Legal Rights of Persons With Disabilities - Ossh.com

prescription medications, emergency and essential dental services, certain medical transportation, home
health services, eyeglasses, hearing aids, orthopedic devices, durable medical treatment and supplies, adult
day health care, pregnancy-related care, and mental health services. Also included are heart and liver
transplants and bone marrow transplants for treatment of cancer. (Welf. & Inst. Code, ' 14132 et seq.)
Not all physicians or health care facilities accept MediCal. Only certain hospitals can accept
routine MediCal patients. However, a MediCal recipient can be treated at any hospital when there is a lifethreatening
emergency situation, when the MediCal patient also receives Medicare, or when the MediCal
recipient lives an excessive distance from a hospital which usually accepts MediCal patients. (Welf. & Inst.
Code, ' 14000 et seq.)
3. The MediCal Appeal Process
A denial or termination of MediCal benefits can be appealed within 90 days.
C. Hill-Burton Hospitals
The Hill-Burton Act provides public funds for hospital construction. Each hospital which accepts
Hill-Burton money is required by law to give a reasonable amount of care at no cost or low cost to persons
unable to pay for hospital services. The hospital must post signs in the admissions office, emergency room,
and business office identifying itself as a Hill-Burton facility. The hospital business office should assist
people in applying for care at reduced rates. (42 U.S.C. ' 291 et seq.; 42 C.F.R.
' 53.111 et seq.)
D. California Children's Services (CCS)
The California Children's Services (CCS) program assists the parents of children with physical
disabilities under the age of 21 who are unable to pay for the cost of their child's medical treatment.
Eligibility for the program is determined by the family's income and by the cost of care for the child.
Parents may have to pay a share of the cost of medical treatment. Services include screening of newborn
infants at high risk for deafness and payment for bone marrow transplants under certain conditions.
Applications can be made at the CCS office in the county where the child resides. (Health & Saf. Code, '
123800 et seq.)
E. Genetically Handicapped Person's Program
The Genetically Handicapped Person's Program provides medical and social support services to
children and adults with genetically-handicapping conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, sickle cell
disease, and Huntington's disease. The program is administered by the State Department of Health
Services. Services include diagnostic evaluation, cost of blood transfusions, rehabilitation services, medical
treatment, physical and speech therapy, appliances, transportation, respite care, and genetic and
psychological counseling.
Eligibility for the program is based on the family's adjusted gross income. An individual will
generally not receive services under the program if he or she is entitled to similar benefits under any other
private, state, or federal insurance program. Persons who can no longer receive services and assistance
under the California Children's Services program because they have attained the age of 21 may be eligible
for this program. (Health & Saf. Code, ' 125125 et seq.)
II.
RIGHT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT
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