Arizona Consortium of Children with Chronic Illness (ACCCI)

ACCCI
(Arizona Consortium
for Children with
Chronic Illness)

2034 E Southern Ave
Suite G
Tempe, AZ 85282

accci@qwest.net

Current News

DIAPERS:

The U.S. District Court recently ruled in the Eckloff v. Rodgers Class Action Lawsuit that AHCCCS must cover incontinence diapers and briefs for children enrolled in the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS is the state’s Title XIX Medicaid Program). We have been advised that families should request their child’s primary care provider to forward a prescription to their AHCCCS contractor (Mercy Care, APIPA, Capstone, etc.).

AHCCCS has filed a motion to prevent enforcement of this judgment pending an appeal (the motion will be ruled on April 14), but AHCCCS has indicated to the Arizona Center for Disability Law, attorneys for the plaintiff, that they have instructed their program contractors to fill prescriptions.

ACCCI would like to hear about any problems you encounter in obtaining incontinence supplies. Please note that the lawsuit only applies to diapers and briefs, not powders, ointment, wipes, etc.

Click here to find out how to request a prescription for diapers/briefs.

UPDATE FROM DES 01-29-07
About a month ago, the AHCCCS Administration and the Department of Economic Security-Division of Developmental Disabilities (DES-DDD) sent you a letter explaining how to get paid for incontinence briefs you bought for your children. The dates for the denial were wrong. You will get paid for the incontinence briefs as long as the date of the denial of the prescription for incontinence briefs is BEFORE the date of your receipts for the incontinence briefs. The dates for your receipts are still the same and must be between June 25, 2005 and September 22, 2006. Because of this mistake, we are giving you until May 1, 2007 to send in the information. We are also sending a new notice with the correct dates and information.

ALTCS CO-PAYS:

Back in 2003, many of us fought long and hard against a “co-pay” to be levied on families of children covered by Arizona Long-Term Care (ALTCS). Originally, there was a push to charge co-pays to families with relatively low incomes. In the end, the legislation was passed with a deductible that required families earning more than 400% of the FPL (federal poverty level), which is $80,000 for a family of 4, to pay 2% of their income as a deductible, and families earning more than 500% of the FPL to pay 4% of their income.

This legislation has not resulted in a cost sharing to date because, as part of the state’s medicaid program, it must first be approved by CMS—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in Washington D.C. CMS has got to approve the deductible. At this point, May 2007, the issue is on hold.

Click here to review ACCCI’s written comments to AHCCCS

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES:

A bill was passed in the last legislative session that established the Arizona Scholarship for Pupils with Disabilities Program to allow disabled students the option of attending any public school or receiving a scholarship to any private school for disabled students. There are requirements for eligibility for students and private schools. Scholarships are equal to the base support level for the particular pupil (their special ed funding). Application for scholarships must be made at least 60 days in advance of a payment being issued to a qualified school. There was a $2.5 million appropriation that will be used on a first come, first served basis. For more information, go to http://www.ade.state.az.us/hb2676/ or call us at 480-557-8445.