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California Children's Services (CCS) Program

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What is California Children's Services (CCS)? CCS is a statewide program that arranges, directs and pays for medical care, occupational and physical therapy, equipment, and rehabilitation, for children and young adults up to 21 years old who have eligible medical conditions. CCS is not a health insurance plan and will not cover all of a child's health care needs, only the ones which are related to CCS eligible conditions. This program is a tax supported program and for some of the services there is a financial eligibility requirement.   Who Is Eligible For CCS? Anyone who meets the following conditions may be eligible: Age: Under 21 years of age; and Residence: Permanent resident of San Mateo County; and Medical condition: Has a physically disabling medical condition that is eligible for care under CCS; and Income: The family's income is less than $40,000 a year (State adjusted gross income-AGI). A child whose family's income is over $40,000 may still be eligible if: he or she has full-scope Medi-Cal or Healthy Families, or the estimated cost of medical care in one year is expected to be more than 20 percent of the family's income (AGI), or he or she was adopted with a known CCS eligible medical condition. There is no financial eligibility requirement for: Medical Therapy Program Services, diagnostic services, high risk infant follow-up, or the children's HIV program. What Services Does CCS Provide? Diagnostic Evaluations: If a child appears to have a CCS eligible condition but there is no medical documentation of the condition the CCS program can pay for a diagnostic evaluation to determine eligibility. Funding for Medical Treatment Services: which are needed for the child's CCS-eligible medical condition including: medical, dental and surgical care, pharmaceuticals, physical and occupational therapy, laboratory tests, X-rays, braces, equipment, and other needed services. Physical and Occupational Therapy (Medical Therapy Program): Children who have eligible medical conditions and who need therapy can receive PT and OT in Medical Therapy Units (MTUs) located throughout the county. Therapy services are free of charge, but only children who are financially eligible will receive funding for adaptive equipment and orthotics sometimes utilized in the therapy program. A medical prescription is needed for therapy services. Medical Case Management: Referrals to medical specialists and centers; Follow-up with others involved with the care of the child such as schools, public health/school nurses, social workers and other agencies; Transferring medical records; Locating new facilities and services when families move; and Assisting the family to cope with the child's condition. What If My Child Has Private Health Insurance Coverage? Your child can still be eligible for the CCS program even though you have private health insurance coverage if your family's income meets financial eligibility criteria. There may be services that your insurance does not cover which are covered by CCS. If your child is applying for CCS or has CCS coverage and also has private health insurance, you must report this to the CCS administrative office as well as to the medical providers who see your child. What If My Child Has Medi-Cal? Children who are eligible for Medi-Cal and or Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) and have CCS eligible medical conditions are usually eligible for CCS case management as well as some services which are not covered by Medi-Cal. This helps to ensure that that all California children with complex, disabling medical conditions receive the appropriate specialized care they need. Additional Information State CCS Website CCS Application (PDF) Aplicación para CCS  (PDF) Medical Therapy Program Brochure (PDF) Folleto del Programa de Terapia Medica (PDF) Contact Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. P.O. Box 5894 2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Suite 230 San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 573-2755 (650) 573-2751 (FAX) Last updated: 8/12/08