CKSN UPDATE for September 15, 2003			ABC for Health, Inc.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip:  Waivers and Variances
2. Web Resource:  NICHCY
3. State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS)
4. Care at Home Conference in Waukesha
5. Save the Date: Covering Kids and Families Conference
6. HealthWatch 

1. CASE TIP:  WAIVERS AND VARIANCES

When strict enforcement of a Medicaid requirement would lead to a substantial hardship on the recipient, a waiver or variance may be an option to pursue.  A waiver or variance is used to modify certain Medicaid rules.  This process is used for individual situations to avoid a substantial hardship. Any request for a waiver or variance must be medically necessary.  A waiver, if granted, allows the provider to not meet the requested regulation of Medicaid. A "variance" indicates that the certified program will meet the regulation in a manner different than what the regulation requires.  

The complete text of the regulation is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/index.html, just search for HFS 106.13


2. WEB RESOURCE:  NICHCY

As we return to school this fall, we would like to remind families of a valuable web-based resource.  NICHCY (the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) offers very useful information and publications which can be downloaded free of charge.  This web site, which can be found at www.nichcy.org, also provides links to related resources and offers access to bilingual staff to answer specific questions.


3. STATE AND LOCAL AREA INTEGRATED TELEPHONE SURVEY (SLAITS)

The State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS) collects important health care data at state and local levels.  The primary goal of this survey is to assess the prevalence and impact of special health care needs and children in every state.  The survey explores the extent to which CSHCN have medical homes, adequate health insurance and access to needed services.  This data collection mechanism was developed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  For more information on this initiative and for recent results, go to: www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/slaits/cshcn.htm


4. CARE AT HOME CONFERENCE IN WAUKESHA

The Southeast Regional Children with Special Health Care Needs Center and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin are sponsoring a Care at Home Conference on Friday, September 26 at the Country Inn Hotel in Waukesha.  The conference is intended to provide participants with 1) an overview of the current status and future direction of care in the home for children with special health care needs, and 2) a forum for networking with other parents and professionals to discuss specific issues of concern for the care of children with special health care needs.  To request a brochure to register for this conference by September 19, please contact Maxishare at 414-266-3428.

5. SAVE THE DATE:  COVERING KIDS AND FAMILIES CONFERENCE

Covering Kids and Families - Wisconsin is holding a statewide coalition conference in Madison on October 9.  For more information, including an updated agenda, registration form and website, visit their website at: http://www.ckfwi.org/conf2003/index.cfm

6. HEALTH WATCH

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