[sudeetoo]

After a year and 1/2 (yes 18 mo) we are finally getting our Texas license next week. We were foster parents out of state for many years and brought a foster child with us here to Texas. Our "other" state has just decided to lower our reimbursements to match Texas' minimum rate. My question is that this child has had a litany of emotional and mental problems/disorders in the past and they are beginning to re-emerge and she is scheduled for a new psych. eval. A CPS worker here in Texas told me that medicaid will not pay for weekly therapy, etc., if she is only deemed a "basic" child - that she would have to be at least "moderate", otherwise medicaid will only allow a "monthly" visit. Can you all help me with your experience??? My license out here will be as a therapeutic foster home.

[TexasJingles]

Not true. We have 2 moderate and 1 basic. They all received weekly therapy (alternating one week individual, the next group). We are with an agency, so perhaps that's the difference. CPS just doesn't have the staff to come see the kids that often (our agency worker was our group therapist).

In fact, medicaid pays for more sessions than my private insurance does.

Sounds like this upcoming psych eval will help up your child's level (just be honest and let them know what's going on).

They teach us here that we have to be the advocate for the kids. Now you know why. You may have to go up the chain of command to get your child on the level needed for care here in Texas.

By the way... Welcome to Texas!

[sudeetoo]

Thank you for your help and the welcome to Texas. Foster care is so diferrent state-to-state that this forum has been a wonderful learning tool for me. I'm sure I will have many more questions along the way. Thanks again!

[aMarylandfamily]

Did the state of origin transfer your Medicaid to Texas Medicaid ... or are you keeping theirs? ... if not transferring you may have trouble getting medical and well as mental services ... some doctors just don't wish to bother with getting referrals/approval from another state ... something to check on ...

Adoption Assistance Payments generally reflect the current residence but are negotiable and if Title IV-E should contain a clause wherein you can re-apply at any time for an increased amount provided you can prove the need.

Hope this helps ...