BCBSIL and ICS announce oncology Intensive Medical Home program

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) and Illinois Cancer Specialists (ICS) recently announced the very first oncology intensive medical home (IMH) pilot program in Illinois.

The primary objective of the program is to provide care that is both affordable and coordinated by using medical treatment guidelines based on evidence.

The IMH program began last November by finding BCBSIL PPO patients currently receiving treatment from an ICS physician. In order for the patients to qualify for the program, they must be diagnosed with breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, prostate cancer or any non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and receiving chemotherapy or hormone therapy. The intended enrollment for the program will be 150 to 200 patients each year.

ICS helps patients in the Chicago area by providing them with progressive, complete and empathetic cancer care that takes place in a community setting. The practice uses innovative technology and therapies to make certain patients have access to and receive care of the highest quality. ICS facilities utilize various outpatient treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, positron emission tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT).

Patients who are enrolled at ICS locations through IMH will receive free Nurse Care Management to address their needs.