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WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A GRANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?
A grant of financial assistance may be made by the Foundation for the benefit of a child, or for the benefit of the family of a child, who requires continuing medical care due to a life-threatening medical condition.  Subject to the satisfaction of all of eligibility requirements for receipt of a grant of financial assistance, a qualifying child is one who is between the ages of birth and 18 years of age.

WHAT IS “CONTINUING MEDICAL CARE DUE TO A LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITION”?
A grant of financial assistance will only be made for the benefit of a child, or the family of a child, who is receiving “continuing medical care due to a life-threatening medical condition”.  Whether these circumstances exist will depend upon the facts and circumstances of each child’s particular situation.

However, continuing medical care generally means that the child is currently under a physician’s active care for the treatment of a life-threatening medical condition.  Although many children who are the beneficiaries of a grant of financial assistance from the Foundation require on-going medical treatments, the occurrence of a single, significant medical procedure may also be eligible for receipt of such a financial assistance grant.

A “life-threatening medical condition” is generally any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in the child’s imminent death, which is reasonably expected to significantly reduce the child’s life expectancy, or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

WHAT TYPES OF EXPENSES ARE PAYABLE BY THE FOUNDATION?
In general terms, the purpose of the Foundation is to provide grants of financial assistance to alleviate the financial stress which may be incurred by a family due to their child’s continuing medical care due to a life-threatening medical condition.  Accordingly, the Foundation does not provide a list of expenses for which such financial assistance grants either will or will not be made. 

Rather, a determination as to the propriety of an expense for which a financial assistance grant may be made is determined by the Foundation based upon a review of the totality of the facts and circumstances surrounding the request.  However, grants of financial assistance will typically be made by the Foundation for expenses which are reasonably necessary for, and related to, the care of the afflicted child.

WILL THE FOUNDATION ISSUE A GRANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO ME?
Except in unusual circumstances, the Foundation makes its grants of financial assistance directly to the third party debtor or service provider for whom such a grant request is made. 

WHY IS A HIPAA RELEASE FORM REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED WITH MY APPLICATION?
All applications for a grant of financial assistance will be subject to an independent medical review concerning the life-threatening medical condition of the applicant child.  Because federal law generally protects all information concerning such health conditions and the care associated with same, you must authorize in writing the disclosure of such protected health information (PHI) to the Foundation.

I RECEIVED A GRANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE FOUNDATION TO PAY A PARTICULAR EXPENSE. NOW I HAVE ANOTHER EXPENSE FOR WHICH MY FAMILY SEEKS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
DO I NEED TO FILE ANOTHER APPLICATION?
Yes.  Applications submitted to the Foundation for grants of financial assistance will be deemed to be “closed” following either the approval or denial of a particular request.  In the circumstances wherein the Foundation approves a grant request, the payment of the grant amount will finalize the processing of the grant request. Thereafter, if the applicant seeks to request the payment of additional expenses, a separate grant application must be submitted.

All applications submitted to the Foundation are considered on their individual merits, and an applicant who previously received a grant of financial assistance will be considered in the same manner as all other applicants, with no preferential or detrimental considerations. 
 

ARE GRANTS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DEPENDANT UPON FINANCIAL NEED?
Although the Foundation may consider, as part of its application process, the financial circumstances of a requesting family, the Foundation does not base its application decisions solely upon financial need.  In keeping with its stated purpose, the Foundation considers the totality of the circumstances surrounding the financial aspects of a requesting family, and seeks to make grants of financial assistance to families which are incurring financial stress due to the continuing medical care of their child.