Why We're Here
Every individual with a special care need that requires caregiving is someone’s child.
And as long as that individual is covered by Medicaid, they enjoy federal rights and entitlements to medical as well as educational care.
Our mission is to ensure that all individuals with special health care needs, along with their family and caregivers, understand their right to control their own or their child’s medical and educational program.
We're here to make sure that parents and family caregivers understand these civil rights and how to exercise them.
What these Medical Rights Include
• In general, anything a doctor says is “medically necessary”
• Assistive technology and augmentative communications devices
• Personalized case management that integrates and coordinates services to meet all the individual’s medical, educational and social needs
• Durable medical equipment like bath lifts, toilet chairs, suction machines, etc.
* Medical supplies such as diapers, catheters, syringes, gloves, etc.
* Home nursing and other services needed to keep an individual with special health needs at home with their family
Who is Eligible
• Any child under the age of 21 who receives Medicaid.
• Any adult who is currently a participant in any of the various Medicaid Waiver programs offered by each state.
In Hawaii, this would be the state's QExA program offering managed care through Unitedhealth Group or WellCare Health.
• Also in Hawaii, any adult or child who is a participant in the Department of Health’s Developmental Disability waiver program.
Why Now?
Passage of the American Recovery Act in February 2009 gifted the states billions of dollars to be used strictly for Medicaid. Then in June 2009, new federal regulations re-defined the medical rights and entitlements of people with disabilities receiving care from Medicaid. As a result of both events, opportunities exist now more than ever for parents and caregivers to improve the quality of our children's lives.
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