Virginia Department of Health
Care Connection for Children — CYSHCN Pool of Funds · About this organization
What you get
Help paying for medicines, tests, therapies, equipment, and hospital care when insurance falls short. The amount isn't published. Ask.
How to start
Get in touch with the regional center with medical, insurance, and income details.
Good to know
- Pool assistance requires uninsured or underinsured status and gross family income at or below 300% FPL.
- The condition must satisfy the 12-month duration and additional-need rules.
The details, as published
Virginia’s Care Connection for Children coordinates specialty care and manages a limited Pool of Funds for Virginia residents from birth to age 21 whose physical condition is expected to last at least 12 months and creates needs beyond those typical for age. For uninsured or underinsured families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, the pool may help pay for medications, diagnostic testing, therapies, durable medical equipment, and hospitalizations. A parent or care team should contact the regional center before the service because pool spending requires preauthorization.
What help you may get
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Care Connection for Children — CYSHCN Pool of Funds — household bills and cash assistance
Virginia’s Care Connection for Children coordinates specialty care and manages a limited Pool of Funds for Virginia residents from birth to age 21 whose physical condition is expected to last at least 12 months and creates needs beyond those typical for age. For uninsured or underinsured families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, the pool may help pay for medications, diagnostic testing, therapies, durable medical equipment, and hospitalizations. A parent or care team should contact the regional center before the service because pool spending requires preauthorization.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Care coordination
- Diagnostic testing
- Durable medical equipment
- Hospitalizations
- Medical-insurance benefits evaluation and coordination
- Medications
- Therapies
- The official page describes a limited pool and does not publish an individual dollar ceiling.
- Each Pool of Funds service must be preauthorized.
Medical And Insurance Costs
Care Connection for Children — CYSHCN Pool of Funds — medical and insurance costs
Virginia’s Care Connection for Children coordinates specialty care and manages a limited Pool of Funds for Virginia residents from birth to age 21 whose physical condition is expected to last at least 12 months and creates needs beyond those typical for age. For uninsured or underinsured families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, the pool may help pay for medications, diagnostic testing, therapies, durable medical equipment, and hospitalizations. A parent or care team should contact the regional center before the service because pool spending requires preauthorization.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Care coordination
- Diagnostic testing
- Durable medical equipment
- Hospitalizations
- Medical-insurance benefits evaluation and coordination
- Medications
- Therapies
- The official page describes a limited pool and does not publish an individual dollar ceiling.
- Each Pool of Funds service must be preauthorized.
Navigation Guides And Advocacy
Care Connection for Children — CYSHCN Pool of Funds — navigation guides and advocacy
Virginia’s Care Connection for Children coordinates specialty care and manages a limited Pool of Funds for Virginia residents from birth to age 21 whose physical condition is expected to last at least 12 months and creates needs beyond those typical for age. For uninsured or underinsured families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, the pool may help pay for medications, diagnostic testing, therapies, durable medical equipment, and hospitalizations. A parent or care team should contact the regional center before the service because pool spending requires preauthorization.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Care coordination
- Diagnostic testing
- Durable medical equipment
- Hospitalizations
- Medical-insurance benefits evaluation and coordination
- Medications
- Therapies
- The official page describes a limited pool and does not publish an individual dollar ceiling.
- Each Pool of Funds service must be preauthorized.
- The published monetary limit is shared across the listed benefit components.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. A child with pediatric B-ALL can fall within the program-specific chronic physical-condition rule when the published duration and additional-care-need criteria are met.
Age
Age 0 to age 20, measured at application.
- The official page states “Birth to 21 years of age.”
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- Pool-funded services require program preauthorization.
- For Pool of Funds assistance, the child must be uninsured or underinsured.
Financial need is required.
- Gross family income must be at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level for Pool of Funds assistance.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: VA.
- The child or youth must be a Virginia resident.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Caregiver, Healthcare Team, Parent Or Guardian
- Ask the center to screen the child’s medical, insurance, and financial criteria.
- Identify the regional Care Connection for Children center.
- Obtain preauthorization before a service for which Pool of Funds payment is requested.
- Provide information requested for care coordination and Pool of Funds review.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
- The regional program must preauthorize Pool of Funds spending; the public page does not describe provider payment mechanics.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Not Published |
| Funding or space | Limited |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 23, 2026 |
- The official page was updated March 26, 2026 and states that only a limited amount of Pool of Funds money is available.
- Preauthorization is required before use of Pool of Funds.
- No processing lead time is published.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Pool assistance requires uninsured or underinsured status and gross family income at or below 300% FPL.
- Preauthorization and limited funds apply.
- The condition must satisfy the 12-month duration and additional-need rules.
- Does the child’s current B-ALL treatment meet the 12-month duration and additional-need criteria?
- Is Pool of Funds money available for the requested service now?
- What provider-payment and appeal process applies?
- Which documents does the regional center require for medical, insurance, and income review?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 23, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Care Connection for Children — Virginia Department of Health · checked Aug 23, 2026