IL
Illinois Autism Bill Would Mandate Insurance Coverage of $36,000 a Year
- Insurance companies would be required to cover autism diagnosis and
treatment up to $36,000 a year under legislation sent to the governor
Thursday. The action marks a victory for advocates who say early
intervention and therapy is key to helping children with autism gain
communication and social skills.
Pennsylvania Bill Mandates Insurance for Autism -
For Karin Fox, Caroline's mother, the shock of learning her
daughter had autism only worsened when she realized health insurance
wouldn't cover extensive, and expensive, treatments for the disorder. "It
was like a full-time job," Fox, of Narberth, said of figuring out how to pay
for Caroline's therapies, "but one that you were never, ever done with."
Download the booklet "Free
and Low Cost Health Care Coverage Available to Michigan Adults, Children,
Pregnant Women and Families" (PDF)
Download fact sheets from
Maternal & Child Health at
http://www.mchpolicy.org/publications/index.html.
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Offers
Medical Assistance Grants - The
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation is offering support to meet the needs
of children across the United States with assistance grants for medical
services not fully covered by health insurance. Parents and caretakers
across the country will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000 for
healthcare services that will help improve their children's health and
quality of life. Examples of the types of medical services covered by UHCCF
grants include speech therapy, physical therapy, and psycho- therapy
sessions; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids, and
eyeglasses; and orthodontia and dental treatments.
Any child 16 years old or younger living in any UnitedHealthcare
region of the United States and in need of financial assistance for
healthcare services will be considered eligible
for a grant. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United
States, and be covered by a commercial health
insurance plan.
Do Children with Special Health Care Needs
Get Needed Behavioral Health Care? (PDF) -
Twelve percent of all children enrolled in commercial plans have special
health care needs. Almost 40 percent of them have an emotional or behavioral
disorder. Left untreated, they can impede personal, social, and cognitive
development. This data update is the third in a series designed to keep
commercial health plans abreast of the critical issues involved in caring
for children with special health care needs.
MI
Special-needs Children
Can Get Help with Medical Bills -
Children with special needs who are uninsured or underinsured may be
eligible for medical assistance grants of as much as $5,000 through
the Minneapolis-based UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.
Medical services covered by UHCCF grants include speech
therapy; physical therapy; psychological counseling; medical
equipment, including wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eyeglasses,
and braces and dental care. Children must be 16 years of age or
younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United
States and be covered by a commercial health insurance plan.
To donate or learn more, please visit
www.uhccf.org or
call 800-328-5979, Ext. 24459. To leave a voicemail message,
call 952-992-4459. [Feb. 2007]
Featured
Website:
Covering
Kids & Families -
Covering Kids & Families
works to reduce the number of uninsured children and adults who are
eligible for public health care coverage programs but not enrolled. To
find low-cost and free health care for children call 1-877-KIDS-NOW or
visit
http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org.
MI
The Problem of the Uninsured In the United States
- Since its start 2 years ago,
Livonia-based Z.I.A.D. has delivered health care to thousands
of uninsured people across Southeast Michigan.
Free Online Course: "What is Children's Special
Health Care Services?" - This course covers the basics of
Michigan's Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) program.
The course is designed to assure that all "relevant" professionals
have sufficient knowledge to respond appropriately to potentially
eligible families. It also may help families understand who may be
eligible for the CSHCS program and get other information.
Professionals and families who are in touch with persons with
disabilities/special needs will gain straight-forward, useful
information. The aim of offering this course is to boost understanding
so that all who may be eligible will be referred to CSHCS. Course
features: ten sections that cover a wide range of topics; links to
resources for families; readily accessible and easy to use; take in
one sitting or many; average completion time is 45 minutes or less.
Visit http://healthcare.mivu.org,
select the "Children's Special Health Care Services" course, create a
FREE account and begin! It's that easy.
U.S.
HIPAA:
Patient Privacy Rules Bring Wide Confusion -
The transplant patient was recovering well when doctors discovered that his
new heart might have been infected with bacteria before the operation. When the
doctors sought more information so they could give the man the right
antibiotics, the hospital where the donor had died refused, citing new federal
patient privacy rules. "It was ridiculous. The only live part of the donor
was in our patient," said Deeb Salem.
The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) has
officially launched
http://www.healthcarecoach.com. Dedicated to helping
consumers get the most out of their health care, this website
features hundreds of articles with information about
everything from keeping health care costs down and coping with
emergencies to dealing with denied claims and what people can
do when they lose coverage.
