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Policy Manual
HEALTH CARE
Standards Regarding Children in Out-of-Home Care

44-4-1
Health and Medical Services for Children in Placement

Payment for Health and Medical Services Payment for medical care of children placed by the Department is made through the Title XIX medical program administered by the Department of Social Services.

It is the responsibility of Department staff, foster parents and institutional staff need to work together to assure that each child's health and medical needs are determined and that professional services are provided as necessary to promote and maintain good health and proper physical and mental development to the child.
At Time of Placement At the time of the child's placement, the Social Worker shall:

•provide the Passport to the caretaker at the time of placement or as soon after placement as possible

•inform the foster parents or appropriate institutional staff member that:

-it is their responsibility, unless there is need for other arrangements, to take the child to the doctor, dentist, or other provider of medical care

-doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacists and other providers have the standards, fee schedules, instructions and billing forms issued by the Department of Social Services for medical services

-the foster parent or institution may use its own physician or dentist provided the doctor conforms to the fee schedules established by the Department of Social Services

-it is the responsibility of the foster parents or the institutional staff to inform the provider of service that: the child is covered by Title XIX; present the child's medical card (which contains the child's medical eligibility number); and to sign the bill for services rendered

-the foster parent or institutional staff are not to pay for or accept any bill for the child's medical services as they will not be reimbursed

-it is the responsibility of the foster parent or institutional staff to inform the worker of any concerns about the child's health or medical problems and the results of the medical services provided.

•  give foster parents or appropriate institutional staff member, the date and findings of the child's last physical, dental or other examinations and plan with them for required follow-up on recommendations, shots, subsequent examinations, etc.

•discuss with the caretaker the medical passport policy (44-5-6.1 through 44-5-6.8).
 
After Placement After placement, the Social Worker shall:

•assist the caretaker in arranging and following through to assure that the child receives necessary medical care and treatment

•at the time of the treatment plan review, summarize the findings of the assessment of the child's health and medical needs and care in the treatment plan, identify problems, and the action plan to resolve those problems.

The foster parents or institutional staff member will take an active role in planning for and assuring that the child's medical needs are met in accordance with these policies.

Connecticut Department of Children and Families Issued: March 1, 1994