Re: medicaid

February 23, 2002

Can someone please tell me how to get more financial help?? What is the

medicaid waiver? I am in New York city and a single mom, of 5 years

old,autistic, and unable to work right now because I am caring for him full

time, until they find an appropriate placement in the school system for him.

I get SSI but it is not alot at all. I need to get as much financial support

for him as I can, if anyone can explain how to do this, I would appreciate it

so much, thanks Vicki

February 23, 2002

Thanks Tracey so much does get regular medicaid medical insurance now.

I will contact that number and those websites you gave me. I am basically

trying to get more financial assistance because I am choking over here. Now

we also have to move and the apts around here are so expensive I cant do it.

So s medicaid can cover some of his education? Like if I need an

assistant with him to go to school with him, if they dont give me one?? Also

I want some help in the home with him and with working with him with ABA, but

getting it through the board of ed is like pulling teeth. Thanks again, your

response will be greatly appreciated again, Vicki

February 23, 2002

Thanks Sheila I will look into everything you and Tracey suggested. I

appreciate it so much. I think these websites for us parents of children with

Autism are so helpful and a lifesaver at times, thanks again, Vicki

February 23, 2002

Thank you for all the wonderful support...

My husband is in the Army, we are stationed at Ft.

. He is only a buck SGT.(E-5)

We applies for the Home Community Based Waiver(the

normal MR/DD waiver) on October 2, the Social worker

at the home health agency took her time getting the

paperwork together. The was no follow-up until I

called in December to check. I actually got his

application approved by refusing to hang-up until

someone looked at Kolin's file. I recived the

approval for the waiver later that day. Took it to

Family Services, in the middle of december, got the

denial(to much money, even though the cap is suppose

to be 300% FPL) in the middle of Jan. Appealed in

Feb. 12 and still waiting to hear the results. I

spend two days research Kentucky laws and regulations

concerning the waiver and medicaid. Cross-referncing

it with Federal law and policies...

Thank you again

__________________________________________________

February 23, 2002

Vicki

I don't know how NY has set up it's system for disabled children, but in

Louisiana if you do not qualify for medicaid and SSI and have a child with a

severe disability (which autism is considered), you may sign up for a

medicaid waiver which means once you are approved, your child is eligible

for all medical care just as anyone else with a disability who qualifies

through the government. The only problem here however, is that the waiting

time is 7 years long due to state beaureaucy. Just this alone would free up

a great burden for our families if it were timely. The approval is not the

problem. Once you have a medical diagnosis and family evaluation by a case

worker, you are automatically approved. The wait here is the problem. We

have advocates who have fought for such things as psychological and

psychriatric visits to be paid for by medicaid and have won. Now we need a

voice to expedite the paperwork and get our families on the system faster.

You probably can find out if NY offers this program through your local

school system or a foundation for disabled children. I hope this helps.

Sheila

>From: BSL1229@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Medicaid

>Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 09:24:16 EST

>

>Can someone please tell me how to get more financial help?? What is the

>medicaid waiver? I am in New York city and a single mom, of 5 years

>old,autistic, and unable to work right now because I am caring for him full

>time, until they find an appropriate placement in the school system for

>him.

>I get SSI but it is not alot at all. I need to get as much financial

>support

>for him as I can, if anyone can explain how to do this, I would appreciate

>it

>so much, thanks Vicki

_________________________________________________________________

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February 23, 2002

Hi, Vicki!

If your son is getting SSI, then he is automatically eligible for Medicaid.

There are a few Medicaid waivers out there, but the point of waivers is that

they eliminate the financial eligibility piece for Medicaid. So, if your income

makes him ineligible for Medicaid but his medical status is such that it makes

him eligible for a particular waiver, then it is just a matter of applying for

the waiver instead of straight Medicaid, which has a financial eligibility

piece. The waivers are usually the Beckett waiver or a DMR (Dept. of

Mental Retardation) waiver (at least this is the case in CT, where I live).

In CT, we have been on the Beckett waiver list for years, but since I also

am unable to work in order to care for my daughter we have straight Medicaid.

My daughter is also Mentally Retarded, so she would qualify for the DMR waiver.

So, if I go back to work and my income is above the allowable Medicaid limit, I

would put her on either of these waivers. I could also have her on private

insurance concurrently, and Medicaid would simply cover what ever the private

insurance wouldn't (including co-pays and deductables).

Another program you should apply for is Children with Special Health Care Needs.

All children who are on Medicaid are eligible for this, as well as children who

have either no insurance or are under-insured. This program has a financial

eligibility piece as well, and the coverage varies from state to state.

However, there is an advocacy and care coordination piece that all children are

eligible for that have a medically qualifying condition, regardless of income.

In short, they can be a great source of information and support in dealing with

Medicaid and private insurance, as well as the various state and local services

out there. In order to apply for this, call (518) 473-4223. The contact name

is listed as Kus, MD. There is a website for Title V (CSHCN), which

is http://www.mchdata.net/index.html . On that site, I went to the state link

and found that number for NY.

Also, you should peruse your state government website at: http://www.state.ny.us

.. Hit the healthcare link and go from there. You can get all the numbers you

need to call and sign up for all the programs (including Medicaid) that your

child is eligible for.

I hope this was helpful!

Re: [ ] Re: Medicaid

Can someone please tell me how to get more financial help?? What is the

medicaid waiver? I am in New York city and a single mom, of 5 years

old,autistic, and unable to work right now because I am caring for him full

time, until they find an appropriate placement in the school system for him.

I get SSI but it is not alot at all. I need to get as much financial support

for him as I can, if anyone can explain how to do this, I would appreciate it

so much, thanks Vicki

February 23, 2002

At 09:24 AM 2/23/2002 -0500, you wrote:

>Can someone please tell me how to get more financial help?? What is the

>medicaid waiver? I am in New York city and a single mom, of 5 years

>old,autistic, and unable to work right now because I am caring for him full

>time, until they find an appropriate placement in the school system for him.

>I get SSI but it is not alot at all. I need to get as much financial support

>for him as I can, if anyone can explain how to do this, I would appreciate it

>so much, thanks Vicki

Hi Vicki,

Sorry I don't have any info on financial help, but I'm also in NYC and have

a five year old AS son. Feel free to contact me off list if you want to

get together or chat.

Avril

February 25, 2002

Hi and thanks again for your response and the time you take to write

me, I do feel very lucky to be able to write to this group and get as much

help as possible.

I called today to inquire about getting respite care at home for , the

woman was very nice and told me I would be better off getting ResHab

services. Have you heard of them? From what I understood she said they are

more trained to help and take care of children with learning disabilities and

actually take the time to teach and work with them also for a certain amount

of hours a week.

I have to call The New York State Institute on Disabilities tomorrow and ask

for emergency financial support. We have to move next month but I have yet to

find anything and am hoping to get an extension with the court to stay

another 3 months. My landlord says my son upstairs drives him Crazy!! Isnt

that nice,grouchy old man , that is what he is. But I do need as much

emergency help I can get, so I will see what I can get. already has

Medicaid, and gets SSI monthly, but it definetly is not enough to live on, I

will keep you updated, and write back if you have any more information,

thanks so much again, Vicki

February 25, 2002

Hi Moria thanks for the concern I appreciate it. I read your posts and I know

you are very helpful towards us in anyway you can be.

I am intrested in getting some financial support since I am currently not

working and caring for full time, until they give me what I want for

him at school.

I am intrested in getting some home help, someone to come work with him and

give me somewhat of a hand with him, since I have no one else.

I am also looking into getting him his ABA done at home, not in school,

because I dont want him in a special ed classroom, but I want him

mainstreamed with typical children, he is high functioning autistic and I

dont feel he will benefit being in a self contained classroom.

I also want them to give some money since I have to move to a more expensive

apt. when I find one that is.

I will not be able to go back to work full time until I have settled

into school.

I am in New York by the way, thanks again, Vicki

February 25, 2002

Hi, Vicki!

What part of New York do you live in? There are definitely networks of parents

to help you with special ed issues (getting an aid at school, etc.) Please tell

me more details about your child so that I can be more helpful. If you want to

e-mail me privately instead of posting on this message board that is fine. My

e-mail is tsteinbach4@... (for now as my address will change shortly owing

to the bankruptcy of excite@home).

Just remember that you always have the legal ability to appeal any decision by

the school board as to your child's IEP. Also, you do not have to sign any IEP

that you do not agree to. The school board is required by federal law to inform

you as to your rights in writing. You should have received a document at the

PPT regarding such. Read it very carefully and follow the procedures it

outlines with regard to appealing, asking for a hearing, etc.

There are definitely strategies involved in getting what your child needs. I

have found that setting up a situation where you have a written assessment that

sets out what is required is the best way to go. That means having your child

properly assessed as to his or her issues, however many assessments that means.

Before the assessment is actually written, you must discuss the results of the

assessment with the person writing the document and let them know what you want

to accomplish with the final document (what you want included, excluded,

specificity of the recommendations, etc.) Then you must tell the school board

what is going on, what the assessment recommends, send them copies of the

assessments to read, etc. BEFORE the PPT. Remember that you are setting up your

child's team, and to function as a team successfully everyone needs to feel that

they are on the same page as far as setting up the child's program in such a

manner as to ensure that it will succeed. No one wants to see your child fail

in their program.

I will tell you honestly that what you need to do for your child is a full time

job in itself. I am sure you are already figuring this out, but sometimes it

helps to hear someone else say it. This stuff is as complicated and challenging

as it gets. Just remember that you have the benefit of thousands of other

families that have been there before you from who you can learn. The best

source of information for your child is other parents.