SUBPART C: DEPARTMENT CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
I. Purpose
The following details the procedures which Department staff are to use to secure services through the University of Illinois' Division of Specialized Care for Children (hereafter known as the Division).
II. Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for Division services for youth for whom DCFS has legal and financial responsibility is based only on medical diagnosis. Continuing eligibility for children adopted with a subsidy from DCFS is based on both a medical diagnosis and the adoptive parents' financial eligibility.
III. Medical Conditions Covered
The medical conditions diagnosed by a qualified medical practitioner eligible for Division services include:
A. Orthopedic conditions, such as clubfoot, curvature of the spine, amputations, arthritis.
B. Rheumatic fever and/or diseases and deformities of the heart.
C. Conditions of the nervous system which require specialist care such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida.
D. Defects which respond to plastic surgery, such as cleft lip/palate and burn scars.
E. Organic speech defects.
F. Hearing loss.
G. Cystic fibrosis.
H. Phenylketonuria (PKU).
I. Hemophilia.
J. Congenital hypothyroidism.
IV. Referral
Referral to the appropriate Division Regional Office shall be made, in writing, for children served by the Department who have one of the diagnosed conditions listed above, or who are believed to have one of these conditions. The Department shall obtain the agreements of the parents of children receiving Department services but for whom the Department is not legally responsible before a referral is made to the Division. The Division will secure the written consent of the Guardianship Administrator or designee for children referred for whom the Department is legally responsible before planning for, or programming services.
V. Planning
Planning concerning Department children receiving Division services is essential. The Department shall keep the Division informed of plans concerning changing a child's living arrangement, legal status or educational program. The Division shall be notified at the initial point of adoption planning in order to ensure the continuity of quality medical services. The Division shall keep the Department informed of the medical treatment plan for the child and any change in or termination of the plan.
VI. Authorization for Payment
Authorization for payment for medical care programmed by the Division must be issued prior to the appointment or treatment date. The child's Medicaid card shall be used for medical services programmed by the Division.
VII. Adoptive Placements
Following an adoptive placement and prior to finalization of the adoption, the Department worker and adoptive parents shall consult with the Division staff member to determine the child's continuing eligibility for Division services. When adoption assistance is being planned, the adoption assistance agreement (CFS 470-C) must specify those medical services payable by DCFS when the specific services are not covered through DPA's Medicaid Program, the parent's insurance or the Division.
VIII. Adoption Finalization
Upon finalization of an adoption, the Division may, with the consent of the adoptive parents, continue to program the specialized medical care for the child. Even when parental income exceeds the Division's financial eligibility criteria, the Division will continue to program and arrange for the child's medical care, if the parents so desire.