Mandatory Passages and Language for MC+ Managed Care Health Plan Handbook, page 18
Advance Health Care Directive
You have the right to accept or refuse any medical care. A time may come when you are too sick to talk to your PCP, family, or friends. You may not be able to tell anyone what health care you want. The law allows adults to do two things when this happens:
- An advance directive allows you to leave written directions about your medical treatment decisions
- Or ask someone to decide your care for you.
If you do not have an advance health care directive, your PCP may not know what health care you want. Talk to your PCP or call your health plan for information on an advance health care directive. Your PCP must keep a written and signed copy of what care you want. An advance directive becomes part of your medical record.
If there is a problem with things not being done the way they should with an advance directive, you may file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 573-751-6400 or write them at P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.
Advance Health Care Directives are available from the Missouri Bar:
326 MonroeJefferson City, MO 65101
573-635-4128
First Steps
Your health plan can help your child get services from First Steps. First Steps is Missouri's program for infants and toddlers with special needs. First Steps helps young children with special needs and their families get services. It is for children, birth to age three, who have:
- delayed development or
- diagnosed conditions like developmental disabilities.
Children are eligible for First Steps if they have a significant delay in one or more of the following areas:
- cognition (learning);
- communication (speech or hearing);
- adaptive (self help);
- physical (walking); or
- social-emotional.
Children are referred to First Steps through:
- Physicians
- Hospitals, including prenatal and postnatal care facilities
- Parents
- Child-care programs
- Local educational agencies (including special education and Parents as Teachers)
- Public health facilities
- Other social service agencies
- Other health care providers
An assessment is done to establish eligibility and determine the needs of the child. This is:
- provided at no charge and
- arranged by the service coordinator from the SHCN or the Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) regional center.
Services are decided and listed on an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for the child. These services are provided at no cost to you, but are not a MC+ Managed Care benefit. Your health plan will refer you. First Steps and your health plan will work together to manage your child's care.
09/01/07
