Kinnick Kay and Carver Lee: March 29th, 2008

Saturday, March 29, 2008

March 29th, 2008

Happy Birthday Kinnick and Carver!!!!

Kinnick and Carver are 1 today. I can't believe that they're already a year old. Wow, what a year. They have come so far. We had a small birthday party with family. One of our new nurses, Marcy came to the party. She has been such a blessing. We finally got a really good nurse. She fits in perfectly with our family and she is so good with Kinnick and Carver. They both seem to really like her. All of our/your prayers for a good nurse paid off.

We didn't start the party till 7pm. Bob had to work today. Carver gets really sleepy after 6pm, so he cried a lot at the party, but Kinnick loved it. Her hands were burried in cake. She even got to sample the cake a bit. She just started trying baby food, so we were afraid to let her swallow any of the cake. We didn't want her to choke. Carver wasn't real interested, he was just too tired. We didn't get to open gifts today, so we'll do that tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures...
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9 comments:

abby said...: Happy Birthday, Kinnick and Carver! You've hit an amazing milestone and we wish you guys a great second year!; March 29, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey Shanon,
Happy Birthday to Kinnick and Carver! I can't believe it. Conner will be right behind them...he's one in just a few months. Time has flown by. I'm a bit jealous that it is warm enough for you all to be wearing summery clothes...it snowed here yesterday! I'm glad Kinnick's hearing test came back good too. Been meaning to write for a while...and I have been thinking about you guys.
Love, Stacy; March 29, 2008 at 11:37 PM
24weeker's Mama said...: HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY CARVER & KINNICK, I really enjoyed the pictures.

xoxo,
yani; March 30, 2008 at 12:21 AM
Jodi said...: I meant to send this yesterday. . .Happy Birthday Kinnick and Carver!! You are both such inspirations to everyone whose lives you touch. May this be the first of many great birthdays to come.

Jodi, Ryan and Olivia; March 30, 2008 at 1:59 PM
23wktwinsmommy said...: Happy first birthday sweeties!!!
And what's up withe summer clothes? We still have the winter coats, hats and mittens over here! No fair!!
Bless you all!; March 30, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Anonymous said...: They look so sweet! Happy Birthday...
Lindsay Medina; March 31, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Anonymous said...: Looks like you had a fun party!! I'm so glad to see your family getting a chance to celebrate! And I love those cakes! Congratulations on making it a year!
Love
Neva; March 31, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Lacy Justus said...: Happy Birthday Kinnick and Carver. I love your birthday cakes, did you make them? Kadin and Delanie will be 1 in a few months. I hope you all got some great stuff for your birthday.

Lacy; April 2, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Amy said...: Shannon,

It was so fun to get to see you and your beautiful babies this evening. I would love to go for a walk or anything whenever you feel you can. Our home phone number is 729-9430 and my cell number is 304-9128. Also, my email address is amymadsen@mac.com, please let me know if we can every be of any help or if you just need an ear to listen, I would love to talk, Chris travels quite a bit so many days and nights it is just me and the kids!

Take care,
Amy; April 4, 2008 at 11:00 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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