CKSN UPDATE for October 1, 2003				ABC for Health, Inc.


IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip:  HealthCheck Other Services
2. Waisman Center Community Training Programs in Madison
3. Mental Health Awareness Week
4. Senator Feingold Listening Session in Manitowoc County
5. Maternal and Child Health EPSDT Resource
6. HealthWatch Updates


1. CASE TIP:  HEALTHCHECK OTHER SERVICES

Medicaid recipients, under age 21, may have access to a wide array of products and services if they participate in the Medicaid HealthCheck Program.

HealthCheck, also known as EPSDT - Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program, provides a periodic comprehensive health assessment screening by the Medicaid recipient's primary care physician.  This health assessment provides a small pink HealthCheck card that verifies that the child (under age 21) participated in the HealthCheck screening and may be eligible for required, additional services and products through HealthCheck Other Services.

Because the need was identified as part of the HealthCheck assessment, products not typically paid by Medicaid may be provided.  Examples of some of the products include orthodontia, over the counter products such as vitamins and contact lens solutions, and orthotics.  

The HealthCheck screening provider must document the need for these additional items.  Documentation of the additional need is then taken to the Medicaid provider of that service and a prior authorization is requested by the provider, much like any other Medicaid service that requires prior authorization.  A copy of the pink HealthCheck card should also be included. The HealthCheck prior authorization process will be much faster if the provider writes "HealthCheck Other Services" across the top of the prior authorization form, includes the documentation of the needed product (a copy of the prescription) and a copy of the HealthCheck card.

Barriers to service include the unfamiliarity of the HealthCheck Other Services Program by the Medicaid product providers and reluctance to do the prior authorization.  More information may be provided by the Medicaid Recipient Hotline at 1-800-362-3002.  If you are interested in detailed information, you can reference the Medicaid Handbook online at:  http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/Medicaid2/handbooks/partd_d1/chapters.htm


2. WAISMAN CENTER COMMUNITY TRAINING PROGRAMS IN MADISON

Brain Injury - Basic Concepts for Helping Professionals -Dr. Don Mickey & Jackie Millar
Friday, October 10: 9am-12pm                      
The Madison Area Brain Injury Coalition (MABIC) has organized this course to promote an understanding of the often unique challenges involved in supporting the families and survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The session will examine probable causes of injury to the brain and methods of support for individuals interacting with the survivor.  A variety of problems often experienced by individuals living with brain injury will also be reviewed.   Methods useful in developing a therapeutic environment will be shared. The session will close with the opportunity to discuss ideas with a panel of people living with brain injuries and family members.


NEW! No Easy Answers: Considering Psychotropic Medication for People with Developmental Disabilities -Paul White and Nancy Shook, RN
Monday, October 27: 9am-12pm
The goal of this session will be to enhance participants' understanding of a team approach to effective evaluation for the use of psychotropic medication. Valid reasons for using psychotropic medications along with cautions and questionable uses of psychotropic medications will be reviewed. Practical tips for assessing the risks/benefits, factors contributing to effective team support, obtaining informed consent and consulting with a prescribing physician will be discussed.

Community Training and Consultation Program
122 E. Olin Ave. Suite 100
Madison, WI 53713
Phone: 608/265-9440
Fax: 608/263-4681
email: comm.training@waisman.wisc.edu


3. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

The week of October 5, 2003 is Mental Illness Awareness Week in
Wisconsin.  In recognition of this week Wisconsin United for Mental
Health (WUMH) is sponsoring a Mental Health Day at the Capitol on
Tuesday, October 7, 2003.  Displays with information about mental health
and mental illness will be set up in the Capitol Rotunda from 9:00 am to
3:00 pm.  A noontime program will feature Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton,
Sue Ann Thompson, Rep. Al Ott and Rep. Mark Miller, mental health
consumers and family members and songs by jazz vocalist, Lynette. 
Additional information about this event and information about WUMH can be
found at: www.wimentalhealth.org


4. SENATOR FEINGOLD LISTENING SESSION IN MANITOWAC COUNTY

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will hold a Listening Session in Manitowoc County on Saturday, October 4, 2003.  This is part of a series of sessions that will be held throughout the state during the year. The session will be held at 9:15 a.m. in the Wells Fargo Conference Room in the Lakeshore Building at Lakeshore Technical College, 1290 North Avenue, Cleveland.

For more information on federal issues, check the DAWN website on national disability issues at: http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/national.cfm

5. MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH EPSDT RESOURCE

Knowledge Path: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Services is an electronic guide on current, high-quality resources for health professionals and families about providing and strengthening EPSDT services. The resource also includes guidelines for the frequency, timing, and content of health promotion and disease prevention services for infants, children, and adolescents.  Go to:  http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_EPSDT.html


6. HEALTHWATCH UPDATES

Western Region:  The Western Regional Center held their HealthWatch meeting on September 9, 2003.  Dixie Frase, Management Support Specialist spoke on SSI for Disabled Children. The next HealthWatch meeting is scheduled for November 11, 2003. The topic will be: "Children's Disability Related Programs" from the ABC Training Menu. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Rose Marsh at Chippewa
County Public Health, 1-800-400-3678 ext 2132 or e-mail rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us

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