The Columbia County Department of Health offers programs and services to assist families during pregnancy, after the baby's birth, and during the childhood years. Our goal is to provide education, assessments and health care to help promote the healthiest possible start for your child's life. Home visits are available by a nurse trained in mother, baby and child care.
Services available include:
* Prenatal assessments and education
* Breast feeding information
* Assistance in obtaining services
* Education on all aspects of mother and baby care
* Assessment of baby includes weight checks, growth, development and general health
* Lead screening services
* Immunization Clinics
Children with Special Health Care Needs
Children with special health care needs are those from birth to age 21 years who require health care or related services beyond the regular well care and preventive measures to keep children healthy.
These may include children who have or are suspected of having a serious chronic, physical, developmental, or emotional condition. Healthy children and adolescents that have developed special needs due to illness or an accident also may require additional health care.
Columbia County Department of Health Children with Special Health Care Needs - CSHCN is a program designed to provide information and guidance to families with a special needs child.
A registered nurse is on staff to offer assistance with access to appropriate specialty care. Resource information and group support for a childs particular condition is provided. The nurse may also assist with organizing your childs medical history and records, help find transportation for medical appointments, and obtain translation services in Spanish or other languages.
Families can be linked with community based agencies and service providers such as:
* Child Health Plus Insurance / Medicaid
* Early Intervention
* Women Infants and Children (WIC)
* Developmental Disabilities Service Office (DDSO)
* Supplemental security Income (SSI)
* Specialty Clinics
CSHCN will provide services for children who meet criteria covered under Special Health Care Needs, whose families meet income eligibility for this program, and whose child is not eligible for Medicaid or insurance through Child Health Plus. For insured children or those enrolled in Child Health Plus, the program may pay for services for which insurance denies coverage. Contact the CCDOH office 518 / 828-3358 for more information and to apply for this program.
Physically Handicapped Childrens Program (PHCP)
This program offered by Columbia County Department of Health assists families in paying medical bills for children with severe chronic illness and disabilities between birth and 21 years of age, who live in NYS and meet medical and financial eligibility requirements.
Examples of Services Paid For:
Durable medical equipment
Drugs related to the diagnosis
Hearing aids (including batteries and ear molds)
Orthodontia resulting from severe structural abnormalities with a medical diagnosis (e.g. Cleft Palate)
Diagnosis and evaluation services, and clinic visits
Diabetes
Cerebral Palsy
Cystic Fibrosis
Examples of Services Not Covered:
Co-Pays In hospital care
Well child visits
Surgical procedures (in and out patient)
Anything related to the diagnosis of mental illness, mental retardation, and/or behavior disorders Eye glasses
Conditions related to prematurity
Diapers-unless related to a physical disability
PHCP assists uninsured or underinsured families. Parents of children without insurance just apply to Medicaid and Child Health Plus before applying for the program. Medicaid recipients are not eligible. Child Health Plus insurance clients may be eligible for services that are not covered. The private insurance must be billed before the PHCP makes payment and documentation of private insurance refusal must be presented. The PHCP is the payer of last resort. An example of an item not covered by many insurances would be a hearing aid. Contact our program for more information at 518/828-3358.
Breast Feeding Education and Assistance Program
All of our breastfeeding services are provided by registered nurses who have specialized training in the management of breastfeeding concerns.
About our Services
Phone information and/or home visits
Printed information available to answer breastfeeding questions
Monitoring babys weigh, growth and development
Assistance with management of breastfeeding problems
Breastfeeding education and support
Assistance with obtaining breastfeeding equipment
Care and support for mother
Case management for mothers and babies with medical complications |
