Meridian of Illinois

Today, 50 faith leaders joined Chicago’s new Health Commissioner, Simbo Ige MD, MS, MPH, the first Black woman to lead the Chicago Department of Public Health, Rutu Ezhuthachan MD, MMM, FAAP, Meridian's Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. John Rich, Director, Rush BMO Institute for Health Equity, for a panel led by Karla Lewis, Meridian's Director, Health Equity Program, to discuss collaborative solutions for critical health issues. The event, presented by Gospel Run and sponsored by Meridian, was held at the Apostolic Church of God. We are committed to working alongside Dr. Ige, Dr. Rich, and faith and community leaders to create a healthier future for our members and the communities we collectively serve. Read more: https://bit.ly/3L7VjRy

Amazing performances from artists including Grammy award-winning Common, community, and fun for the whole family made last Saturday’s Juneteenth Village Fest, hosted by It Takes A Village Family of Schools, a huge success. We were proud to contribute to such an inspiring event alongside thousands of attendees.

Calling all Quincy and Springfield area Meridian providers! Join us for an in-person Meet & Greet in Quincy on Tuesday, June 25 or Springfield on Wednesday, June 26. Connect with leaders from our Provider Relations, Network, Claims, Utilization Management, Pharmacy, Quality, and Care Management teams. Come with questions and suggestions as we partner to best serve you and your patients. Register today! https://bit.ly/4bjerHc.

Studies routinely find that men are less likely to seek preventive care than women. During National Men’s Health Month, let’s team up to remind men to stay on top of their health. Through our enhanced Healthy Rewards program, they can earn rewards for completing their annual exam and other key health activities. https://bit.ly/3xthsa4

We join our LGBTQ+ members, providers, and employees in celebrating Pride Month. As Illinois’ largest Medicaid health plan, we are committed to making high-quality, affirming care accessible to all our members. And to our network of more than 50,000 primary care and specialty providers: Thank you for fostering a culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

Yesterday Meridian's Chief Medical Officer, Rutu Ezhuthachan MD, MMM, FAAP, joined Donna Milavetz MD, MPH, FACP and Vidya Raman-Tangella, at AHIP2024 for a conversation, Advancing Excellence: Transforming the Integrated Care Experience, hosted by Teladoc Health. They discussed what next-generation integrated care means for a whole-person consumer experience and the importance of meaningful data to improve outcomes.

Last week, Cristal Gary, MPP, FACHE, Meridian's Plan President & CEO, participated in a panel discussion during the second annual 5th Century Partners and SALA Series Summit. Alongside Kameron Matthews, MD, JD, FAAFP, Garth N. Walker, MD, MPH, and Suzet McKinney, DrPH, MPH, Cristal discussed solutions for improving health equity and innovation through value-based care models structured to ensure equitable access to high-quality care and how to leverage technology to improve access to care for the underserved communities we serve.

Providers and staff, mark your calendars! Meridian is excited to announce 11 Meet & Greet events this summer at locations across the state. Our Meet & Greet events offer: ✅ A chance to connect with Meridian team leaders in person ✅ Opportunities to share feedback and discuss improvement ideas ✅ Convenient morning and after-hours options Providers in our western and midwestern Region 2 counties, we’re headed your way first. View the schedule and register today: https://bit.ly/3XeTNoc

We can't wait to celebrate at the third annual Juneteenth Village Fest this Saturday, June 15 from 12 to 8 p.m.

Together with the Centene Foundation, we are providing a $135,000 grant over three years to City of Refuge - Chicago to provide nutritious meals to Chicago Westside Police and Youth Sports Conference players. “We are delighted to be supporting City of Refuge’s sports program,” said Cristal Gary, Meridian Plan President and CEO. “Meridian invests in the communities we serve so that everyone can have opportunities to live healthy lives.” Watch the clip from WGN-TV to learn more about this program. https://bit.ly/3X16L90