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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

People who are Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent

The People who are Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent waiver provides services and individualized support to individuals with special healthcare needs.

The Eligible Population for the People who are Medically Fragile Technology Dependent waiver Includes

Individuals under the age of 21 who, because of the severity of their physical illness or disability would require the level of care appropriate to a hospital or skilled nursing facility without the support of the services provided under the waiver. As of May 1, 2017, the waiver can now cover customers of all ages as long as the child was enrolled in the waiver program prior to their 21st birthday. This amendment to the waiver allows customers to stay with the Home Care Program for life

To be Eligible for the People who are Medically Fragile, Technology Dependent waiver, you must be:

  • Under the age of 21 at time of application
  • U.S. citizen or legal alien
  • Resident of residing in the State of Illinois
  • Resides with family or legally responsible adult(s) in a private residence
  • Requires level of care appropriate to a hospital or skilled nursing facility
  • Meets the minimum score on the Illinois approved Level of Care (LOC) tool
  • Estimated cost to the State of Illinois is less than estimated cost for institutional care

Services and their Descriptions

  • Respite
  • Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
  • Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
  • Family Training
  • In-Home Shift Nursing for adults
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Nurse Training
  • Placement Maintenance Counseling Services
  • Nursing by Legally Responsible Adult

To see if you are eligible for services:

Call DSCC at (800) 322-3722 or email dscc@uic.edu

Complete an online application or print application to be completed by hand at https://dscc.uic.edu/how-we-help/how-to-apply/

Mail or drop off an application completed by hand to your regional Specialized Care for Children office. Locations of the Regional Specialized Care for Children offices can be obtained at http://dscc.uic.edu/find-an-office/

Service Descriptions

Respite:  Physician-prescribed service provided by qualified licensed nurses and certified nurse aides in the customer's home or in a Children's Community-Based Health Care Center Model.

Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies:  Provision of physician-prescribed equipment or supplies needed to maintain a customer in the home and the coverage of operational and maintenance costs of equipment, not otherwise available through the State Plan or through other third party liability.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):  Physician prescribed services provided to customers that focuses on long -term habilitative needs rather than short-term acute restorative needs.

Environmental Accessibility Adaptations:  Physical adaptations to the home or family vehicle required by the customer's Person Centered Plan, which are necessary to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the customer, or which enable the customer to function with greater independence in the home or community, and without which, the customer would require institutionalization.  This may also include extermination services.

Family Training:  For purposes of this service, family is defined as the persons who live with or provide care (does not include persons employed to care for customer) to a person served on the waiver. Training includes instruction about treatment regimens and use of equipment specified in the plan of care and shall include updates as necessary to safely maintain the customer at home.

In-Home Shift Nursing:  Physician prescribed service provided by licensed RNs and LPNs to customers that require hourly shift nursing to perform a specific task rather than intermittent visits.

Nurse Training:  Provides up to four (4) hours per nurse per year of customer specific training in the use of new or unique prescribed equipment, or special care needs of the customer.

Placement Maintenance Counseling Services: Physician-prescribed short-term, issue-specific family or individual counseling for the purpose of maintaining the customer in the home.

Nursing by Legally Responsible Adult: provides in-home shift nursing services provided by a Legally Responsible Adult (LRA). These services are provided by RNs and LPNs that meet Illinois licensure standards for nursing services.  RNs and LPNs may only provide services authorized through their licensure type. 

Operating Agency Contact Information

Division of Specialized Care for Children
Phone: (800) 322-3722
Email: dscc@uic.org