Program for children with disabilities who are not Medicaid eligible
By Alison Donald
The Katie Beckett waiver will bring home healthcare to many seriously disabled children in Tennessee on November 23, 2020 at 7:30am CST. There have been some additions to the waiver since it was first introduced in the state of Tennessee a year ago.
“This is great news for so many Tennessee families and their advocates,” TennCare director Stephen Smith said. “Tennessee’s Katie Beckett Program is an innovative approach that will benefit children and families in need throughout our state, and we look forward to getting started.”
The Katie Beckett Program is a program for children with disabilities and complex medical needs who are not currently Medicaid eligible because of their parent’s income or assets. Tennessee’s Katie Beckett Program has two parts. Part A provides Medicaid services to children with the most significant disabilities or complex medical needs. Part B is a Medicaid diversion program, which means children will not be enrolled in Medicaid, but will receive a capped package of supports of up to $10,000 annually to help meet his or her needs.
Plan A: Will serve up to 300 children with the most significant disabilities or complex medical needs. Children would receive full Medicaid benefits, which could include services like home health, private duty nursing, durable medical equipment and supplies, and occupational, physical and speech therapies, among other services.Children in Part A would also receive up to $15,000 a year in home and community- based services.These are non-medical services that help families care for children in their homes. Some of these services include respite, supportive home care, and home and vehicle modifications.
Plan B: Will serve up to 2,700 children with disabilities or complex medical needs. Children in Part B will not be enrolled in Medicaid. They would receive up to $10,000 a year in services for their child.
Families will have the flexibility to choose any or all of the following services within their budget: premium assistance, a health-care savings type account, reimbursement for services that would benefit the child but can’t be covered under a health-care savings account, self-directed respite and supportive home care services, or an array of services from a community-based provider
The new addition to the Katie Beckett waiver is Part C
Part C: All children who are already on Medicaid can keep their coverage if their parent’s income increases. The child’s parents do not have to purchase private insurance and can move to Part A but they will not receive home and community based services.
The application process takes about an hour to complete. All applicants will have to complete a DIDDs assessment. You will need the following information to complete the application and avoid delays in receipt of service. Medical records, Child’s IQ, Individualized education Plan (IEP), and therapy notes. This is not a complete list. Additionally if your meets the requirements for Part A there will be a third party medical review.
This program will also require each recipient to prove that their need for care remain the same during a recertification process. The Katie Beckett waiver is a Medicare program so each recipient will receive a letter if they do not qualify which will inform the parents how to file an appeal.
If you would like more information on the Katie Beckett Waiver and how to apply please visit https://tenncareconnect.tn.gov/services/homepage to create an account. If you don’t have a computer, a DIDD case manager can help you complete the self-referral. To get help, call the DIDD office in your region: West Tennessee Regional Office: (866) 372-5709.
If you have any questions regarding the Katie Beckett waiver please contact the Memphis Center for Independent Living at 901-726-6404. For the latest updates please visit our website and follow us on twitter: @MemphisCIL.
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