Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

California Children's Services (CCS) - Technology Summary

California Children’s Services (CCS) is a statewide health program for children under the age of 21 who have severe medically disabling conditions, and whose families have adjusted gross income of less than $40,000.

To receive CCS services, a child should be a California resident. School registration papers are the best proof of residency. The immigration status of the child and the parents is not considered.

Anyone, including the child’s physician, can make a referral to CCS for services. To apply, you may contact your county’s Department of Health and Human Services, or the department in which CCS is located in your county. Within five calendar days of receipt of the referral, the county must send an application form. If the application form is completed and returned to CCS within 20 days of the date it was mailed, the date of the referral will be considered the date of the application, and services can be reimbursed back to that date.

Eligible consumers must pay a $20 annual fee. This payment is not required of consumers who are eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits without a share of cost, or for families having income less than the federal poverty level.

CCS provides medically necessary services, equipment, tests and drugs related to a child's CCS-eligible condition. Equipment includes durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches, medical supplies, medical appliances (such as braces and artificial limbs), electronic communication devices and medications. CCS only provides equipment and services that are not the responsibility of a private health plan or Medi-Cal.

Except for emergencies, you need to get CCS authorization before the child receives the service. CCS must decide on the request for a service within a reasonable time. If it takes too long, you should contact the higher level administrators of your CCS agency.

If CCS denies a service, you can appeal to the agency designated on the Notice of Action. The letter of appeal should be sent within 30 calendar days of the date of the Notice of Action. If the first decision is unfavorable, you may request a CCS Fair Hearing within 14 days of the decision by writing to:

At the fair hearing, you may be represented by an attorney. The fair hearing is the opportunity for presenting evidence in support of the service requested to an impartial administrative judge. You can call witnesses and cross-examine CCS at the hearing.

If you get an unfavorable decision from the administrative hearing, you can then appeal to court.