Technology – dependent is further defined as a chronically ill and medically fragile child under 21 years old whose illness or disability, in the absence of home care services, would require admission to or a prolonged stay in a hospital or institution. Further, that child needs both a medical device to compensate for the loss of vital body function and must require substantial and ongoing care to avert death or further disability. Care assistance through this program will be provided, in part, by a nurse or other caretaker, under the supervision of a nurse.

Technologies for consideration include:

1. Children dependent at least part of each day on Mechanical Ventilators who cannot survive without ventilator assistance (Example: Ventilator-Dependent, BiPAP, CPAP) and children requiring prolonged intravenous administration of nutritional substance or drugs (Example: CVL and TPN)
   
2. Children requiring Tracheostomies, Peritoneal Dialysis or daily Oxygen, daily NG tube feedings, daily GT feedings or Suctioning.

None of these single technologies is the only qualifier for ACIL services. However, any of these technologies could be considered alone based on an assessment that matches client needs and difficulty with caregiver abilities if the other above mentioned parameters are met. Further, the ACIL Plan of Care would allow a transition period from any of the above technologies before services would be required to be terminated.

(Transition is defined as; a consumer who is no longer utilizing his/her technology daily but continues to access it 2-3 times per week he/she could be considered in a transitioning mode. Transition could take up to 30 days. If during the transition process the individual’s health status worsens or a relapse occurs the individual would remain on services until the individual has completed the transition process successfully. This process may be repeated until the transitioning process is completed. If a consumer has gone a whole week without requiring/using this technology he/she should be dismissed at that time & readmitted if need be later).

Revised 01/07