Category: Regional Center of Orange County

RCOC Gave us extension

Posted on by MICHELLE N

Now that we have Medi-Cal, our RCOC Service Coordinator  Kim Than told me that we need to get Medi-Cal pays for ABA services.  Also, She wants us to send her a letter from Tim’s HR saying that we will remove William out of Tim’s policy with Anthem Blue Cross.  So we did.

Usually she has meeting with Behavioral Specialist on Fridays; so today she emailed me saying that they approved the contract extension between RCOC and ABEST so that William can continue to receiving ABA services while waiting for Medi-cal to approve.  And the new contract ends 10/31/2017, which means we have 2 months to get approval from Medi-Cal.

Now I can rest my mind without worrying about making sure William still can continue receiving ABA services until the next 2 months.

RCOC Vendor Application

Posted on by Moonie
A thick packet from RCOC for Vendor Application

As our service coordinator Kim Than said, in order for the RCOC to help pay for the day care fees we have to become a vendor to RCOC.  So yesterday I got a package from RCOC Accounting department; and so overwhelmed with all the paperwork that we need to fill out and sign.  But it’s ok; and I love the fact that they highlighted the items that we need to do.

Updates:

Mon 6/5/2017:  Haven’t heard from them for more than 2 weeks since I sent in the application so I asked our Service Corordinator Kim Than for contact info for accounting department.   Called Ms. Anhely Camacho but she did not picked up so I left a message asking her about  the status of our application.

Vendor Application checklist 1

Tues 6/6/2017:  it’s 1:00 PM and still haven’t heard from anyone so I called again.  This time Ms. Anhely Camacho picked up.  She said our application is on her stack to be sent out this week.  I asked if there’s any paperwork that I missed or does she need anything else from me; she said no “Otherwise I’d call/email you to let you know.. Your application is approved.”  She said she’d mail out the confirmation letter this week.

Vendor Application checklist 2

Fri 6/9/2017: I still have not received any mails from her! Hopefully we’ll get it soon.  This is important to us because the sooner we get it, the sooner we can get reimbursement for our William’s daycare expenses.  Even though it’s not a lot, but little helps along the way.

Vendor Application checklist 3

 

 

Sent the Report to HealthNet

Posted on by Moonie

I stopped by the Post Office today after dropping William off at the Children World Preschool to send the form and the report to HealthNet insurance company to start the process of receiving ABA services from them.  This is the report that Dr. Kyle from RCOC prepared after our meeting.

The package is supposed to arrive on Friday.  I’m expecting a phone call from them next week to go over the process of how William will get the ABA benefits.

 

Meeting with Service Coordinator from RCOC

Posted on by Moonie
Kim Than’ card

Monday 4/3/2017 9:00 AM.  Had an appointment with Kim Than, our new service coordinator from Regional Center of OC; Thuy-Nhi Vo, Early Start Service Coordinator was our service coordinator but she only takes care of cases for children that age from 3 years old or less.  That’s why our case is transferred to Kim Than.  She came to our home as agreed; a very nice & young lady.  She asked us a few questions about William (when he throws tantrum, what he does when he’s mad, how’s his health, his eating. etc).  Then she went over the services that RCOC can offer:  ABA services, Respite and Daycare.

ABA services annual fee

ABA: RCOC only covers the ABA service expenses if our health insurance does not cover; they can also help to cover the copay.  We need to pay an annual fee depends on the family income, max amount is $200.00.

 

 

 

 

Respite & Daycare sharing cost

 

Respite: RCOC will help to pay the expenses for someone to babysit William; but we have to share the cost depending on the family income.

Daycare: same as Respite, RCOC will help to pay the tuition fee; but we have to share the cost depending on the family income.  RCOC will pay only $8.75/hour, we have to pay the difference plus the shared cost.

The meeting lasted for about 40 minutes.

So what we need to do:

  • Call the Insurance company to find out if our policy covers the ABA services for William
  • Send the pay stubs to RCOC so that they can determine the share of cost that we’re responsible for.
  • Also send RCOC a letter from my employment stating that I’m working there currently.

Mom’s Biggest Fear: Autism!

Posted on by Moonie

Today I took William to see the psychologists at the Regional Center of OC in Tustin after his class at Mitchell.  The appointment was at 2 P.M,  and it took about 1 hour.  Dr. Kyle D. Pontius ( PhD, RCOC Psychologist) came with a lady named  Iris Richard, (MD, RCOC Physician) , they brought us to a big room with a few toys.  William at first didn’t want to stay; he pulled my hand and dragged me to the door.  I led him back to the toys; then he started to play with the ball, climbed up the slide and touched other toys.  At first they just observed him and then asked me lots of questions about his behavior.

William is playing with Service Coordinator Thuy

Does he respond to his name? When did he started to crawl, walk and say first word? What words does he  know? Does he know if I’m upset? Does he follow simple commands? Does he like to look at the ceiling fan? does he ever get into a fight with other children? how does he eat?  Does he feel hurt when he falls? Does he like everything to be neat? The result of the hearing test? how does he like when getting a hair cut? etc.

No, William is now 3 years old but he doesn’t respond to his name at all.   Doesn’t matter who calls his name, he doesn’t show any sign of hearing it: doesn’t turn his head or look up or look at the direction where the voice is coming from; but he does respond to music and sounds from the TV or videos.  He’d spin in a circle so many times when he hears the music that he likes. He can only say Papa or Mama or count to 3.  That’s about it.  Lately he tries to repeat some of the sounds he hears from those Mickey mouse videos from YouTube.  He says it in a very soft voice.  He likes to close things; if he sees the oven knob covers are open, he’d close them.  If I close the lid of the Aquaphor bottle not too tight, he’d try to close it right.  He doesn’t seem to know how to use a toy; he has a Ride-on bike but he always turns it over and spins the wheels only.  Some times he does respond to some simple commands like Stop or Eat or Drink.  He does understand some of the basic activities like Shower, Brush Teeth. When I say these words he’d run to the bathroom.  When he wants something but we’d not give it to him, he’d cry, kick his legs and throw himself out on the floor; if we don’t catch him, he’d hit his head on the floor or the wall.  Haircut? last time we tried was 2 months ago. We put him on the high chair; he cried, kicked his legs and shook his head from left to right until we gave up and let him go.  The result is terrible!

Every time we go out to the mall or park, he’d just run around so fast that we have a hard time to keep up with him.  Times like this saying “Stop” doesn’t mean anything to him.  He’d run to and touch the things that he sees & likes.  He especially like the escalator and elevator.  He’d ride them so many time without being bored.  We’d be tired of the repetitiveness but he would not.

Toward the end of the session, Dr. Kyle said “He has Autism, classic case of Autism”. As soon as I heard that I burst into tears.  He asked “Didn’t that you already know?”.  “I was hoping to hear differently!” – I responded in tears.

I guess it’s time to stop being in denial!