Physically Handicapped Children’s Program
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 behavioral 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 need to 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.
