la pérdida de su cobertura. La abogada de Inmigración y de Justica de Salud, Daniela Vélez-Clucas, del centro “Shriver Center of Poverty Laws”, habló esta semana con la Doctora Geraldine Luna y explicó cuáles son los pasos a seguir para conservar los beneficios. Además, explicó cómo es que el proceso le ha funcionado a 2.1 millones de adultos y 1.5 millones de niños en Illinois que están inscritos al Seguro de Medicaid. A partir de esta semana los beneficiarios del seguro comenzarán a recibir cartas por parte del Departamento de Servicios de Salud y Familia para solicitarles envíen su re- inscripción para corroborar su elegibilidad.
#AskDrArwady with Dr. Tabidze
CDPH’s Dr. Irina Tabidze joined Dr. Arwady Tuesday to discuss the health department’s work related to syndemic infectious diseases, including HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mpox and more. Dr. Tabidze focused in particular on congenital syphilis, which is when a pregnant woman infected with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby. Cases of congenital syphilis are rising and if untreated, it can result in serious adverse outcomes like stillbirth, neonatal death, prematurity, or low birthweight. From 2016-2022, the number of congenital syphilis cases in Chicago has gone from 12 to 35, an increase of 191%. Congenital syphilis is preventable though – a routine blood test for syphilis protects the pregnant mother and baby. The health department is working closely with medical and community partners to improve access and education around screenings and evidence-based quality care.
Cook County and Chicago remain in the Low COVID-19 Community Level based on metrics from the CDC. In addition to CDC metrics, you can also follow data updates from CDPH on the COVID-19 dashboard, updated every Wednesday at 5:30pm.
Quick Hits!
It’s National Public Health Week!April 3-9, 2023: Follow CDPH on social media @ChiPublicHealth as we highlight different programs and topics and join us in saying “thank you” to our Public Health workers and partners in the community.
Deadline Approaching: Apply to join the Chicagoland Syndemic (HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, TB, Mpox) Advisory Council. While the Council will provide oversight and guidance regarding syndemic infectious disease service priorities, the Council's immediate focus will be to review existing funding and programming and provide concrete programmatic recommendations.
With the exception of mandated seats, Council membership is appointed to individuals and not organizations or agencies. Learn more and apply to join the Council by April 11: https://redcap.chicago.gov/surveys/?s=8NRD7N73MADW99P7
The Chicago Health Atlas is a place where the media, students and researchers, and any Chicagoan can review, explore and compare health-related data over time and across communities.
April 9-15 is STI Awareness Week: The CDPH SID Bureau operates three STI specialty clinics located throughout the city, serving the needs of Chicago’s diverse communities. Download the recently released report that summarizes and highlights data from CDPH’s STI Specialty Clinics for the years 2017-2021.
