For Patients and Families

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Federal agency within Department of Health and Human Services providing information about Medicare, Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
www.cms.hhs.gov

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Information about act which allows, in some cases, for continuation of health coverage at group rates
www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html

DisabilityInfo.gov
Comprehensive federal website of disability-related government resources
www.disabilityinfo.gov

Family and Medical Leave Act
Eligible employees receive up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for birth/adoption of child or being seriously ill or having to care for an ill family member
www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/

Federal Food Stamp Program
Federal assistance for food purchase for low income families
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/default.htm

Federal Poverty Guidelines - 2004
Used to determine financial eligibility for certain federal programs, posted each year by the Department of Health and Human Services
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/04poverty.shtml

Firstgov.gov
United States government's official web portal
www.firstgov.gov

Govbenefits.gov
Official government benefits website, locate federal and state benefits and programs
www.govbenefits.gov

Medicaid
Official United States government site for Medicaid-federal health insurance program for people with low income, managed by state; can search by state
www.cms.hhs.gov/Medicaid/

Project Bread
Information on food stamps in Massachusetts with links to other states
www.gettingfoodstamps.org

Social Security
Official Social Security Administration website; information on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
www.ssa.gov

Social Security, Deeming from a parent to a child under age 18
Outlines which of parents' resources are considered when determining child's eligibility for SSI
www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.21/handbook-2169.html

Social Security, Understanding SSI Expedited Payments
Such as presumptive disability or blindness payment, emergency advance payment, immediate payment, and expedited reinstatement cases
www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/text-expedite-ussi.htm

Social Security, Understanding SSI for Children
Information on "deeming"-consideration of parents' income in determining SSI eligibility
www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/text-child-ussi.htm

State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
Map of all U.S. states, click on state to find out about its program
www.cms.hhs.gov/schip/statemap.asp

United States Department of Health and Human Services
United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves
www.hhs.gov

WIC-Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
Federal program providing counseling and assistance with food costs to women and young children at nutritional risk
www.fns.usda.gov/wic/