Illinois Health Connect developed and maintains the IHC Resource Database to assist IHC patients and enrolled PCPs with finding specialists and other common healthcare providers who are willing to see HFS (Medicaid) patients. Registering with the IHC Resource Database ensures IHC has the most accurate information about specialists in terms of contact information, office hours and referral restrictions.

Specialists are not required to register with IHC Resource Database in order to see IHC patients, and registering with IHC does not require specialists to see more HFS patients.

IHC provides contact information for specialists to PCPs and IHC patients based on the proximity of the specialist’s office to where the patient lives. IHC does not publish the Resource Database or make it available online.

Specialists, who are not also enrolled as an IHC PCP, do not need an IHC Referral in order to file a claim for IHC patients during Phase I of the IHC Referral System.

The Provider Services Help Desk is available to assist registered specialists Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 1-877-912-1999, extension 3. IHC Provider Services Representatives and Quality Assurance Nurses are also available by appointment to visit registered specialists to assist them with IHC administrative and clinical issues, respectively.

There are two ways that specialists can register with Illinois Health Connect:

1. Print, fill out, and send in the Specialist Registration form by mail to Automated Health Systems, 1375 East Woodfield Road, Suite 600, Schaumburg, IL 60173 or fax to 847-995-0827.
2. If you have an HFS provider ID number, you may submit your Specialist Registration online.

   To apply online, you will need your HFS provider number and your provider type. For most physicians not affiliated with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or Rural Health Center, the HFS number is the same as your IL license number. If you are affiliated with an FQHC or RHC, please check with your clinic administrator to determine your HFS number.

If you require assistance, please contact our Illinois Health Connect Provider Services Help Desk at 1-877-912-1999 (TTY: 1-866-565-8577), Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. The call is free.