There are 2 Programs in Illinois (OAPP and MCPP).
Both are different, OAPP is for 3 months and MCPP is for a period of 1-3 years. Also, qualifications are very different.
We recommend MCPP if you have a qualifying condition on the condition list and OAPP if you do not have one of those qualifying conditions (but also get prescribed opiates).
OAPP or Opioid Alternative Pilot Program
To qualify, you must:
- Be 21 years of age or over.
- Must have been prescribed an opiate within the last year (Norco, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Suboxone, Tramadol, and many others) or have a condition that warrants an opiate, based on generally accepted standards of care.*
- Have a bona fide patient-physician relationship.**
If you have these three qualifications, you can get your Illinois medical card. The application cost is $10, and you are certified for 3 months, after which you will need to make another appointment to get re-certified.
*A condition that warrants an opiate includes migraines, chronic neck or back pain, trigeminal neuralgia, intractable pain, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, pelvic pain, endometriosis, joint pains, shoulder pain, post-operative pain, etc. But, you must have medical records showing you have seen a doctor for this condition and you have this condition
**Bona fide patient-physician relationships mean that you must see us at least twice to get your medical card. You do not already need a bona fide patient-physician relationship (you can create that relationship), but you will have to see a physician twice in order to get your card.
Cost for OAPP:
- Doctor visit #1* (Insurance may cover these costs)
- Doctor visit #2* (Insurance may cover these costs)
- Illinois Application Fee $10
*Normally, a patient-physician relationship takes at least 2 visits.
The good news is, this is affordable, but the bad news is, it only lasts 3 months.
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Illinois Medical Card Program
- Any Age
- Must have a qualifying condition (most common Spinal Cord Disease like herniated disc, PTSD, Cancer) – see list here
- Have a bona fide patient-physician relationship (see above) – It usually takes 2 visits to fulfill this
If you do not have a qualifying condition, but you feel you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-concussive syndrome, you may get one:
- If you feel you have PTSD but have never been officially diagnosed, let us know and we can recommend a partner clinic who can help.
- If you have had concussions and believe you have post-concussion syndrome, let us know and we can recommend a partner clinic who can help.
Cost for Illinois Medical Card:
- Doctor visit #1* (Insurance may cover these costs)
- Doctor visit #2* (Insurance may cover these costs)
- Illinois Application Fee (Illinois charges you $99, $200, or $250 for 1, 2, or 3 year certifications, respectively or half if you are on disability or are a veteran).
That’s it. NO MORE FINGERPRINTING! NO MORE PROCESSING FEES!
If you use your insurance and have hit your deductible, you will only need to pay the state’s application fee for the card.
What is needed to get your card?
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) application requirements are as follows:
- You must provide your Illinois Driver’s License or State ID plus another proof of your Illinois address (such as a bank statement, utility bill, voter’s card, lease, etc…)
- You cannot have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to drive a truck or school bus
- You must have a physician certify you
In order to obtain the necessary Physician Certification, you must provide medical documentation of a condition and/or opioid prescription that qualifies in Illinois.
You must complete a minimum of two appointments with Innovative Wellness Care to establish a patient-physician relationship.
Once the physician certification is completed, you will be able to complete your online IDPH application to obtain your Medical Card.
