Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc, A Great Resource!

Be sure to contact Lana Gonzales at Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.  Her phone number is (208) 342-5884 and her email address is lana@ipulidaho.org.  She is also on Facebook.  She is a parent education coordinator for the southeast region of Idaho.  And she is super knowledgeable and very friendly.  Website:  www.ipulidaho.org

Social Security

I have applied for Social Security for MaKenna but have been denied because of family income.  However, one of my friends told me last week that his son may be eligible for money each month due to being born with a low birth weight.  Not sure of the details, but I will be looking into this funding source as soon as I can.  I have been told that going into the Social Security office in person to get better service.  I know that calling the Washington DC number isn't a fun or fruitful experience (and this is remembering a phone call that occurred over 4 years ago!).  I think they have to do a security check when you go in, so be prepared for that, travel lightly as if going to the DMV for your driver's license or car registration.  Also, bring your child's and your social security cards just to be safe, they will probably want to see those.

Respite Care for the family

Your service coordinator through Infant Toddler can get your family approved for paid Respite Care. It is another frustrating process as it takes soooo long to get the babysitter paid, but you can use funding set aside for your child for respite care. Which is a nice option. This is until they are 3, then you can get respite funding through the Family Directed Medicaid option or the agency (see post on Children's Redesign below). I liked the Family Directed because then we pick who is babysitting, rather than letting the agency do that. There is a mom in Idaho Falls who told me about this funding system and she has her daughter with an agency. She is very happy with the service providers and it is great for their family. We had a family friend who said that she wouldn't mind helping take MaKenna out into the community for us. That seems like a better fit for us for now. You can chose one option, then change your mind, and chose the other option. That is my favorite part! Flexibility and control!

Children’s Redesign and Family Directed Services

This is for after our children turn 3 years old.  Extra funds from Medicaid.  It is another hoop-filled process, but more money from the state.  You can call the Idaho Care Line to get in touch with the Health and Welfare department to see how much additional funding your child could be eligible for.  These funds can be used (upon approval) for ramps for your house, alarm systems for your house, bathroom modifications, etc.  Things that help your child stay at home for you to care for them rather than becoming a ward of the state (I guess that is what it would be called), so your child does not need to be institutionalized.

Here is the website:
www.redesignforchildren.medicaid.idaho.gov

Katie Beckett Medicaid Cost Sharing Program

I didn't know that it was optional for the longest time. I was paying for it out of our flex account through my husband's insurance through his work and then about the fourth "Bill" for installment, it said at the bottom "call this number to opt out". Of course I called the number and then realized that it is a VOLUNTARY program. So of course I opted out once I knew I could do so with no repercussions!

Free Food: WIC

Once you receive approval for Katie Beckett Medicaid, your child is eligible for free food from the WIC office.  Women, Infants, Children provide food vouchers to those on Medicaid.  Your family may not be eligible, but your child who is on Medicaid is eligible for WIC until age 5.  This can add over $50 of free funds to your monthly grocery bill, just depends on the items that you purchase with your WIC checks and the cost of those items.  Call the Idaho Care Line at 2-1-1 for WIC contact information.

Reimbursement for Transportation

After your child is qualified for Medicaid with the Katie Beckett waiver, you can get reimbursed for mileage to drive your child to each of their medical appointments.  This one can be tricky to get paid for, but with perseverance and PATIENCE it can be done! 

The first step is to call the Medicaid Transportation phone number at 877-503-1261, tell them your child is on Medicaid and that you want to be set up to get reimbursed to drive her to her medical appointments.  This one is interesting, they cover certain visits but not others. Just last week I called to get approval for the Idaho State University hearing audiology lab, which they have covered for 5 years and they said they didn't cover audiology, but they do cover hearing checks. Say what?! It took 10 minutes to figure that out, patience is a virtue, right? So we go to the university for hearing checks, not to see an audiologist, even though when we go there we see the audiologist. So this is a fun game within a game with them.   You have to call and set up the appointments in advanced or they won't reimburse. They will pay for visits to Salt Lake City, etc, under certain conditions too. Again, you have to play their game with them, but it is money that they send you as long as you qualify and jump through their hoops. Sometimes they say that if there is a closer provider for that same service, that you can only get paid for the closer provider transportation. With SLC they can even pay a per diem for your hotel room, I have had them tell me. Naturally I forgot to set the transportation for that appointment up in advance!