Special Health Services Overview

The Coordinated Services Program offers services and resources to help people manage long-term health conditions. Services include:

  • Metabolic Food
    • Provides medical formula and low-protein foods to people with Phenylketonuria (PKU) and Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). Age limits apply. See Fact Sheet.
  • Multidisciplinary Clinics 
    • Families see several health providers in one visit. Available clinics through SHS include:
      • Asthma
      • Cleft Lip/Palate
      • Developmental Evaluation
      • Metabolic Disorders
      • Myelodysplasia
      • Neurodevelopmental Coordinated Care
  • School Nurse Consultation
    • Supports school nurses and helps schools provide safe, effective care, especially in rural areas.

The Financial Coverage Program helps families with medical costs for children, teens, and young adults who need special care to diagnose and treat long-term health conditions. 

  • Diagnostic Services
    • Provides services for children that help find medical problems early. Children must meet the program's financial rules.
  • Treatment Services
    • Provides services for children who have long-term health conditions. Children must meet the program's financial rules. 
  • Russell Silver Syndrome
    • Provides growth hormone treatment and medically necessary special foods.

The Newborn Screening and Follow-up program helps find health problems early so treatment can start right away. This can prevent serious issues and save lives. 

Newborn screening is a three-part test that checks babies for serious health problems:

  • Blood Spot Screen
    • A small blood sample is taken from a baby's heel. The blood is put on a card and sent to a special lab. The test looks for conditions that affect a baby's hormones, blood, nervous system, or how their body uses food.
  • Hearing Screen
    • Small earphones or ear buds are placed on or in the baby's ear to check if the baby can hear sounds.
  • Heart Screen
    • A small sensor is placed on a baby's hand and foot. It measures the oxygen level in the baby's blood. Low oxygen may be a sign of a serious heart problem called critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). 

If a condition is found through newborn screening, follow-up care is available to help the baby stay healthy and grow. 

The Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) System Enhancement Program improves the health of CSHCN and their families. It supports a coordinated system of care that helps children get the care they need to grow and stay healthy.

The system focuses on six main goals:

  • Working together with families 
  • Making sure each child has a medical home (main place for health care)
  • Helping families get health insurance 
  • Checking children's health early and often
  • Providing services that are easy to find and use
  • Helping youth move to adult health care when they are older

SHS can provide you information on:

  • Medical conditions
  • Health and other services
  • Health insurnace
  • Health care providers
  • Well-child care
  • Child development
  • Financial Help
  • Moving from youth to adult health care
  • Parent-to-parent support