First Lady announces new partnership with Alexian Brothers Hospital Network to promote All Kids

First Lady Patti Blagojevich today announced a new partnership with the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network to promote the Governor's All Kids insurance program that makes affordable, comprehensive health insurance available for every uninsured child in Illinois. The First Lady addressed local healthcare advocates, medical staff, and community leaders about All Kids to encourage their involvement in educating and pre-registering families within the communities they serve.

"All children deserve a chance to grow up healthy so that they can live full and happy lives," said the First Lady. "I am very pleased that Alexian Brothers Hospital Network is helping to spread the word about All Kids. Their All Kids outreach design is a model for other hospitals and healthcare providers to follow."

The Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, a system of four hospitals, serves more than one and a half million people in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and northern Illinois. The new partnership will help to provide All Kids enrollment information for uninsured families within the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and throughout its vast community.

"It is every healthcare provider's mission to make quality and compassionate care accessible to all members of the community. The Alexian Brothers Hospital Network agrees with Governor Blagojevich and the First Lady that parents shouldn't have to face a difficult economic decision when their child is hurt or sick," said Penny Davis, Corporate Vice President of the Alexian Brothers Health System. "All Kids is not just the morally right thing to do, but it is a program that will improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Illinois families, greatly improve their children's performance in the classroom, and strengthen Illinois' economy."

All four Alexian Brother Network Hospitals-- Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, and Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital in Elk Grove -- will promote All Kids in the following ways:

• All Kids posters will be placed throughout the hospitals
• All Kids information will be incorporated into their community outreach programs such as health fairs, seminars, educational forums
• All Kids information will be presented in all internal and external publications and newsletters
• The hospitals' websites will have a link directing families to the Governor's All Kids website
• Routine Community Awareness Days where the public can come in and pre-register for All Kids will be organized
• Intake and patient billing departments staff will be trained to register children for All Kids on site immediately
• AlexianConnects call center operators will help to identify All Kids candidates

"By offering to raise awareness about the All Kids program, the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network is helping to improve the lives of uninsured children in this state and we are extremely grateful for their support," said Barry Maram, Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. "Governor Blagojevich's All Kids program will give children the healthcare coverage they need, so they have the opportunity to receive preventative care and live a healthier life."

Representatives from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) were available today at St. Alexius Medical Center to answer questions regarding All Kids.

Of the 250,000 uninsured children in Illinois, more than half come from working families who earn too much to qualify for state programs like KidCare, but not enough to afford private health insurance. The Governor's program would make comprehensive health insurance available to children, including doctor's visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision care, dental care and medical devices like eye glasses and asthma inhalers. Parents will pay monthly premiums and co-payments for doctors' visits and prescription drugs at affordable rates.

Once a pre-registration form is received, HFS will process the information and mail parents a letter to explain the next steps in the application process. When it is time for the family to apply, the Department will mail each family an All Kids application that will be partially filled out based on the information provided during pre-registration. Children who are determined to be eligible for KidCare can apply immediately to receive health coverage. Families not currently eligible for KidCare may apply early in 2006 for benefits that will begin July 1, 2006. Pre-registration forms should be filled out and mailed to All Kids, P.O. Box 19122, Springfield, IL 62794-9805 or they will be collected at pre-registration sites across the state over the next few months.

Parents can also pre-register their children by call the All Kids toll-free number at 1-866-ALL-KIDS (1-866-255-5437). More information about All Kids is also available online at www.allkidscovered.com.