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CKSN Update for August 15, 2003 |
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CKSN UPDATE for August 15, 2003 ABC for Health, Inc. IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Case Tip: Insurance Plan Documents and Appeals 2. CORRECTION for CKSN Advocate 3. Hotline for Air Travelers with Disabilities 4. DAWN Grassroots Grants Available 5. Parents in Partnership Transition Program 6. HealthWatch Updates 1. CASE TIP: Insurance Plan Documents and Appeals When you are appealing a denial of insurance coverage you should always request from the company a copy of the health plan document that was in effect at the time of the denial of coverage. The plan document is the contract that governs your rights and is critical to your appeal. The insurance company is required to provide you with a copy. Many insurance corporations have extensive Internet sites that offer everything from descriptions of their company to copies of health plan documents. Do not rely on the documents you find on the web site. If the company instructs you to visit the site to obtain a copy you should confirm this in writing and continue to request in writing a copy of the plan. 2. CORRECTION FOR CKSN ADVOCATE For those of your who have received the CKSN Advocate, the quarterly print publication of the Covering Kids with Special Needs project, the last issue referred to a newly developed Autism Waiver. Please note that there is no Autism Waiver as such; rather, these pending waivers are referred to as Children's Waivers. The Children's Waivers will include a new service code to provide children's in-home autism therapy services to those children who are eligible to receive such services. 3. HOTLINE FOR AIR TRAVELLERS WITH DISABILITIES The U.S. Department of Transportation offers a hotline for air travelers with disabilities. Individuals can obtain assistant in resolving "real time" issues, including service animals, seating accommodations, boarding, deplaning and connecting assistance, the stowage of personal equipment and other accommodations. This hotline can also inform you about resolving a disability-related dispute with an air carrier. The toll-free hotline is staffed from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time. The numbers are: 1-800-778-4838 (voice) and 1-800- 455-9880 (TTY). 4. DAWN GRASSROOTS GRANTS AVAILABLE DAWN announces the availability of fall 2003 grassroots grants. DAWN grassroots grants are to be used to develop grassroots efforts in local communities across the state. If you want more information about this grant opportunity, go to the DAWN web site at: http://www.dawninfo.org/grants/index.cfm Here you will be able to download an application packet and get more specific information about the grants and the application process. If you would prefer a hard copy of the application be sent to you, contact John Shaw at 608/266-7707 or email at: shawj2@dhfs.state.wi.us. On Friday, August 22, 2003 there will be an informational teleconference about this grant opportunity. This will be held from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. The teleconference gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about writing the grant. If you want to be involved with the teleconference you will need an access number. Please call or email John Shaw at the above number or address to get this information. 5. PARENTS IN PARTNERSHIP TRANSITION PROGRAM For more information on the following program, to register, or to request a brochure, please contact Jenny Wagner at the Waisman Center at (608) 265-9976 or jwagner@waisman.wisc.edu The Healthy Ready to Work Program at the Waisman Center, UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's State Improvement Grant is offering five parent trainings in the area of transition. Parents in Partnership for Transition is a group of parents and other caregivers who have children (ages 14-21) with special health care needs. Participants commit to attending all 5 trainings. Parents in Partnership for Transition will... * Help you plan for your child's future * Introduce you to valuable resources * Become part of a network of parents with children who have disabilities * Help you develop leadership skills and communicate better * Teach you about transition issues such as health care, education, leaving high school, inclusion, legislation, and self-care * Help you become more knowledgeable about resources and services available to support you and your family * Give you five fun weekends with other parents and caregivers who support each other. Trainings will be held at the Fox Hills Golf Resort in Mishicot, WI on the following dates: September 12 13, 2003 November 7 8, 2003 January 16 17, 2004 March 5 6, 2004 April 30 May 1, 2004 6. HEALTHWATCH UPDATES Southeastern Region: The group, identified as Children's Health Access for the Special and Equal (CHASE), began monthly meetings in winter 2003 and continues to recruit and develop its membership base. CHASE regularly has trainings on topics related to health care access and coverage for children with special health needs. The next meeting will be held in Milwaukee on Thursday, August 21 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Western Region: The Western Regional Center held their HealthWatch meeting on July 8, 2003 at the Chippewa County Courthouse. The speaker, Anne Rankin, our County Parent Liaison from Douglas County spoke on Special Needs Adoption / Foster Care. There were 15 people in attendance. The next HealthWatch meeting will be held on September 9, 2003 at the Chippewa County Courthouse. The speaker for this meeting is from the Eau Claire Social Security Office. She will be addressing SS issues for CSHCN. 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 or Brad Montgomery, 414.449.4777, opwindows@aol.com 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 ARE YOU SHARING THE UPDATES WITH FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES? We need your help to better track the distribution of the CKSN update. Please let us know the names and email contact info of people you forward the email to so we can send them the update directly. Direct replies to barbk@safetyweb.org The CKSN Update is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter of the Covering Kids with Special Needs project that ABC for Health, Inc. is implementing with its partners, the Title V Children with Special Needs Regional Centers and Family Voices - Wisconsin. If you would like to submit news and information in future CKSN Updates, please send it to the attention of Barbara Katz. All submissions should be limited to 150 words. Barbara Katz, moderator Parent Consultant ABC for Health, Inc. 608.261.6939 ext. 207 barbk@safetyweb.org