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Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth defect. Approximately 25% of children born with a CHD will need heart surgery or other interventions to survive.
Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility
LPCF assists families who have children suffering from a congenital heart defect by covering out-of-pocket expenses incurred from cardiac-related inpatient hospital stays, as well as medically necessary items that are not covered by third party payers, such as home oxygen, pulse ox machines, and prescription co-payments. Individual candidates must meet the following criteria:
South Central Louisiana Chapter
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Louisiana resident for the prior 12 months (unless under 12 months of age)
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Resident of South Central Louisiana, which includes the following 25 parishes: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Saint Helena, Saint James, Saint Landry, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermillion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana
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Traveling within or outside of the state of Louisiana for a child's heart surgery
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In need of financial support due to expenses incurred as a result of a child with a congenital heart defect
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Referred by a pediatric cardiologist whose primary practice site is in the foundation’s target region, South Central Louisiana
New Orleans Chapter
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Louisiana resident for the prior 12 months (unless under 12 mos. of age)
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Resident of the Greater New Orleans Area which includes Jefferson, Orleans, Saint Tammany, Saint Charles, Saint John, Plaquemines, and Saint Bernard parishes; OR patients receiving care from a pediatric cardiologist at Ochsner Health System for Children in Monroe who reside in north Louisiana
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Traveling within or outside of the state of Louisiana for a child’s heart surgery
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In need of financial support due to expenses incurred as a result of a child with a congenital heart defect
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Referred by a pediatric cardiologist whose primary practice site is in New Orleans or Monroe
Step 2: Submit a Grant Application
LPCF grant applications are available at Pediatric Cardiology of Louisiana and Pediatric Cardiology Associates and can be emailed to info@lpcf.com or can be accessed and submitted electronically by clicking the link below. The application MUST be completed entirely, including the date of your child's surgery or procedure, and will not be processed if incomplete.
Step 3: Grant Processing and Review
Once your completed grant application has been received, it will be processed and reviewed by a board committee. Grants are submitted to the committee bimonthly. Following review of your grant application, LPCF will contact you to inform you if your family has or has not been selected for a grant. If your family has been selected, a check will be mailed to the address provided on the application. The entire process from submission to receiving a check may take 2-3 weeks, so please submit your application when a surgery date has been scheduled. Requests for immediate grant receipts will not be considered.
LPCF GRANT APPLICATION FAQs
Q: What can the grant money be used for?
A: Eligible expenses include:
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Travel to and from cardiac surgical center (Airfare, gas, rental car, etc.)
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Lodging and meals during stay for surgical procedure
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Oxygen and other medically-necessary items not covered by third party payers
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Prescriptions with hefty co-pays
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Telephone costs during surgical stay
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Durable medical equipment not covered by third party payers
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Medical education related to advancing pediatric cardiology care in the target region
Q: What can the grant money NOT be used for?
A: Items not meeting eligibility requirements include:
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Patients with non-cardiac illnesses
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Patients who are not South Central Louisiana residents (see list of parishes above)
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Physician professional fees
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Items covered by third party payers
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Utilities
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Reimbursements of expenses related to pediatric cardiology primary practice sites or satellite clinics
Q: What is an appropriate request amount?
A: The requested amount should be based on out-of-pocket expenses incurred versus the family’s income and ability to pay such bills.
Q: How many grants can a family apply for?
A: A child can receive up to 2 grants per year.
Q: If our grant is approved, will I receive it before traveling for my child’s surgery?
A: Our goal is to mail out grant checks about a week before the travel date. Grant applications should be submitted at least 2 weeks before the surgery date, if possible.
Q: My baby hasn’t been born yet. If our grant is approved, when can I expect to receive a check?
A: Prenatal requests are processed after the baby is born and just before the surgery date.
Should you have any further questions and/or concerns, please contact:
Angelle Bourgeois
(225) 768-2590