Subject:  Eligibility Determinations for Children Placed on High Humidity Nasal Cannula (HHNC) as a Form of Ventilator Support 

Source:  Margaret Strecker, Assistant Director, Compliance

Intended Audience:  SPOEs, Service Coordinators, Providers, SICC

Date:  May 26, 2005

We have received questions about the use of the High Humidity Nasal Cannula (HHNC) as an acceptable form of respiratory support when calculating the required 72 hours a very low birth-weight child is on a ventilator.  This is a modality that has been used more frequently with infants and toddlers who need significant respiratory support.  Like the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), the HHNC may be considered as a factor in eligibility. 

Click on /divspeced/FirstSteps/QandA.html#Eligibility_and_Referral to view the related Question and Answer that was just added to the First Steps website under “Eligibility and Referral.”