Why are We getting our Holiday Card in February?

Please excuse us for getting your holiday card to you in February!  We have now split the newsletters into separate mailings, one for the Kool Kidz Foundation and one for Kool Kidz, Inc. The Kool Kidz Foundation newsletter will not include information that is specific only to Kool Kidz, Inc.; however, the Kool Kidz, Inc. newsletter may include information from the Kool Kidz Foundation that Kool Kidz Inc. folks might find interesting or helpful.  In the process of splitting the newsletters, the Kool Kidz, Inc. document became a little delayed this year.   You should have already received your Kool Kidz Foundation holiday card and newsletter in late December 2006 or early January 2007.  If you did not receive your Kool Kidz Foundation holiday newsletter and wish to remain on the Kool Kidz Foundation mailing list, please email Bart Mitchell at bmitchell@koolkidzfoundation.org so he can make sure that you stay on the Kool Kidz Foundation mailing list.

A Night of Inspiration, The Kool Kidz Can Imagine Gala

The Kool Kidz Foundation wants to spread awareness that children and adults with challenges are capable of doing anything they set their mind to doing and that one’s special talents are sometimes hidden.  Therefore, we are proudly hosting the Kool Kidz Can Imagine Gala on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.  Our guests of honor will be Team Hoyt, a father and adult son with cerebral palsy who compete in the Iron Man Triatholon, as well as a blind pianist, Patrick Henry, who marches in his wheelchair with the University of Louisville's Marching Band.  A huge preliminary thank you goes out to those companies that have already pledges their support as sponsors for the event. Please visit the Kool Kidz Foundation website at www.koolkidzfoundation.org to see the current sponsors.   

Sunday, February 25, 2007
6:00 to 10:00 pm
Kool Kidz Can Imagine Gala
Guests of Honor: Team Hoyt and Patrick Henry Hughes Take a Moment to check out their website and inspirational mini-video:
Team Hoyt: www.teamhoyt.com and video clip http://cjcphoto.com/can

Patrick Henry Hughes: www.patrickhenryhughes.com and video clip  http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2643340&page=1

Fabulous Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30308 Register on line at www.koolkidzfoundation.org Sponsorship packages available For more information, call Lauren Shoda at 770.517.1585 or email lshoda@koolkidzfoundation.org

Spring Dance Program 2007

Kool Kidz is pleased to announce that it will continue its dance program throughout the spring of 2007.  It is not too late to join in.  The program is lead by Christine Rather, PT, a physical therapist with over 20 years pediatric experience in addition to extensive dance background.  The class is held Mondays, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at the Dunwoody Community Church, for 16 weeks beginning January 22, 2007.  The class may be appropriate as therapy for some children upon evaluation by the lead physical therapist.  The cost for the 16-week program and recital is $275.   Sibling discounts are available.  For more information please contact Christine Rather at crather@koolkidzpt.com or call the Kool Kidz office at 770.517.2480.

 
Announcing A Special Event for Kool Kidz and Friends

Patrick Henry Hughes

“Not disabilities, but endless possibilities”

Sunday, February 25, 2007

2 -3 pm

Roswell United Methodist Church
814 Mimosa Boulevard Roswell, GA 30075
Fellowship Hall, Building B

Patrick Henry Hughes:  member of the University of Louisville marching band, talented pianist, outstanding student.  While these are ordinary accomplishments for some, they are extraordinary for a man like Patrick.  Born with no eyes and without the ability to fully extend his arms and legs, Patrick relies on a wheelchair for mobility. 

As seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Patrick has the ability to touch millions of people.  Come hear Patrick and his father share their remarkable story and learn how they have turned struggles into triumphs.

For more information on Patrick Henry Hughes, please visit:
www.patrickhenryhughes.com
Video: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=264..40&page=1

The Kool Kidz Foundation proudly presents this program free of charge
No childcare available.   

RSVP:   Lauren Shoda at lshoda@koolkidzfoundation.org or
770-517-1585
 

Need Help Getting the Deeming Waiver (Not an Endorsement, For Information Only)

A Labor of Love
Katie Beckett Consultants
Ann Elliott
404.429.2191
ALaborOfLove@gmail.com
www.kbhelp.net

Christmas Card Cuties 2006

A special thanks to Chase C. and his Aunt Elizabeth, our 2006 Christmas Card Cuties!  Their holiday entry was chosen not only to be this year’s Kool Kidz Inc. Christmas Card, but is also featured in the month of December in the Kool Kidz Foundation Calendar for 2007.  Congratulations!

Insurance Changes & Prior Authorization with the New Year

A gentle reminder for families changing insurance companies at the first of the year (or any other time during the year).  Please fax a copy of the front and back of your new insurance card as soon as possible.  The Kool Kidz fax number is 770.592.9431.  If your insurance company requires a prior authorization in order to receive therapeutic intervention, please note that this is your responsibility.  The Kool Kidz office will be glad to assist you in any way necessary to obtain the prior authorization but it is each family’s responsibility to initiate and complete this process.  Most insurance companies will not grant prior authorization retro-actively, so please begin this process as soon as possible.

Kool Kidz Can Imagine Triathlon 2007

The first Kool Kidz Triathlon for children of ALL abilities was held at the Mountain View Aquatic Center in Marietta on Sunday, January 21, 2007.  The event was a “sprint” distance triathlon and was held completely indoors so the athletes could participate in their bathing suits and running shoes without getting cold.   Athletes raced the clock, starting individually approximately 60 seconds apart.  They completed a 150 yard run, then mounted their bikes for a 150 yard bike, and finally, left their bikes for a 25 yard swim.  Participants used a variety of equipment including walkers, wheelchairs, big wheels, tricycles, floatation suits and floatation belts to complete the race.  Each participant received a trophy and had their picture taken on the award stand.  Thank you to Jen Adley for being the brain child of this event.  She knows triathlons well as she is an Iron Man participant herself.  Also, thank you to Our Labor of Love for taking all the photos, to Publix for donating the snacks, to the Mountain View Aquatic Center for donating the space and the lifeguard staff, to Freedom Concepts for bringing adaptive bikes for the participants to use, and to all of our volunteers who made the event run so smoothly.  Look for this to be an annual winter event, sponsored by the Kool Kidz Foundation, to be held again next in January 2008. 
Congratulations to the following Triathletes:

Drew G.                 Anna F.                 Abby M.                 Will G.
Nicholas M.            Harrison F.             Robert D.               Sydney F.
Garrett M.              Zach M.                 Erin J.                   Ashby  S.
Brock M.                Kevin E.                 Rachel R.               Noelle F.
Juliet C.                 Isabel C.                Victor C.      

If You Should Receive a Check from your Insurance Company…

Kool Kidz kindly files insurance for all of its clients so that our families are not required to pay out of pocket up front.  In many instances, the insurance checks are sent to the family instead of directly to Kool Kidz.  We do everything we can upon filing your claim to request that the insurance companies send the checks directly to us, but many times it comes to you anyway.  When you get a check from your insurance to cover your child’s Kool Kidz therapy, please make a copy of the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) so we know how to credit your child’s account, and send both the EOB and the check on to Kool Kidz at PO Box 670207 Marietta, GA  30066.  We request that you send the checks immediately rather than letting them accumulate and the office having to track them down.  Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated!

Respite and Camp 2007 

Don’t forget to consult the Kool Kidz Foundation website at www.koolkidzfoundation.org for respite and camp dates for 2007.  Both the number of respite events and the number of camp weeks will be increased for 2007.  Camp registration is available on line and campers have already begun to register.

A Word About Medicaid Prior Approvals

As you know Medicaid is making it increasingly difficult for families to access Medicaid as funding source.  Therapeutic intervention over eight units per month, requires a prior approval form the Department of Community Health.  This prior approval can not be done retro-actively.  The request for approval is submitted on line by a therapist at Kool Kidz, Inc.  The online submission takes approximately 30 minutes per child to complete.  In addition, very specific support documentation must be faxed to DCH within five days of the online submission, or the request is automatically denied.  Support documentation that is required by DCH includes but is not limited to:

• A prescription, dated no more than 6 months ago, that specifically states the child’s name, diagnosis, therapy and CPT code(s) to be received, duration of session and length of time child is to receive therapeutic intervention not to exceed 6 months.  Please note that DCH will NOT approve a prescription signed by a Physician’s Assistant or Nurse Practitioner.

• Letter of Medical Necessity/Treatment Plan.  This is a document that is supposed to be initiated by each child’s physician.  However, DCH is very specific as to what the document must include and the document has to be re-done every six months.  In order to insure that the document is prepared properly and timely, your Kool Kidz therapist prepares a new document for your child every six months and the Kool Kidz office submits it to your child’s physician for them to Xerox on their letterhead and sign.

• Current IFSP for children under 3 or IEP for children over 3.  Please note that DCH wants to see the part of these documents that list the therapeutic intervention being received.  A progress update report from the school system does not list what therapeutic services are being received at school.  Children that attend private school or that are home schooled need a note from their child’s school or parent that they attend private school or that they are home schooled.

• Recent therapy notes, evaluations, progress updates

As you can see, this is a time consuming and labor intensive process on the part of the therapists, the parents and the office staffs in both the therapy and doctors’ offices.  We appreciate your help in procuring these documents in an efficient and timely manner.  In addition, if your child is receiving therapy services through another therapy group, prior approval submissions must be coordinated with the other group. 

Lastly, we need your help in keeping track of your child’s Medicaid unit availability and expiration date.  With over 250 children needing Medicaid prior approvals at different times of the year, it is very challenging to stay on top of expirations and limits with 100% accuracy.  This is a process that requires every member of your child’s team assistance and attention.

Adaptive Swim Team to Begin in 2007  
  
The Kool Kidz Swim Club will officially begin practices in 2007.  The initial season will be 14 weeks, beginning the week of February 12.  Practices will be held in five locations and swimmers may attend any or all of the scheduled practices each week.  Practices will be Tuesdays from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm at the Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody; Thursdays from 3 pm to 4 pm at the World’s Gym in Peachtree City and in Norcross at the Fowler YMCA from 7 to 8 pm; Fridays at the Mountain View Aquatic Center from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm; and, Sundays from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Swim Atlanta John’s Creek.  Swimmers, ages 5 to 21, are welcome and should be able to swim one length of the pool without floatation in order to participate.  The season will run through the middle of May and will culminate in an intra-squad swim meet the weekend of May 19.  Swimmers are encouraged to follow this spring season with a summer season at their local pool.  Kool Kidz Swim Club will begin again in the fall of 2007.  The cost for the 14- week season will be $295.  Please find a information flier and registration form as part of this mailing. Registration forms should be mailed with a check to the Kool Kidz Office at PO Box 670207 Marietta, GA  30066. For more information, please contact Erin Wentz, PT at ewentz@koolkidzpt.com.