Complaints

DO YOU NEED INFORMATION?

ABIN-PA InfoLine - 1-800-516-8052 or 215-699-2139

Email ABIN-PA - click at left or info@abin-pa.org

BIAPA Brain Injury Resource Line - 1-866-635-7097

DOH Brain Injury Helpline - 1-866-412-4755 - (click here for former literature list)

Governor's Office for People with Disabilities - 1-866-229-9337

PROBLEM SOLVING AGENCIES FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS

1. Assistive technology lending library - Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program (CAP) at www.equalemployment.org, info@equalemployment.org or 1-888-745-2357. Help is free regardless of income.

2. Attendant Care Program - Office of Long Term Living Programs, 1-800-757-5042. Also, Pennsylvania Health Law Project at www.phlp.org, staff@phlp.org, 1-800-274-3258 or TTY 1-866-236-6310.

3. Blindness and Visual Services - Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program (CAP) at www.equalemployment.org, staff@equalemployment.org or 1-888-745-2357.

4. Centers for Independent Living - Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program (CAP) at www.equalemployment.org, staff@equalemployment.org or 1-888-745-2357.

5. Children's brain injury rehabilitation - Medical Access provides rehabilitation regardless of parent income through neuropsychological evaluations and consulting, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech & language therapy, and other services as needed. Contact the Special Needs Coordinator of your child's physical health managed care organization. For problems, contact the state's Special Needs office at 717-705-8220 or the Pennsylvania Health Law Project at www.phlp.org, staff@phlp.org, 1-800-274-3258. Below age 21, children are entitled to brain injury rehabilitation under federal Medicaid law - see §1396 (d)(r)(5) mandating all necessary services as defined in Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment. (Also read the entry on neuropsychological services below.)

6. CommCare Waiver - Office of Long Term Living Programs, 1-800-757-5042. Pennsylvania Health Law Project at http://www.phlp.org/, staff@phlp.org, 1-800-274-3258 or TTY 1-866-236-6310. Also, the Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443.

7. Early Intervention - Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443.

8. Head Injury Program - One year of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation to those who qualify. Contact the Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443.

9. Housing & Home modifications - Disability Rights Network at www.ppainc.org or 1-800-692-7443. Regional Housing Legal Services at 215-572-7300 or judy.dingle@rhls.org.

10. Independence Waiver - Office of Long Term Living Programs, 1-800-757-5042. Also, Pennsylvania Health Law Project at www.phlp.org, staff@phlp.org, 1-800-274-3258 or TTY 1-866-236-6310.

11. Institutions - Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PAILP) at www.pailp.org. PAILP "provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income people who are incarcerated or institutionalized"...in state and federal prisons, jails, state mental hospitals or state centers for mental retardation. Complaints must be sent in writing to: PAILP, 718 Arch Street, Suite 304 South, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

12. Legal services - Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital or 215-587-3350. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. at www.palegalservices.org or 1-800-322-7572. PA Law Help at www.palawhelp.org.

13. Medical Access - The Pennsylvania Health Law Project helps disabled children and adults who have Medical Access but can not get the services they need. Go to www.phlp.org or call 1-800-274-3896.

14. Mental retardation services - Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443.

15. Medicare Coverage - contact 1-800-633-4227.

16. Medicare Denials - contact 1-800-322-1914.

17. Michael Dallas Waiver - Pennsylvania Health Law Project at www.phlp.org, 1-800-274-3258 or TTY 1-866-236-6310.

18. Neuropsychological evaluations - needed to plan rehabilitation - funding considerations:

A. Employer/Private insurance - contact your liaison for network requirements, doctor's referral form, etc.

B. Medicaid/Medical Access - the E.P.S.D.T., the federal Early, Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment requirements, requires the states to provide all necessary services. Contact Eric Ulsh in Harrisburg with the Special Needs Unit - at eulsh@state.pa.us to get directions. All disabled children are eligible for Medical Access in PA regardless of parent income - MA Hotline 800-543-7633 - and parents should be asked only for a few pay stubs, not asset information. Be careful to get the proper referral.

C. Medical Access plus private coverage - child should get service, Medical Access must pay first and then chase the private insurer for reimbursement where applicable - contact thirdpartyliability@state.pa.us. Be careful to get the proper referral.

D. Where there is no neuropsychological evaluation/services provider on the Medical Access list of approved providers, the physical healthcare company negotiates an hourly rate and a specific number of hours with an outside provider.

E. IEP's should be based on a neuropsychological evaluation and the child's neuropsychologist should be consulting with the school as the child's needs change. If the school does not arrange for a neuropsychological evaluation, the parent should request that the school provide an independent evaluation for the child. Parent can say that the neuropsychological evaluation is needed as the basis for the IEP and the school psychologist is not trained to provide this evaluations. Go to the www.wrightslaw.com website for the citations. You might also contact Judith Gran of the Public Interest Law Center in Philadelphia at jgran@pilcop.org. Also, contact the Disability Rights Network at 800-692-7443 because they have taken over the work of the Education Law Center. The parent education groups for special education are the PEAL http://www.pealcenter.org/ Center for Western & Central PA and PEN or Parent Education Network serving Eastern PA http://www.parentednet.org/. The Special Education Consult Line 800-879-2301 sends out materials. The Special Kids Network 877-986-4550 provides information.

19. OBRA Waiver - Office of Long Term Living Programs, 1-800-757-5042. Also, Pennsylvania Health Law Project at www.phlp.org staff@phlp.org, 1-800-274-3258 or TTY 1-866-236-6310.

20. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation - Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program (CAP) at www.equalemployment.org, staff@equalemployment.org or 1-888-745-2357. CAP offers free help regardless of income to people "seeking services from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blindness and Visual Services, Centers for Independent Living and other programs funded under federal law."

21. Private insurance coverage complaints - Contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Health Care Section at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/complaints.aspx?id=458 or 1-877-888-4877.

22. Social Security - Disability income (SSD) and low income (SSI) programs. For complaints, go to http://www.consumeraffairs.com/age/ssa.html. Also, Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443.

23. Special Education - Special Education Consult Line at 1-800-879-2301. PA Training & Technical Assistance parent pages http://parent.pattan.net/. Office of Dispute Resolution at http://odr.pattan.net/. Extensive list of links at http://trainland.tripod.com/legal.htm. Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center www.pealcenter.org/aboutus. Parent Education Network www.parentednet.org. Also, Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443 (takes calls formerly directed to the Education Law Center).

24. Third party payment - Medical Assistance must seek payment for children's services from private carrier after service is provided - "pay first, chase later". Contact thirdpartyliability@state.pa.us.

25. Transportation - the Disability Rights Network at www.drnpa.org or 1-800-692-7443.

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Acquired Brain Injury Network Of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Complaints

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