CKSN Update for July 15, 2003			ABC for Health, Inc.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip:  Speech therapy denials for children with verbal apraxia.
2. Universal Health Plan for Wisconsin Unveiled
3. Child Find Program
4. Search for Sibling Stories
5. New Web Resources
6. HealthWatch Updates


1. CASE TIP: SPEECH THERAPY DENIALS FOR CHILDREN WITH VERBAL APRAXIA

Developmental Verbal Apraxia is a neurological disorder that interferes with a child's ability to correctly pronounce sounds, syllables and words.  In general, there is nothing wrong with the actual muscles that form words.  The problem lies in the area of the brain that tells these muscles how to move to form a word.  Children with Verbal Apraxia do not have trouble using these muscles for other functions such as chewing or coughing.  Often a child will know what they want to say, but they cannot get the words out.  Without professional speech therapy, children with verbal apraxia will not develop normal speech.

Insurance companies may deny speech therapy for the treatment of Verbal Apraxia when the word "developmental" is a part of the diagnosis.  The insurance companies may characterize Verbal Apraxia as developmental delay that will not be covered.  In fact, when "developmental" is used to describe Verbal Apraxia, the intention is to clarify that this disorder is affecting a child with verbal apraxia rather than an adult with Apraxia as a result of a brain injury.  Families may need to explain to their insurance company the meaning of "developmental" and even submit a letter from the child's pediatrician to get insurance to cover speech therapy for treatment.

For more information, visit:
http://www.professional.asha.org/news/bl020122.cfm or
http://www.tayloredmktg.com/dyspraxia/das.shtml


2. UNIVERSAL HEALTH PLAN FOR WISCONSIN UNVEILED


On July 16, ABC for Health will be unveiling a universal health care plan for Wisconsin, called The Pathway Plan.  Under The Pathway Plan, we propose to extend BadgerCare coverage, and include a buy-in component for individuals, small business and other employers.  In response to the needs of consumers, The Pathway plan would create The Office of Health Care Advocacy and Outreach to include a comprehensive advocacy piece featuring Health Benefits Counselors, Health Care Navigators, and independent outreach and enrollment brokers. This office would offer advocacy services through Health Benefits Counselors, health care coordination through community-based Health Care Navigators, and local monitoring and community based feedback through locally based community HealthWatch coalitions. The full plan will be available the afternoon of July 16 at www.abcforhealth.org.


3. CHILD FIND PROGRAM

Child Find Web Site: Finding and Assisting Kids with Special Needs 
Mounting research affirms that the greatest window of opportunity to influence child development is during the first years of life, so early identification of young children with disabilities or developmental delays is critical. The Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Web site has information for parents and caregivers--and is looking for ideas and resources that may help states or communities enhance the quality of their identification systems and public awareness activities. http://www.childfindidea.org/
(Source:  Connect for Kids Weekly)

4. SEARCH FOR SIBLING STORIES

Dear Brothers and Sisters ages 13-19 (and their parents!)-

I have, what is for me, the best job in the world.  I get to work with a great group of people who are all too often overlooked: brothers and sisters of people with special needs.

I have learned lots from the sibs I have met at Sibshops, at sibling panels I've moderated, and on our SibKids and SibNet listservs.  I am constantly learning more about what it means to be a sib and I am continually impressed with the insights of young sibs I have met along the way.

Of all age groups, teen sibs are the most overlooked.  There are some books aimed at younger sibs.  However, there's nothing that specifically addresses the interests and concerns of 13- to 19-year-old brothers and sisters.

We intend to change this!  Woodbine House--the nation's leading publisher of books for families of people with special needs--has accepted my proposal for a truly exciting project: a book by and for teenage sibs of kids with special needs; a book that gives a voice to teen sibs' concerns in a format that is teen-friendly.

I'm looking for sibs, ages 13-19 to participate in the Sibling Slam Book Project.  If you'd like to know more please write me at donmeyer@siblingsupport.org and I will send you an official announcement complete with details.

If I may answer any questions you might have about this project, please feel free to call me or drop me a line.

All the best,
Don Meyer
Director, Sibling Support Project of the Arc of the United States

(Source:  Dis-Update)

5. NEW WEB RESOURCES

Families USA, www.familiesusa.org collected information on several new reports and other resources available on the Web that you might find interesting and useful. Two that we selected are:

From the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law:
 
Medicaid is the primary source of payment for most community-based mental health services and the only health coverage that finances a full range of the rehabilitative services needed by people with mental illness. "Making the Right Choices: Reforming Medicaid to Improve Outcomes for People Who Need Mental Health Care" analyzes recent proposals to change Medicaid from the perspective of adults and children with mental illness. The Issue Brief examines proposals that would do everything from reducing the range of available services states must provide to reducing the number of beneficiaries entitled to services. (July 2003)

From the Child Health Insurance Research Initiative (CHIRI):
 
Tooth decay is one of the most preventable childhood diseases, yet dental care remains the most prevalent unmet health care need for children in the United States. A new Issue Brief, "Children's Dental Care Access in Medicaid: The Role of Medical Care Use and Dentist Participation," reports on children's dental care use in the Alabama and Georgia Medicaid programs and strategies for improving access to dental care. Researchers found that less than 40 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children in the study states received dental care, which was typical of other states during the period covered by the study. (June 2003)


6. HEALTHWATCH UPDATES

The next Southern Regional HealthWatch will be held on Thursday, July 17 from 11:30 - 1:00 pm at the Harambee Center, 2202 South Park Street, Madison. There will be a training offered by Jon Cope, staff attorney at ABC for Health on Fighting Back Health Insurance Denials.  For more information, and to RSVP, contact Dana McElmury, 608-261-6939, ext.208 or email, danam@safetyweb.org

If you are interested in joining your regional HealthWatch committee, or want more information about their work, please contact the following people:

Southern Region:  Barbara Katz, ABC for Health, Inc., 608.261.6939 ext 207, barbk@safetyweb.org
Southeastern Region:  Brad Holman, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 414.266.3189,
bholman@chw.org
Northern Region:  Deb Blackstone, Family Resource Connection, 715.365.8030,
dblacks@shsmh.org
Northeastern Region:  Steve Gerczak, St. Vincent Hospital, 920.433.8154,
sgerczak@stvgb.org
Western Region:  Rose Marsh, Chippewa County Dept of Public Health, 1-800-400-3678, rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us