The CCS HRIF Program was established in 1979 to identify infants who might develop CCS Program-eligible conditions after discharge from a CCS Program- approved Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  Since 1979, the CCS Program’s goal of identifying neonates, infants and children who may develop a CCS Program- eligible medical condition has not changed.


The CCS Program’s standards for NICUs require that each CCS Program-approved NICU ensure the follow-up of neonates and infants discharged from the NICU who have high risk for neurodevelopmental delay or disability. The CCS HRIF Program provides for three Standard Visits which include a limited number of outpatient diagnostic services for infants and children up to three years of age whose care was provided in a CCS Program-approved NICU. All three Standard Visits should occur, particularly for those neonates, infants and children identified with impairments or to be at high risk, including very low birth weight infants, even if the child has been referred to services and other resources.


Each CCS Program-approved NICU must have an organized HRIF Program for the provision of these core diagnostic services or a written agreement with another CCS Program-approved HRIF Program to provide these services.


The CCS HRIF Program revised medical eligibility criteria (P.L. 01-0606), effective July 1, 2006, with additional diagnostic services available for reimbursement. The policy in P.L. 01-1113 dated November 22, 2013 clarified the HRIF criteria for services to ensure all eligible infants have access to these diagnostic assessments. These criteria are reiterated in the High Risk Infant Follow-up Program Number Letter (N.L.): 01-1016.


P.L. 01-1113 included clarification on medical eligibility for those neonates who require direct admit to a CCS Program-approved Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), who are never admitted to a CCS Program-approved NICU, but who otherwise meet all medical eligibility criteria for HRIF services. These neonates are eligible for HRIF services.

The goal of the HRIF Program is to provide opportunities to identify clients with new or emerging problems and make appropriate referrals. HRIF services include:

  1. Comprehensive History and Physical Examination, including neurologicassessment
  2. Developmental Assessment (Bayley Scales of Infant Development [BSID] or an equivalent test)
  3. Family Psychosocial Assessment, to be performed during the child’s three-year eligibility period
  4. Hearing Assessment
  5. Ophthalmologic Assessment
  6. Coordinator Services (including assisting families in accessing identified needed interventions and facilitating linkages to other agencies and services).