Need help applying for DC Medicaid waiver

[Anonymous]

I've been trying to get a medicaid waiver for my daughter who has ID from an acquired brain injury. I'm stuck on the letter from dr. Her neurologist, best positioned to make the case, is overwhelmed. I can move this along faster if I provide her with a draft letter.

Does anyone have a sample letter they can share? I want to avoid any language that could jeopardize her eligibility. For example, I've heard never to ask for "Best possible care..." but to frame it as "Least worse..." when requesting services.

Or, does anyone have a recommendation who I can pay to help me (me mother has offered to foot the bill). This is something I just not have been able to get my head around.

Any help appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I would contact the Arc of DC and Quality Trust to see if they can help. If there is a local chapter of the Down Syndrome Society, folks there might also have sample letters even though you're dealing with ID from a different cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would contact the Arc of DC and Quality Trust to see if they can help. If there is a local chapter of the Down Syndrome Society, folks there might also have sample letters even though you're dealing with ID from a different cause.

Thank you. ARC of D.C. Is totally underfunded and staff knew nothing. They focus on adult employment.

I'll try Down Syndrome Society.

[Anonymous]

Family Voices has a service that helps with medicaid applications:http://www.familyvoices.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Family Voices has a service that helps with medicaid applications:http://www.familyvoices.org/

I second this recommendation, they helped us tremendously with the waiver application.
Not sure if Doreen Hodges is still with Family Voices, but I still refer to her as our guardian angel.

In terms of eligibility criteria, you will basically need to indicate that without Medicaid, your child would need to be institutionaliized.

[Anonymous]

Also, the letter doesn't need to be from the neurologist - but can be from a primary care physician familiar with your daughters disabilities. You can include a report from the neurologist in your application.

[Anonymous]

Please don't use Family Voices. You do not need to pay to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It is an easy process. DC Dept of Healthcare Finance can assist you - [phone]

[Anonymous]

Good luck, OP. I haven't been through this, but have seen this link mentioned on this board before:

https://downinthedistrict.wordpress.com/the-katie-beckett-waiver/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use Family Voices. You do not need to pay to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It is an easy process. DC Dept of Healthcare Finance can assist you - [phone]

I'm the PP who also recommended Family Voices - something must've changed because we did not pay for any of their services when they helped us out so many years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use Family Voices. You do not need to pay to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It is an easy process. DC Dept of Healthcare Finance can assist you - [phone]

I'm the PP who also recommended Family Voices - something must've changed because we did not pay for any of their services when they helped us out so many years ago.

NP. We most definitely paid Family Voices to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It was $300 or more. Others may have had a good experience with Doreen but she went totally radio silent on us for a crucial period, and lied about when she filed with DHCF and came back to ask for updated documents because of that, which delayed the process again. This was just last year. She became extremely defensive and contradictory when we asked her about the steps she was taking. Since we had extensive notes of our calls with her and the emails, we recited back to her what she had told us before and caught her in lies. I accept that she probably set the template for what the doctor's letter required but our doctor seemed to be just fine writing it on her own. And BTW, unless you neurologist is DC Medicaid enrolled you will need another doctor who is to complete the letter of medical necessity. I think that was a new requirement under DHCF starting in 2016. The staff at DHCF are quite helpful - Tashia Perry and Gwen Bell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use Family Voices. You do not need to pay to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It is an easy process. DC Dept of Healthcare Finance can assist you - [phone]

I'm the PP who also recommended Family Voices - something must've changed because we did not pay for any of their services when they helped us out so many years ago.

NP. We most definitely paid Family Voices to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It was $300 or more. Others may have had a good experience with Doreen but she went totally radio silent on us for a crucial period, and lied about when she filed with DHCF and came back to ask for updated documents because of that, which delayed the process again. This was just last year. She became extremely defensive and contradictory when we asked her about the steps she was taking. Since we had extensive notes of our calls with her and the emails, we recited back to her what she had told us before and caught her in lies. I accept that she probably set the template for what the doctor's letter required but our doctor seemed to be just fine writing it on her own. And BTW, unless you neurologist is DC Medicaid enrolled you will need another doctor who is to complete the letter of medical necessity. I think that was a new requirement under DHCF starting in 2016. The staff at DHCF are quite helpful - Tashia Perry and Gwen Bell.

Hi, like you you, we had a horrible experience with Doreen. We paid her $300 and she also did the same thing- lie and make things up. I wouldn’t hear from her and then I would call to check in and she would happen to just complete the whatever it was that I was calling her about. She would promise to check in after the fact but nothing. This has b en going on after a year. Basically paid $300 for nothing. Whatever your do don’t use Doreen Hodges!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use Family Voices. You do not need to pay to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It is an easy process. DC Dept of Healthcare Finance can assist you - [phone]

I'm the PP who also recommended Family Voices - something must've changed because we did not pay for any of their services when they helped us out so many years ago.

NP. We most definitely paid Family Voices to get the Katie Beckett application completed. It was $300 or more. Others may have had a good experience with Doreen but she went totally radio silent on us for a crucial period, and lied about when she filed with DHCF and came back to ask for updated documents because of that, which delayed the process again. This was just last year. She became extremely defensive and contradictory when we asked her about the steps she was taking. Since we had extensive notes of our calls with her and the emails, we recited back to her what she had told us before and caught her in lies. I accept that she probably set the template for what the doctor's letter required but our doctor seemed to be just fine writing it on her own. And BTW, unless you neurologist is DC Medicaid enrolled you will need another doctor who is to complete the letter of medical necessity. I think that was a new requirement under DHCF starting in 2016. The staff at DHCF are quite helpful - Tashia Perry and Gwen Bell.

Hi, like you you, we had a horrible experience with Doreen. We paid her $300 and she also did the same thing- lie and make things up. I wouldn’t hear from her and then I would call to check in and she would happen to just complete the whatever it was that I was calling her about. She would promise to check in after the fact but nothing. This has b en going on after a year. Basically paid $300 for nothing. Whatever your do don’t use Doreen Hodges!

NP Here - I had the same experience with Doreen. Wasted $300 and a lot of time. Glad to know I am not the only sucker.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, wish that we could report her or something. Full of words and promises, but in the end— nothing.

[Anonymous]

Started the process with Doreen last spring (did all the initial financial/application paperwork in March, followed up with medical after that). Still waiting. Found a direct phone # for Gwen Bell (202-442-5957) in another thread and am hoping that she can get back to tell me what's going on and what we need to do...