Case #1: This patient was born premature and was hospitalized in the NICU for over four months and is followed by complex care. Most recent admissions were due to respiratory failure. The patient’s caregiver is a single mom with five children. The family has been severely impacted by this year’s Tornado, which rendered the family homeless. Mom has been making efforts to obtain housing vouchers and to get an apartment, as well as attempting to utilize resource options, but is experiencing difficulties with DHS and SSI for the patient and siblings. They also had their SNAP benefits stopped, the reason unknown. Mom is working with a medical/legal partnership to assist in resolving these issues. Mom is assisting appropriately in addressing these issues to get back on her feet. Given the complex needs of the patient and siblings, we are requesting financial assistance for rent ($517.00), utilities (321.00), car/insurance (1,147.08), and furniture needs (238.59).
Total asked: $2,223.67 APPROVED
Case #2: This patient is very medically complex with medical needs, including dependence on a G-tube to obtain all nutrition and being unable to walk/talk. Pt is completely dependent on her caregiver. The patient has frequent appointments to monitor/treat her conditions. The patient has been hospitalized twice in the last six months, with each admission lasting over two weeks. The patient’s caregiver works part-time and receives SSI. Due to the patient’s frequent appointment needs, the caregiver obtained a vehicle to provide transportation. However, the caregiver was set back financially due to unforeseen auto repair needs and is in jeopardy of losing housing. Caregiver is in the process of applying for SNAP benefits and child support to help avoid future financial struggles. We are requesting financial assistance for rent.
Total asked: $1,495 APPROVED
Case #3: This patient is a 5-year-old with spina bifida followed by complex care due to multiple needs, including being trach dependent. Mom had been working a full-time job, but the company has been cutting hours. Mom has recently obtained a job with better pay, but it will not start until August. Dad is the full-time caregiver of a patient. Mom has been very active in trying to apply for additional resources to offset financial strain. We are requesting assistance to help with utilities as mom transitions into a new job.
Total asked: $307.97 APPROVED
Case #4: This case is a 16-month-old with spina bifida and related complex medical including ventilator dependence. The patient is also followed by palliative care. This family received assistance from Baby Sharon back in June 2022 for rent due to extensive NICU stay. For this current request, the family needs some special equipment for which they have to pay for the shipping costs and a generator for patient vent needs. Mom is the full-time caregiver of the patient. The family is requesting assistance with one month’s rent to help offset the costs of equipment needs.
Total asked: $850 APPROVED
NOTE: The committee had a prolonged discussion about the potential dangers of a gas-driven generator resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning. The committee offered alternative suggestions for backup to the ventilator. The committee deferred voting on this request today. Lori Graham will explore options with the family and come back to the committee via email for further discussion and possible approval.
Case #5: This case involves a patient born premature with hospitalization in the NICU. This unforeseen hospitalization created a financial hardship on the family. Caregiver has been unable to work since April due to the pregnancy/premature birth of twins. She has been taken off work by her PCP until August. Caregivers also have other children at home. The family is now behind on their electric bill and facing eviction. Caregivers are actively applying for all available supports to help get families on their feet. We are requesting financial assistance for rent ($1305) and electricity ($1,164.54).
Total asked: $2,469.54 APPROVED
Note: The committee expressed concern regarding the relatively high electricity expense. It was decided to defer voting on this request. Lori will explore this for more information and come back to the committee via email for further discussion and possible approval.
Initial Summary:
This case involves a patient born premature and hospitalized in the NICU. This unforeseen hospitalization created financial hardship for the family. The caregiver has been unable to work since April due to the pregnancy/premature birth of twins. She has been taken off work by her PCP until August. Caregivers also have other children at home. The family is now behind on their electric bill and facing eviction. Caregivers are actively applying for all available supports to help get families on their feet. We are requesting financial assistance for rent ($1305) and electricity ($1,164.54). Total ask: $2,469.54
Note: The committee expressed concern regarding the relatively high electricity expense. It was decided to defer voting on this request. Lori will explore this for more information and come back to the committee via email for further discussion and possible approval.
Additional Information:
Mom went into preterm labor and had to quit working in April until the babies were born on June 1st. Then, one of the twins was in the NICU for a few weeks at UAMS. She has four children, none of them have any medical concerns that she is aware of. She has no family to help her; her grandmother previously helped, but she passed away last year. The mother is struggling with post-partum depression and grief over the loss of her grandmother/only support. The landlord is asking her when she is going to be able to pay her rent. Rent now totals $1285, but that is the only bill she now owes. She is no longer asking for help with utilities. Her utility fees went back to June, and she was only able to pay half due to her doctor not releasing her back to work until August, but she was able to get this caught up. She is working on a background check and is getting back to work, but her landlord will only take payment in full, and she states that it will take several pay cycles to save up the amount owed. She is unable to buy clothes or school supplies for her four children and states they may have to wait to start school.
The rent payment for $1285 was approved on 8/15/23
Total asked: $1,285 APPROVED
