CKSN UPDATE for March 1, 2004		ABC for Health, Inc.

IN THIS ISSUE:


1. Case Tip:  Getting Information from Your Employer Sponsored Health Plan
2. A Gathering of Youth at Circles of Life Conference
3. Health Action 2004 Toolkit Available from Families USA
4. A Brief Look at Training for Home and Community Based Workers
5. HealthWatch Updates
6. Suggestions for the Update?
7. Happy Birthday, ABC for Health!


1. CASE TIP:  GETTING INFORMATION FROM YOUR EMPLOYER SPONSORED HEALTH PLAN

Families with a child or a parent who are denied coverage for benefits by their insurance plans have a legal right to know the specific reason for that denial.  Without this information, challenging a denial is nearly impossible.
 
Therefore for most group employer plans you may request from your insurer a copy of your complete plan documents (the policy), the specific reason for the denial and the section of the policy they're relying on to make the denial. You are also entitled to other documents or information outside of the policy that the insurer or plan used to make the denial.  If the insurer does not provide you with this information within 30 days of your written request, the insurer may be subject to fines from the Federal Department of labor of $110 per day.  
 
Keep copies of your dated written requests for the information.  After 30 days, send a letter addressed to Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 200 West Adams St., Ste. 1600, Chicago, IL 60606, explaining your efforts to get the information.  With this letter, include the copies of your prior requests to the insurer.  Send it to the Customer Service Section.  

2. A GATHERING OF YOUTH AT THE CIRCLES OF LIFE CONFERENCE

If you are between the ages of 13 and 21 and have a disability, you are
invited to participate in:

A Gathering of Youth
April 29 & 30, 2004
Holiday Inn Convention & Expo.Center
Stevens Point, WI

The Circles of Life Conference is excited to again offer the Gathering of Youth. The Gathering of Youth is a hands-on, interactive conference being planned by and for youth with disabilities. It will feature activities that are sure to involve and interest you. Only youth will participate in the sessions.

This will be a chance for youth to:
Learn ~ Share ~ Dream ~ Make friends ~ Have fun!
All youth who have disabilities are welcome!

Youth who need one-to-one personal care or other assistance to participate in this conference are more than welcome to attend. Please bring your own attendant (but no parents!). If you need ideas about how to find someone to come with you, contact Deb Wisniewski at 608-265-4461 before the registration deadline. Registration is limited to 25 participants and is first come, first served. You may register if this will be your first or
second time coming to the conference. If you have attended twice, call to find out about volunteer opportunities. To find out more about the Gathering of Youth and how to register, call Deb Wisniewski at 608-265-4461.

Registration for The Gathering of Youth is due March 12th.

This conference is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Healthy & Ready to Work Project, Waisman Center.

3. HEALTH ACTION 2004 TOOKLIT AVAILABLE FROM FAMILIES USA

The Health Action conference has been made available on the Families USA website.
The kit includes information on Medicaid and children's health, CSHCN, covering the uninsured, private insurance, special populations, and other issues. The tool kit and other advocate guides are available from the Families USA web site at: http://www.familiesusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Advocates_Guides  
To access slides from and audio/video of selected presentations; go to: http://www.familiesusa.org/site/PageServer then look under "Quick Clicks to Hot Spots" for the links under "Health Action Conference"

4. A BRIEF LOOK AT TRAINING FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED WORKERS

For employers, policymakers, and workers looking for appropriate educational resources for home- and community-based direct-care workers, The Right Start is a good place to start. The eight-page brief outlines standard training practices, identifies gaps and resources, and describes outstanding programs. To download the free brief, which was written by the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute and MEDSTAT for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, go to: http://www.directcareclearinghouse.org/download/Rightstart.pdf

5. HEALTHWATCH UPDATES

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

6. SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS FOR THE UPDATE?  CONTACT US!

We need your help to develop content and tips for our CKSN Update. Please let us know about your ideas or success stories.  Email your suggestions 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.

ABC for Health is a Wisconsin-based, nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to linking children and families, particularly those with special health care needs, to health care benefits and services.  ABC for Health's mission is to provide information, advocacy tools, legal services and expert support needed to obtain, maintain and finance health care coverage and services. 

7. ABC IS NOW TEN YEARS OLD!

Save the date!  ABC for Health will celebrate ten years of advocacy on Thursday evening October 14, at the Great Hall of the Memorial Union in Madison.   You are invited to join us to celebrate our 10th anniversary as Wisconsin's premier public interest law firm dedicated to helping families secure adequate health care coverage and services!  Watch for more information on this event in the near future.  

Thanks so much for your ongoing support.



Barbara Katz, moderator
Parent Consultant
ABC for Health, Inc.
608.261.6939 ext. 207
barbk@safetyweb.org