Kinnick Kay and Carver Lee: March 29th, 2009

Sunday, March 29, 2009

March 29th, 2009

Guess who turned 2 today......

It's still impossible to get both of them to look at the camera - at the same time. Oh, and forget smiling and doing that at the same time.

Kinnick's cake.

Carver's cake. We had hoped that they would be able to eat their cake this year, but that didn't happen. Hopefully next year.

Kinnick was mesmerized by the fire.

Carver was tired again this year. He smacked his cake, so Dad was trying to keep his hands away from the fire long enough to get a picture. Next year, we'll have to try having the party in the afternoon instead of the evening.

Kinnick enjoyed the bags and paper.

Carver thought tearing the paper was pretty fun.

Kinnick and Carver got a new swing and slide. The both love the swing, but don't know what to think of the slide.

By the end of the evening K&C were both pooped out!

10 comments:

Jodi said...: Happy Birthday Kinnick and Carver!! Thinking of you both on your special day.; March 29, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Stacy Larson said...: Happy 2nd Birthday!!
Love, Stacy, David and Conner; March 29, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Beauty and the Beast said...: Happy Birthday Kinnick and Carver! ur aunt tonya and uncle bill love ya!; March 30, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Anonymous said...: They are so adorable! I love following your blog to see pictures and read updates. They have come a long way. You really give it 150% which I'm sure is exhausting yet fulfilling.

Your family is always in our prayers,
Dianna Mann (Bill Ramsey's sister); March 30, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday! I love the swing and slide! It's hard to believe it's been 2 years already! Where does the time go?! Love the cakes!
Neva; March 30, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Anonymous said...: Shannon, I'm so glad I finally got to see Kinnick and Carver on Sunday. They're absolutely adorable.

Jo

P.S. It was great seeing you too.; March 31, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Jamie said...: Hope Kinnic and Carver had a great birthday!; March 31, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Anonymous said...: I try to keep up regularly on your blog. It is incredible that Kinnick and Carver are 2! Best wishes to all of you!

Sincerely,
Emily Fagan; March 31, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Jen said...: Cute kids! Glad I came across your blog. I have a 6 month old son who has vision loss and has started a blog to share w/ family & friends. I'm new... just wanted to say hello. I commend you. :)

PS - Cute names!; April 7, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Anonymous said...: I hope they had a great birthday!
It looks like they did from the little snooze going on.

Another year down. =); April 13, 2009 at 2:19 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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