Katie Beckett
What is Katie Beckett?
Katie Beckett is an eligibility category in the RI Medical Assistance Program that provides Medical Assistance coverage for certain children under age 19 who have long-term disabilities or complex medical needs and who live at home. Katie Beckett eligibility enables these children to be cared for at home instead of in an institution. With Katie Beckett, only the child’s income and resources, not the parents’, are taken into account during the application process.
Who is Eligible?
A child must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Medical Assistance coverage through Katie Beckett. He or she must -
be under age 19,
be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (see the DHS Policy Manual by clicking here for more information)
be a Rhode Island resident,
meet income and resource requirements,
meet the Social Security Administration’s disability requirement,
live at home, and
require a level of care at home that is typically provided in a hospital,
nursing facility or an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Mental
Retardation (ICF-MR)How do I apply for my child?
A Katie Beckett social caseworker will talk to families about what Katie Beckett eligibility offers. She can help families understand the Katie Beckett eligibility criteria and application process. If a parent or guardian decides to apply for their child, the caseworker will send an application packet to the family and can go over the application materials to answer questions families may have.
To apply for Medical Assistance (Katie Beckett), a parent or guardian would need to:
Complete the following forms in the application packet:
an application for RI Medical Assistance (KB DHS 1 & 2),
a Medical Evaluation form (to be completed by the child’s physician),
a Parent Questionnaire,
Provide proof of citizenship, identity, and a child’s income and resources,
Provide information about other health and dental insurance, if applicable.
In addition, parents/ guardians are encouraged to send in copies of recent evaluations by medical
or behavioral specialists, the Early Intervention Program (Individualized Family Service Plan-IFSP), Special Education (Individual Education Program-IEP), or other providers who have evaluated their child. Parents may also be asked for additional clinical information or DHS may request it directly from a provider (with the parent’s signed authorized release)For information on applying
DHS’ Katie Beckett Social Caseworker at (401) 462-0760
(for help with the application process)
DHS’ Public Health Nurse Consultant at (401) 462-6364
(for clinical questions)
DHS Info Line at (401) 462-5300
(for general information)
Address:
RI Department of Human Services
Center for Child and Family Health/ Katie Beckett Unit
600 New London Avenue, Forand Building, 2nd floor
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Fax: (401) 462-6353