Residents who have children with special chronic health care needs may find financial help for medical expenses through Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS), a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services program, according to a Barry Eaton District Health Department newsrelease.

 

The special health care service helps families of children, and some adults, with certain health care needs to pay for health-related expenses including specialty medical bills, transportation to specialty doctor’s appointments, and, if clients have insurance or Medicaid, co-pays and deductibles. If clients do not have health insurance, CSHCS can provide specialty coverage.

 

The Barry-Eaton District Health Department is an advocate for CSHCS and provides services to eligible residents in Barry and Eaton counties, working with local families to help them get needed medical-related services to ensure the very best care.//

 

The health department, with CSHCS, serves as the link between the Michigan Health and Human Services and the specialty health care service, the family and the local community to assist clients in receiving services they need, said program nurse Kindra Reeser-Smith.

 “I’m happy to connect with families to develop a proactive plan of care and community-based care coordination.”

 

For more, call (269) 798-4115 in Barry County or (517) 541-2696  in Eaton County, or  visit www.michigan.gov/cshcs.//

 

More than 2,700 chronic physical medical conditions can qualify those under the age of 21 for specialty health services that can include asthma, cancer, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, liver or kidney disease, club foot, deformed limbs, spina bifada, certain vision disorders, paralysis or spinal injuries, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, insulin-dependent diabetes, muscular dystrophy, certain heart conditions, epilepsy, and many, many other conditions.

 

Persons 21 and older also may be eligible if they have cystic fibrosis or hereditary hemophilia.

To be eligible for the service, the child or their parent or guardian must be a legal Michigan resident. CSHCS is not based on income or insurance status; any eligible child with an accepted medical condition can use CSHCS, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

There is a sliding-scale fee to join CSHCS based on family income and family size.

 

If the client has Medicaid or MIChild insurance or has a court-appointed guardian or is in foster care, the fee is waived.