Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone may refer a child to California Children Services (CSS) - Community Health/school nurses, other  agencies, or the family itself to determine if the child has an  approved CCS medically eligible condition. Most children are referred by  the family physician, specialist or hospital. The physician or hospital  can supply important medical information necessary in making the CCS  medical eligibility determination and may also participate in the  child's CCS treatment program. Contact us at 530-265-1450 for any further questions.

You should apply for the California Children Services (CSS) program at your local CCS office in the  county where you reside. This office should be contacted for assistance  as requests for CCS coverage must be made on or before the day services  are rendered, except for emergencies. Your county CCS office can tell  you if your child may be eligible for the CCS program. CCS eligibility  must be determined before services can be covered by CCS.

The County CCS office or the appropriate State Regional Office will  consider your child's medical condition as well as the family's  residential and financial status to determine CCS eligibility. This is  accomplished by completing the necessary application forms and providing  the required documentation. Based on this information and completed  paperwork the CCS program will approve or deny your application. If your  application is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. For further questions, call us at 530-265-1450.

Your child can be eligible for the California Children Services (CSS) program even though you have  private health insurance coverage. If your child is a CCS  applicant/client and has individual or group private health insurance  coverage, you must report it to the county CCS office and to the child's  health care provider. Private health insurance entitlement is used to  help reduce CCS program costs. 

Children who are Medi-Cal eligible and have approved California Children Services (CSS) medical  condition are usually eligible for CCS case management and other  services not covered by Medi-Cal. This assures that all California  children with complex, disabling conditions will receive appropriate  specialized care. 

Some families may be required to pay an annual assessment fee and / or  annual enrollment fee. These fees are used to help cover the cost of  treatment, processing applications, telephoning hospitals, physicians  and other caregivers, mailing authorizations to these caregivers, and  coordinating care with other agencies. All of these services are  provided by the California Children Services program to ensure that clients receive the best care  possible from physicians and specialists who provide medical care to  children. The annual assessment fee is $20 and the annual enrollment fee  is calculated based on family and income size. contact us at 530-265-1450 for further questions.