LM Jan 2024

Health Matters ... cont’d. Why is prior authorization important? Three reasons, mainly—health/safety, cost savings and quality of care. • Prior authorization helps keep plan members healthy and safe —by making sure they’re getting the right care, at the proper location, at the best time in their care journey. The review by the health plan’s Medical Management team keeps a close eye on all these considerations when deciding to approve or deny each prior-authorization request. The health and safety benefits of this process include: ▫ Saving members from unnecessary tests and procedures which can be both harmful and costly to the member. ▫ Keeping members safe from potentially harmful medications and/or combinations of medications.

▫ Helping to prevent the overprescribing—and diversion— of potentially addictive medications like opioids. • Aside from eliminating spending on unneeded drugs and services, prior authorization has the added benefit of saving members money by finding equally effective medications that cost less. And by working to reduce unnecessary procedures, the process also helps healthcare providers to hold down expenses systemwide. • Prior authorization promotes an improved quality of care by supporting doctors with the most up-to-date evidence-based research. That’s what the health plan’s Utilization Management experts are for—they’re partners for doctors, drawing on their wealth of clinical data to make sure the latest and most current guidelines are being followed. Doing so keeps doctors and the health plan in close collaboration for the member’s well-being.

2023–2024 Moon Scholarship Program Are you a superintendent or an aspiring superintendent?

Established in 1993 in memory of Dr. James V. Moon, a former superintendent at Morton High School District, the James V. and Dorothy B. Moon Scholarship program is committed to improving the education and qualifications of school administrators. Since its inception, 142 scholarships totaling over $335,324 have been awarded to current or aspiring superintendents. Practicing school administrators in Illinois qualify if they are college graduates pursuing an advanced degree in educational administration at an accredited college or university. Several scholarships ($2,500 minimum each) are awarded each year and are paid directly to the college or university to cover tuition, fees and/or textbook expenses. For more information on the application and awards process, click here or contact Jodi Gillespie at 217–753–2213 or email at jgillespie@iasaedu.org. Are you pursuing graduate study to become the best superintendent you can be? Do you know there are scholarships available through the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) to help offset the costs of your coursework?

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 19, 2024

School Administrators Foundation for Education

24 LM January 2024