IN THIS ISSUE:

Did You Know? Medicaid Managed Care Advocacy Options.

1. ABC for Health receives Good Samaritan Award
2. HealthWatch Wisconsin Strategic Planning Meeting for Southeastern Wisconsin
3. Autism Research: free public forum in Madison
4. Back to School: 2005 Covering Kids and Families Campaign
5. Medscape: quick answers to your medical questions
6. Postsecondary education for youth with intellectual disabilities
7. HealthWatch Updates and Contacts
8. Suggestions or Tips for the CKSN Update? Contact US!

DID YOU KNOW: The state requires each health maintenance organization (HMO) to employ a Medicaid/BadgerCare HMO advocate, who helps members access medically necessary services within the network or HMO. The HMO advocate works with both enrollees and providers to facilitate provision of benefits. The HMO advocate is responsible for making recommendations to management on any changes needed to improve the way care is delivered. Advocates also work to ensure cultural sensitivity and monitor formal and informal grievances. Medicaid/BadgerCare enrollees can contact their HMO advocate with questions or concerns about the coverage they receive through the HMO. HMO Advocate contact information is usually included in members' HMO information packets.

Medicaid/BadgerCare enrollees who are in an HMO may also bring their concerns directly to the attention of Medicaid by contacting the state Medicaid Ombuds at 1-800-760-0001. http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid7/recipients/ombuds/ombuds.htm

1. ABC for Health receives Good Samaritan Award

ABC for Health and Public Interest Attorney Bobby Peterson were recognized at Edgewood College's First Annual Good Samaritan Awards Event, May 25, 2005. The Good Samaritan Award is a collaborative project between Edgewood College and Samaritan Counseling Center. Edgewood College students in the "Ethical Business Practices in Madison" course researched nominees and presented award recommendations to a panel of community judges. Winners were chosen based on who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping children.

2. HealthWatch Wisconsin Strategic Planning meeting for Southeastern Region, Monday, June 20, 2005. Milwaukee Location: TBA. For more information please contact Annie Trimberger at ABC for Health (atrimberger@safetyweb.org). You may also contact:

Brad Holman, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 414.266.3189, bholman@chw.org ,
or Tracy Wymelenberg: Community Advocates, Inc., 4906 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Milwaukee WI 53216, 414-449-4777, Fax 414-449-4775, tracyw@communityadvocates.net

3. Autism Research: Free public forum in Madison

The Madison chapter of the Autism Society of America announces public forum on current directions in autism research:

Sunday, June 26
6:30-8:00pm
Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison

The Madison chapter of the Autism Society of America and the American Society for Neurochemistry will present a public forum based on current directions in autism research.

The forum is free and open to anyone interested in learning about current research on autism. Featured speakers:

Dr. Carlos Pardo, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pathology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, will discuss his research on brain inflammation in autism.

Dr. Lisa Boulanger, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of California San Diego, conducts research on immune system proteins in normal brain development and possible implications for autism.

The forum will include a panel discussion and audience questions.

Please register for this free forum at: autismforum@earthlink.net

For more information contact: Nancy Alar, Vice President, Madison area chapter, Autism Society of America. Email: nalar@tds.net Phone: (608) 222-4378

4. Announcing the 2005 Covering Kids&Families Back-to-School Campaign

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Program Office and the Communications Team are pleased to announce the launch of the sixth annual Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 in Washington, DC. Last year, the campaign organized more than 2,300 outreach events across the country, the most in the campaign's history.

The video of media highlights from the 2004 Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign is a great tool for you to use when recruiting local organizations, businesses, sports teams and others to participate in your activities. View this "sizzle reel" by logging on to www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org. To order VHS copies of the sizzle reel, please contact the Communications Team.

If you would like to organize an event, log on to www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org to see the materials you can download or order. If you have any questions, need additional assistance or would like to order VHS copies of the sizzle reel mentioned above, please contact the Communications Team at (202) 338-7227 or coveringkidsandfamilies@gmmb.com.

5. Find quick answers to medical questions on Medscape

Stay up to date on the latest developments in your medical area of interest with Medscape, the largest collection of professional medical information on the Web. Medscape offers fast answers to your practice and research questions and has everything from daily medical news updates and conference schedules to continuing medical education activities. For more information, log on to: www.medscape.com

6. Postsecondary education for youth with intellectual disabilities: ThinkCollege.net.
Youth with intellectual disabilities have not had many chances to go to college. This is changing as individuals across the country begin to create opportunities for these youth to reap the benefits of postsecondary education. This website will provide information and links to anyone interested in finding out more about the possibilities. For more information, log on to: http://www.thinkcollege.net/

7. Regional HealthWatch Committees:

If you are interested in joining your regional HealthWatch committee, or want more information about their work, please contact the following people:

Southern Region: Maureen Fitzgerald, ABC for Health, Inc., 608.261.6939 ext 218, maureenf@safetyweb.org Next HealthWatch Meeting: Monday, June 6, 9:00-11:00, Harambee Center, 2202 S. Park Street, Madison.

Southeastern Region: Brad Holman, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 414.266.3189, bholman@chw.org Next CKSN HealthWatch Meeting: Wednesday, June 8, 10:00-12:30pm, Aurora Family Service, 3200 W. Highland Blvd., Milwaukee. Topic: Hospital Emergency Department Procedures and Financial Counseling

Northern Region: Deb Blackstone, Family Resource Connection, 715.361.2890 dblacks@shsmh.org Next CKSN HealthWatch Meeting: June 14, 10:00-12:00 Rhinelander, Riverside Clinic Conference Room 1

Northeastern Region: Steve Gerczak, St. Vincent Hospital, 920.433.8154, sgerczak@stvgb.org Next CKSN HealthWatch Meeting: Thursday, July 14, 9:00-11:00AM, Bosco Hall, Green Bay Diocese. Topic: Childhood mental health access issues

Western Region: Rose Marsh, Chippewa County Dept of Public Health, 1-800-400-3678, rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us Next CKSN HealthWatch Meeting: September 13, 10:45-12:00noon, Room 121, Chippewa County Court House, 711 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls, WI

8. 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 maureenf@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 Maureen Fitzgerald. 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.

Maureen Fitzgerald
Education and Outreach Coordinator
ABC for Health, Inc.
608.261.6939 ext. 207
maureenf@safetyweb.org