IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Best of Past Case Tips: HealthCheck Other Services
2. CDC Urges Parents to Watch Children for Developmental Problems
3. Medical Home Resource Book Available
4. Breaking down Barriers to Dental Care Conference
5. Resource from the Minnesota Council on Developmental Disabilities
6. Hispanic Health Website Available
7. Maternal and Child Health Research Program Launches Web Site
8. HealthWatch Updates and Contacts

Moderators Note: Since the CKSN Update began publication, we have received many positive comments about the usefulness of our Case Tips. As a result, we have decided to reprint some of the more popular Tips from time to time.

We invite you to suggest any case tips, successful strategies, or just plain good ideas that you would like to have profiled. All suggestions may be sent to barbk@safetyweb.org
Thanks!

1. BEST OF PAST CASE TIPS: 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.

2. CDC URGES PARENTS TO WATCH CHILDREN FOR DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS

A new Center for Disease Control and Prevention campaign launched this week encourages parents to monitor young children's social, emotional and physical development. Recognizing possible early signs of developmental disabilities including mental retardation, ADHD, and autism means that parents can seek early treatment for their children. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/htm

3. MEDICAL HOME RESOURCE BOOK AVAILABLE

From Medical Homes@Work:
Strengthening the Community System of Care for CYSHCN and Their Families - Collaboration Between Health Care and Community Service Systems - Hard Copies Now Available. This workbook provides suggestions and exercises designed to help the health care system reach out to the broader system of community services and to help the community services system engage the health system to build a comprehensive community system of care. A list of other resources related to collaboration is provided.
Hard copies may be ordered, on www.ask.hrsa.gov or calling 1-888-ASK-HRSA (275-4772) and requesting document number MCH00150.

4. BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO DENTAL CARE CONFERENCE

The Covering Kids and Families coalition and the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin/Wisconsin Oral Health Coalition are hosting a dental care conference on: Monday, March 14 from 9 am until 1 pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4402 East Washington Avenue in Madison. Lunch will be served and registration is free!

Hear different perspectives on strategies to overcome dental care barriers and offer your own thoughts and concerns. To participate, contact jrudzik@chw.org by March 4.

5. RESOURCE FROM THE MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Tremendous work is being done throughout the country regarding people with disabilities. For all you do, thank you! And whether you're working with boards, policymakers, individuals, agencies, funders or other stakeholders, there is always a need to clearly convey the Who, What, When, Where, and (especially) Why of your activities.

Because this need is so widespread and so integral to accomplishing goals, we are pleased to announce a free, Internet-based learning program called "Making Your Case."
There is no cost for this interactive, self-paced learning program. It takes about three hours to complete, and is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

"Making Your Case" was developed after many years of research on effective advocacy methods at the local, state and federal levels, and incorporates the best that "e-learning" tools have to offer. By taking part in this free learning program, participants will be
better able to:
- Effectively "tell their story" to policymakers;
- Identify which policymakers would be most helpful in bringing about
positive change;
- Write effective letters and emails;
- Conduct productive meetings with policymakers;
- Give effective testimony and answers to questions; and
- Organize with others to address important issues.

"Making Your Case" has been designed for use by people with disabilities, family members, and concerned citizens. The program can be accessed any time by going to:
http://www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase

6. HISPANIC HEALTH WEBSITE AVAILABLE

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health has a Web site containing fact sheets, in English and Spanish, covering health topics of special concern to Hispanic Americans. You can also find news, actions to take, scholarship information, and other resources on the site.  http://www.hispanichealth.org/healthfacts.lasso

7. MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAM LAUNCHES WEB SITE

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Research Program of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has launched a new Web site to enhance dissemination of MCH Research Program activities and projects. The MCH Research Program supports applied research relating to MCH services that has the potential to improve health services and delivery of care for MCH populations. The site provides information on new funding opportunities and currently funded research projects. The site also includes an events calendar, conference archives, a program description, and the MCHB Strategic Research Issues, Fiscal Years 2004-2009. The Web site is available at http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/research

8. HEALTHWATCH CONTACTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

CKSN HealthWatch Training:
Asset Mapping Resources for Families with Children with Special Health Care Needs
Monday, March 7
11:00-1:00pm
Harambee, 2202 S. Park St., Madison

We invite you to attend a unique event on Monday, March 7!

Do you ever wonder about all of the efforts in the Dane County community who serve children with special health care needs around health care coverage issues? How do they work together? How are they distinct from one another? How are they coordinated? And most of all how are parents supposed to keep track of all this information?

Here is your chance to gain valuable insights into a complicated system and share your knowledge with others concerned about and committed to the care for children and youth with special health care needs.

At this special HealthWatch Coalition event we will inventory local resources that are available for families and children with special health care needs in the Madison and Dane County communities.

Using an asset mapping tool designed by ABC for Health, we will compile the rich resources in our community. Following this training when materials are finalized, participants will receive copies of both the local tool and a previously completed statewide inventory to help you better serve families and children with special health care needs.

The training will be held at the South Madison Community Health Center at 2202 South Park Street in Madison.

Since lunch will be served and space is limited, we will need to know if you will be participating prior to the meeting. Please contact Maureen Fitzgerald at maureenf@safetyweb.org no later than March 3.

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

An “Overview of the Brown County Dental Initiatives” will be held at the next Northeastern Region HealthWatch meeting on: Thursday, March 10 from 9 until 11 am, at Bosco Hall, Green Bay Catholic Diocese at 1825 Riverside Drive in Green Bay. Information will be presented on the Healthy Teeth/Healthy Kids initiative and on a community sponsored Free Dental Clinic/Sealant Program. Contact Steve Gerczak for more information.

Western Region:  Rose Marsh, Chippewa County Dept of Public Health,
1-800-400-3678, rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us

CONTACT US!

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.

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