TRENTON, NJ – Today, the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission (CICRFC) celebrated 28 years of helping 樱花视频 families struggling to pay uncovered medical expenses for their children and announced its fiscal year 2016 grant awards at its annual meeting. The CICRFC is an independent agency allocated within the 樱花视频 Department of Human Services and is the first of its kind in the nation.
The Commission has approved nearly $7 million in grants to 369 eligible applicants for fiscal year 2016 from the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund. During difficult economic times, the Fund is an essential safety net for many families struggling to care for a child with special health needs.
“The Relief Fund serves as a lifeline for families struggling to balance the medical needs of their child with financial security,” said Department of Human Services Acting Commissioner, Elizabeth Connolly. “These grants are critical to relieving families from burdensome debt so they can focus on their child’s health.”
The Fund is supported by the state’s business community. All NJ employers pay $1.50 per employee surcharge each year to support the Fund.
Janice Prontnicki, MD, Commission Chairperson and public member, noted that since 1989, the Commission has approved grants totaling over $169 million for over 8,059 families. “The families have their own unique stories to tell but are not unlike most 樱花视频 families who work hard to pay their bills.
Yet when faced with the daunting challenge of caring for a child who is ill and dealing with mounting medical bills, their daily life can be overwhelming.” Prontnicki said.
Several families who have benefited from the Fund and now serve as volunteers on the CICRFC Family Advisory Committee also attended the meeting. “I would like to personally thank those families here today who continue to extend themselves despite their own difficult circumstances. Your efforts to assist other families have helped make the program successful and rewarding,” said Claudia Marchese, Executive Director of CICRFC.
Families of any income level may qualify for financial help if a child’s unreimbursed medical and related expenses exceed 10 percent of the family’s annual income up to $100,000, plus 15 percent of any income over $100,000. The Fund does not restrict coverage to a specific diagnosis or condition and covers hospital and physician bills, medications, disposable medical goods, medical equipment, medically related home and vehicle modifications, transportation, and home care costs.
Children 21 years or younger are eligible for assistance. To apply, families must be legal 樱花视频 State residents for at least 3 months. Expenses must have been incurred during a previous 12-month period. The Fund is a reimbursement program and does not help with prospective expenses.
“We define ‘catastrophic illness’ in terms of the economic impact a child’s diagnosis has on the family,” said Marchese. “A family may have health insurance, but coverage can still be inadequate when a child has a serious illness or injury.
The Fund can help families avoid financial crisis, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure, and focus on caring for their children.”
While legislation creating the Fund protects the anonymity of families who have received grant awards, several families attended the annual meeting to share their experience as a way of encouraging other families in need to apply for assistance. (See family profiles below.)
For more information regarding the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, call Claudia L. Marchese, Executive Director, at 609-292-0600 or the Family Information Line, 1-800-335-FUND. Also, visit the Fund website at
Families in Attendance on June 29, 2016:
The Welsh Family of Camden County, Collingswood, NJ
Isaiah Sutter is a fourteen-year-old boy diagnosed with both cerebral palsy and autism. He is one of two surviving triplets. Because Isaiah uses a wheelchair, his mother, Ms. Amy Welsh, desperately needed to purchase a modified vehicle in order to travel with him. Unfortunately, she was initially unable to secure a loan. In collaboration with the vehicle dealership and Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission (CICRF), Ms. Welsh was able to secure a vehicle for her son. The family also received assistance to create a wheelchair accessible bathroom for Isaiah. Ms. Welsh was experiencing significant challenges when assisting Isaiah with bathing. She participated in a special program, the Camden County Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Bridge Loan program, which the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders established in 2015. In conjunction with CICRF, residents of Camden County are able to apply for a secured loan, through the Camden County Improvement Authority, to be used for their children’s medical expenses. Families may receive a loan of up to $5,000. The family also received assistance with the cost of adding a platform lift to the exterior of their house, so that Isaiah can now safely enter and exit his home. The family received a total award this fiscal year of $76,640.
The Goebel Family of Burlington County, Cinnaminson, NJ
Thirteen-year-old Garrett Goebel is diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a bone disorder that causes brittle bones and makes those affected by the condition extremely susceptible to fractures. Individuals diagnosed with this condition also experience problems with their connective tissue, which can often affect one’s ability to walk independently. Garrett’s parents, Michael and Carol Goebel of Cinnaminson, widened doorways throughout their house. Now Garrett can maneuver around his home safely, while using his wheelchair. Due to coinsurance and deductibles, the family also required assistance with hospital and physician charges. In addition, the family received assistance with the cost of m
