Kinnick Kay and Carver Lee: August, 5th, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

August, 5th, 2009

We've been busy preparing for our road trip to Royal Oak, MI for possible eye surgery for Kinnick and Carver. We're trying to plot out our plan. Right now, we're having a hard time finding something to do between Springfield, IL and Royal Oak, MI. We're hoping to find something in between - like the Joliet, IL area +/- an hour. If anyone has any ideas, please share.

The MRDD program is giving up to $2,500/per child again this year for children in the program to go towards equipment needs. We're trying to find a gait trainer or something that will allow Carver to be mobile upright. We're trying to get Kinnick some tumbleform pieces like a stair/slide/tunnel piece and a peanut ball for balance and exercise. We're also looking at some block pedals to add to her tricycle, so she is able to hold her feet on the pedals. Hopefully we'll be able to get approved again this year. It sure was a blessing last year. Last year, the program provided a gait trainer and rifton chair for Kinnick and a Tumbleforms stander and rifton chair for Carver. We use the equipment daily and are very happy to have these nice pieces.

Kinnick is really working on her words. Most start with "B", but she has now added "Wow". She looks like a little guppy when she tries to say "Wow".

Carver has new sounds all of the time and enjoys playtime more every day. Things are really starting to come together for him.

As far as the other kids go... they are all getting ready to start school. I always feel so overwhelmed this time of year. It doesn't help that I'm leaving on our trip the first day of school. I'm going to take the other children to school and then hit the road. My 19 year old daughter (Sophomore in college) is going to help get the kids to/from school while I'm gone. She's such a big help. My sister is once again coming to my rescue to help in the evenings until Bob gets home from work. Big families are nice, but boy is it a lot of work to coordinate everything.

2 comments:

Andrea Cominini said...: Hey, for the end of august we will be on Royal Oak hospital with our daughter Angelica.
Hope to sse you there.
Andrea from Italy; August 6, 2009 at 4:24 AM
Sarah said...: If you feel like going a tad out of your way to the Quad Cities... I'd love to have a visit with you!

Actually, Joliet isn't far from us either. Email me if you want to try and coordinate getting together or if you need any ideas on where to stay.

Peoria wouldn't be bad but a tad out of your way. You could always try Rockford as well.

sbc6369@yahoo.com; August 6, 2009 at 2:51 PM

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Disability Determination when you don't qualify Financially

In order to extend Cobra medical coverage 11 months due to a Disabled member of the family, a Disability Determination Award letter is required. How do you secure a Disability Determination if you are not intitled to an Award? You ask for a Special Determination (SSA-553) of Disability. How did we get this? Here are my contacts:

We live in Wichita, KS. My contact at the Social Security Administration in Wichita was Nick Janzen. His phone number is 866-931-4486.

The Kansas/Nebraska/Iowa/Missouri Regional SSA office is located in Kansas City. My contact in the Kansas City Office is Mike Stiles. His phone number is 816-936-5740. Mike is able to communicate with all of the Disability Experts including those at the national headquarters in Baltimore, MD. Mike was able to guide my Wichita, KS contact, Nick in order to complete the necessary paperwork to obtain a Disability Determination even though we didn't qualify under Title II or Title XV1.

Here's is how it worked:

Nick completed a paper SSA-3820 (for a child), and obtained as much medical evidence as possible from me. He also prepared an SSA-5002 with the date of my qualiffying event (date I went on Cobra initially). This material was then sent to the following Address:

Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise

P.O. Box 17786

Baltimore, MD 21235-7786

A Manual Development Worksheet (MDW) was used to document my case.

The OMVE will prepare and release the appropriate notice for this type of case and will return the completed case to the field office along with a special determination (SSA-553) of disability and a copy of the notice.

Overnight address:

SSA, Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise

1st Floor Oak Meadows Building

6401 Security Blvd

Baltimore, MD 21235

Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization - MRDD Waiver information

Kinnick and Carver are on the MRDD Waiver. This is a needs based program based on being mentally retarded or developmentally delayed - not income. So, regardless of income, you may qualify. What benefit are we getting from the MRDD waiver? If you are on this program at age 5, you will receive a medicaid card. Prior to turning age 5 (while on the waiting list), you qualify for case management and family support funds. Case management is very helpful in helping you find funding sources if needed. The family support funds have provided all of K&C's expensive equipment needs. Due to budget cuts, the family support funds are not available this year, but could return at any time. You shouldn't wait to sign up for this program. There is a waiting list to receive the medicaid card at age 5. The waiting list is 2 years or longer. Therefore the sooner you get on the waiting list the better. You do not have to be 5 to be on the waiting list.

How do you apply for the MRDD Waiver program?

Rachel Ryan

Intake and Referral Coordinator (SCDDO)

615 N. Main

Wichita, KS 67203

(316)-660-7640

http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/cddo

Kansas Medicaid - Travel Expenses

I'm posting this to help others. It has been a struggle to get Medicaid to pay for our travel expenses. I have been able to get them to commit to paying $81.00/day hotel expense, $27.00/day for food, and .20/mile for mileage to/from.

The KEY is to call the number(s) below before you leave on the trip (unless it is an emergency).

1-800-285-4978 Option 2 (Out of State Prior Auth)
The doctor from the referring hospital/office and the doctor that you will be seeing will need to send paperwork for your approval. You can call this number to confirm this is getting done.

1-888-561-8747 x5002 (Meals and Lodging)
Let them know where you are going and how long you think you will be there. You will have to call every 2 wks to extend the time. They only approve 2 wks at a time.

1-888-240-6497 (Transportation)
Let them know where you are going and how long you think you will be there. You will have to call every 2 wks to extend the time. They only approve 2 wks at a time.

Medical Transportation Approval Process

In order to obtain approval for Medical Transport, the following steps were followed:

1.) Kinnick and Carver's primary physician (Pediatrician) wrote a "Letter of Medical Necessity". Below is a small sampling of the letter:

LETTER OF MEDICAL NECESSITY

Date:
Insurance Company:
RE: Kinnick and Carver
DOB:
Diagnosis: ROP, 23 wk gestation twins, severe chronic lung disease.

Attention Medical Director:

The letter requested approval for an air ambulance round trip flight for the specific eye surgery. It then listed medical reasons why Kinnick and Carver's medical needs meet criteria for air ambulance transport for their eye surgery. Their medical needs consisted of the following:

Continuous oxygen per nasal cannula
Continuous cardiac and respiratory monitoring
Feeding intolerance that requires gastrostomy feeds
Deep suctioning using a suction machine and catheter

Signed by the Primary Physician

2.) My Primary Physician faxed the Letter to Kinnick and Carver's Case Manager at my Insurance Company.

3.) Kinnick and Carver's Case Manager forwarded the Letter to the Medical Director for approval. This process only took a couple of days.

4.) Kinnick and Carver's Case Manager faxed the Approval to Air Ambulance and my Primary Physician.

Kinnick Kay and Carver Lee

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