Q. Is my child eligible for Medicaid?/How does Medicaid pay
     concerning long-term inpatient treatment?

A. If a child was eligible for Medicaid prior to their admission, they will
     continue to be eligible for Medicaid during their CLIP treatment time,
     regardless of the family's income because of this "categorical need" and
     that their eligibility is determined based on the child's income and need
     for longer-term inpatient treatment.

     If a child was not eligible for Medicaid prior to their CLIP treatment time,
     they will be eligible now due to this "categorical need". Eligibility is
     determined based on the child's income and need for longer-term
     treatment.

Q. What do I have to pay for my child's care at a Children's Long-term
      Inpatient Treatment Program (CLIP)?

A.   Most families do not have to pay anything towards their child's cost of
      CLIP care, but there are exceptions.

Q. How do I know if we have something to pay?

A.   There are a few different reasons why your child may be required to
       pay part of the cost of their CLIP care. United State's law requires our
       state to review money of income that is in a child's name. Income
       includes:

       - Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in the child's name
       - Social Security Disability Survivor Benefits in the child's name
       - Child support payments
       - The child's portion of a parent's Social Security Disability Claim -
          this is called a dependent child benefit.
       - Trust funds or other investments that are in the child's name

The CLIP Program may bill a parent/guardian's private insurance. Please ask the admission counselor about this clause and if it applies to you and your family.

Q. Why does the child's money count?

A.   CLIP treatment is very costly. The average monthly charge ranges from
       $14,000 to $25,000. Most youth stay in treatment for at least six months.
       Very few families can afford this level of treatment. National Medicaid
       rules allow children to be eligible for Medicaid due to their need for
       longer-term inpatient psychiatric treatment. Together the federal and
       state governments share the total cost of the your child's treatment
       based on his or her eligibility for Medicaid. The federal government
       decided that any income of the child (not the family) must help to pay
       towards this total cost.

       All parents or guardians will need to fill out an application for benefits
       for their child. This will happen at admission. A Department of Social
       and Health Services Office (CSO) worker will review the application. This
       review occurs to 1) establish that your child is now in a long-term
       (more than three months) inpatient setting, 2) review any income in the
       child's name, and 3) if there is a child income, determine what the
       participation amount will be.

Q. What if I already use the child's income to pay for other critical
      household expenses?

A.   We ask you to take a close look at your household budget and think
       about what you can cut in order to follow the federal rules.

       If you would lose you housing or your child's discharge will be
       affected because of this payment, please talk to your primary contact at
       the CLIP program. We may be able to work out a payments
       arrangement or find ways to help with the child's participation amount.