For many children and young adults with significant chronic illness, home health care is essential. Interviewing a home health care company to determine if they are able to meet the specific needs of your child and family is crucial to obtaining quality care.
Children and young adults with special health care needs often require various forms of assistive technology and / or durable medical equipment (DME) -- items or services that help those with disabilities improve or keep their ability to function in everyday life.
From wheelchairs to communication aids, the Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center connects patients and families with resources that can assist individuals with a broad range of limitations.
The Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides resources to help families find the home health care services and supports they need.
Financial Coverage | Intermittent Skilled Nursing | Private Duty Nursing | Home Infusion Therapy | Equipment | Child Alarms and Locators | Monitors for Life Threatening Conditions | Home Modifications | Clothing | Ohio Medicaid School Program | Additional Resources
Financial Coverage
Children with special health care needs often require home health care services, which can be costly to families. To help, here are some resources and information on applying for waivers:
Waiver programs are offered through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) (DODD).
Ohio Legal Rights Service has information on Ohio waivers including:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides information on state waiver programs throughout the United States. This web site also offers information about Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare certified home health agencies can be located by state, county and zip code.
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Intermittent Skilled Nursing Visits
- Cincinnati Children's Home Health Care: 513-636-4663
- Almost Family Caretenders, located in Northern Kentucky, provides nursing case management, respite, homemaking and personal care for children and adults with disabilities. They are a Kentucky Medicaid funded program.
- American Nursing Care: 513-731-4600 (Ohio) or 800-536-8773 (Indiana)
- Brown County General Hospital: 937-378-1465
- Cincinnati Public Health Department: 513-357-7400
- Gentiva Health Services: 859-331-5800
(Northern Kentucky, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown)
- Home Care Network / PediaNet: 513-794-0707 or 800-600-3974
- Interim Healthcare: 513-984-1110
(Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana
- Maxim Healthcare Services: 513-793-6444
- Cardinal Home Healthcare Solutions: 513-271-6700
- Nurses Calling: 513-631-1400
- St. Elizabeth Home Care Program: 859-283-1500
- Spectra Care: 513-772-0111
- The Visiting Nurses Association: 513-348-8000
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Private Duty Nursing
- Almost Family Caretenders, located in Northern Kentucky, provides nursing case management, respite, homemaking and personal care for children and adults with disabilities. They are a Kentucky Medicaid funded program.
- American Nursing Care: 513-731-4600
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton Counties)
- Comprehensive Home Health Care: 513-245-0100
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton Counties)
- Gentiva Health Services: 859-331-5800
(Northern Kentucky, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown)
- Interim Healthcare: 513-984-1110
(Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana)
- MCH: 513-771-2440
(Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren Counties)
- Maxim Healthcare Services: 513-793-6444
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties)
- Nurses Calling: 513-631-1400
(Butler, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Warren Counties)
- Pediatric Nursing Care: 513-636-2999
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties)
Considerations for Caregivers in Choosing a Private Duty Nursing Company
- Will the nurses assigned to my child's care all have pediatric nursing experience? What is the skill level I can expect from assigned nurses?
- Are the nursing hours scheduled according to the needs of my child and my family? How much input do I have regarding the scheduling of hours? Note: Most nursing shifts are based on the timing of the child's skilled care needs.
- Does the company guarantee shift coverage? Will I be able to have the nurses that I want? Note: Nursing is usually not a guarentee and there may be unfilled shifts. Therefore, it is important for families to train as many people as possible in your child's care. Hospital nursing staff or the nursing agency can provide training for family members and friends.
- How long will my insurance company / Medicaid pay for skilled nurses?
- Who is available during and after business hours should I have questions or concerns?
- What happens if I do not want a nurse to return to my home because of personality conflict or problems with the nursing care?
- Will I be expected to train nurses in the care of my child or do the nurses familiar with the care do that?
- Will the nurse be able to accompany my child to physician appointments?
- Will my child be assigned a primary nurse, or do nurses rotate and if so how often?
- How do nurses communicate with each other about my child's health status and the nursing care goals?
- How will my family's privacy be maintained?
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Home Infusion Therapy
- Cincinnati Children's Home Health Care: 513-636-4663
- AmeriMed: 513-942-3670
- American Home Patient: 513-769-7500 or 800-418-9512. You can also find their other locations.
- Coram: 800-523-1435
- Highland District Hospital: 937-393-6371
- Infusion Partners: 513-396-6060 or 800-839-1417
- Integrity Healthcare Services: 502-266-0123 (Louisville, KY)
- Interim Healthcare: 513-984-1110
(Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana
- Margaret Mary Home Health Care & Hospice: 812-933-5125 or 800-260-6624 (Indiana)
- Maxim Healthcare Services: 513-793-6444
- OptionCare has local offices: 800-243-1090
- St. Elizabeth Home Care Program: 859-283-1500
- UVMC Home Care Services: 937-440-7616 (Troy, Ohio)
Caregiver Questions in Choosing a Home Infusion Therapy Company
- Does the company employ staff experienced with pediatrics, both newborn infants and young children?
- Will someone teach me how to give my child's IV medication or tube feeding before we go home?
- How will I be receiving medications and supplies and will my insurance / Medicaid pay for them?
- Who is available to answer my questions / concerns after regular business hours and on weekends?
- If my child's IV comes out who will re-start it?
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Caregiver Questions for Choosing a Home Medical Equipment Company
- Does my insurance / Medicaid pay for the home equipment my child's needs? Will I have a co-payment?
- Will someone teach me how to operate the equipment before my child is discharged from the hospital?
- Does the equipment company have pediatric staff experience in working with both newborn infants and young children?
- What happens if there are equipment problems after regular office hours or on weekends? What is the response time? What provisions are made for back-up equipment?
- Note: Many equipment companies can provide diapers and formula and can deliver them with you other supplies.
Companies for Durable Medical Equipment
- Cincinnati Children's Home Health Care: 513-636-4663
- Acapella", is a device used to mobilize pulmonary secretions and can be used in virtually any spatial orientation.
- American Discount Home Medical Equipment provides wheelchairs, scooters, adjustable and hospital beds, walkers, lifts, respiratory aids and a variety of other equipment options.
- American Home Patient has infusion therapy, nutrition and respiratory products and equipment. They also have wheelchairs, lift chairs and scooters. You can reach their Cincinnati office at 513-769-7500 or 800-418-9512. You can also find their other locations.
- Apria Healthcare: 513-772-1907
- Bernens (Western Hills): 513-471-7575
- Care Medical provides a wide variety of customized equipment including wheelchairs, specialty strollers, lift chairs, bath equipment, hospital beds and custom seating. They serve Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky.
- Chartwell Home Medical of America: 513-794-7590
- Child Wellness Fair facilitates the donation of medical equipment and supplies and helps connect families with needed resources.
- Cornerstone Medical provides equipment including wheelchairs and hospital beds: 513-554-0222
- Cough Assist™, manufactured by JH Emerson Company, safely and effectively clears retained broncho-pulmonary secretions, reducing the risk of respiratory complications.
- CribBed provides safer sleeping and greater comfort for children* and adults with special needs.
- Easter Seals of Southwestern Ohio offers a medical equipment loan program and a car seat training and loan Program.
- Easy Choice Medical has medical equipment to support individuals with limited mobility. You can order equipment online including wheelchairs, aids to daily living and bath safety, electric scooters and bed accessories.
- EnableMart offers a wide range of products for children with special needs, including hearing, mobility and communication devices.
- Equipment Shop offers a variety of products for children with special needs, including therapy and exercise balls, seating and positioning devices and eating aids.
- E-Z-On™ Adjustable Vest positions children and adults in a car, van or bus. It can be used to restrain children with psychiatric / behavior issues during vehicle transport.
- Flutter", manufactured by Axcan Pharma, is a secretion removal device for Hands-Free CPT that effectively and efficiently removes harmful secretions from the airways of patients with mucus producing respiratory conditions.
- Hamilton Assistive Technology Services: 513-923-3300
- HandiExchange helps connect individuals so they can buy, exchange and sell pre-owned equipment and find local service and equipment providers.
- Health Care Solutions: 513-271-5115
- Kunkels / Anderson: 513-231-1943
- Lincare: 513-272-6050
- Lynder Medical, located in Covington, Kentucky provides mobility and home health care medical equipment including wheelchairs, lifts, beds, walkers, scooters, monitors and incontinence supplies.
- Midstate Medical Oxygen & Equipment Inc: 513-741-8000
- MyMedMart provides home health care equipment and supplies to home care patients, clinics, home care providers and organizations through direct access to their interactive web site.
- The Percussionaire Impulsator" (IPV") provides for a total Pneumatically powered (self-contained) therapy system for administrating Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation (IPV") for long-term cardiopulmonary care.
- PercussiveNeb™ , manufactured by Vortran Medical Technology, is a high-frequency intrapulmonary percussive nebulizer intended for the clearance of endobronchial secretions.
- Posey has products for fall management, bed safety, wound prevention, wheelchair seating and patient restraint.
- Quake", manufactured by Thayer Medical, offers comprehensive and convenient secretion clearance therapy in a portable, easy-to-use, handheld device.
- ReUzit Medical is a consignment store in Covington, Kentucky that has gently used durable medical equipment including beds, lifts, wheelchairs, walkers and scooters. They can also repair your existing medical equipment.
- Rothert's: 859-431-5900
- RSVP Home Care: 859-727-7600
- Second Home, a program developed under the Child Wellness Fair, facilitates the donation of medical equipment and supplies and helps connect families with needed resources.
- SleepSafe Bed offers a safe alternative to a hospital bed.
- Sunrise Medical provides wheelchairs, walking aids, daily living aids, lifts, beds and related equipment.
- TheraPEP" is the easy-to-use system for mobilizing secretions in children with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including cystic fibrosis (CF), as well as patients recovering from surgery.
- The Vest™ is an easy-to-use airway clearance device for both children and adults.
- The Wheelchair Foundation is an international nonprofit organization that assists children and adults with financial needs obtain wheelchairs. You can also subscribe to their free newsletter.
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Keeping children safe is a challenge for parents and caregivers. Fortunately, there are specially designed alarms that provide a warning when a child wanders away.
In the hospital setting, oximeters and other life saving medical equipment, are monitored by staff at a central nursing station. At home, this responsibility falls to the parent or caregiver. We strongly urge you to use portable baby monitors, such as those made by Fisher Price and Graco, that can be worn or carried to provide additional backup. The baby monitor will enable you to hear the other monitors and/or equipment alarms if they should happen to go off. You will be able to hear the warning alarms even if you have to momentarily leave the room or fall asleep. Some models also have a video screen and camera. It is extremely important to not mute or turn down alarms on equipment. While these monitors are convenient, they are not meant to replace direct observation.
Home Modifications
Home modifications can be essential in allowing individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes, with as much independence as possible. Find helpful information and resources on Housing and Home Modifications.
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Clothing
- Adaptations by Adrian provides a wide variety of adaptive clothing and accessories.
- disABILITY Information and Resources provides links to manufacturers of adaptive clothing.
- Foot Solutions, in the Greater Cincinnati area, assists families in finding appropriate shoes for individuals with disabilities. They have other locations that you can search for by zip code.
- Mini-Miracles Children's Clothing has a variety of adaptive clothing options in all sizes, from newborn to adult. They are located in Canada but will ship to the U.S.
- My Pool Pal offers a variety of aquatic products, including flotation swimsuits and devices, special needs swim diapers, and sun suits and hats.
- Professional Fit Clothing offers custom alterations and adaptive clothing including clothing protectors, elastic waistpants, incontinence products and wheelchair accessories.
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The Medicaid School Program is overseen by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. It can reimburse participating schools for related services provided to medicaid-eligible students. Services must be identified in the IEP and can include nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, specialized medical transportation and medical equipment and supplies for use only in school. This also covers students who receive the Ohio Home Care or Transitions MRDD waivers. It is possible for a family's current Ohio Home Care waiver provider to go to school with the child if the waiver team determines that the IEP is not adequate to ensure the child's health and welfare.
Additional Resources
Medicaid and private insurance companies are increasingly recognizing medically necessary forms of durable medical equipment. Unfortunately, there is often not a clear answer on who should pay, and obtaining funding usually requires patience and creativity.
- American Occupational Therapy Association provides suggestions on modifying your home to support independence.
- The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) offer AAPD members a wide range of easily accessible financial loans for products that assist people with disabilities.
- Assistive Technology Law Center provides information about resources that provide funding assistive technology devices.
- Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) may provide funding for certain types of assistive technology deemed medically necessary, including braces, hearing aides and medical supplies. For children ages 0-3 years, BCMH may fund augmentative communication devices.
Funding is only provided after the other funding sources such as private insurance, Medicaid, special education services and Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) have been denied. See Financial Assistance for information about eligibility and additional services.
- Family Support Services Program, overseen by the Arc - Hamilton County, may fund equipment that promotes self-sufficiency or inclusion, prevents or reduces inappropriate institutional care, or furthers family unity. In order to be eligible an individual must qualify for MR/DD services. Also, there may be a percentage of cost share depending on taxable income.
- First Hand Foundation provides grants for eligible children whose clinical, health care needs are not adequately covered by insurance and state aid. They can assist with expenses associated with assistive technology equipment, care devices and hearing aids. The child must be 18 years of age or younger (a child 18 – 21 can be considered if under the care of a pediatrician and in a child-like state) and the family must meet financial guidelines.
- Medicaid will pay for some assistive technology / durable medical equipment devices that are necessary for daily function. See Financial Assistance for more information about eligibility for Medicaid services.
- National Organization Caring for Kids (NOCK) provides grants for communications devices for children with severe communication impairment caused by a chronic illness.
- Ohio County Boards of Developmental Disabilities fund assistive devices for consumers employed in a workshop setting through one of its adult centers or who are receiving supported employment services. While they focus on communication devices, they will consider funding other types of assistive technology. Referrals must be made through one of their service coordinators. Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has additional information on eligibility for services.
- Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) provides funding for assistive technology if it is necessary to achieve a vocational goal. The commission provides vocational, rehabilitation and counseling for individuals with disabilities through the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI).
Services must be provided through an individualized plan for employment (IPE) developed by the person, the rehabilitation counselor or other involved individuals.
- Social Security (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may help purchase assistive technology through work incentive programs. Work incentive plans set aside income earned at a job toward cost of a device without effecting monthly benefits. See Financial Assistance for additional information about eligibility for Social Security services.
- Special Kids Therapy provides funding assistance to Ohio children for alternative therapies that are not covered by insurance. They will also assist eligible families with the purchase of special medical equipment such as wheelchairs, communication devices and auditory equipment.
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If your questions are not fully answered by our Special Needs Resource Directory and its links, please contact us via email.
Rev. 12/09
