Request Funding
Parents and caregivers want their children to be happy and healthy. Sometimes, financial constraints make it impossible to cover medical expenses. First Hand accepts case grant applications for medical needs from the United States and through select international providers.
Application location is based on where the child will receive care.
- For care in the United States, download the US Application for funding.
- For care outside of the United States, contact our case managers. At this time, we are only working with select international providers.
- Upload completed application and supporting materials.
Funding Criteria
- The child must be 18 years of age or younger (a person 19–21 may be considered if they are in a child-like mental state)
- The child must be under the care of a pediatrician
- The case must involve a child with a specific health care need
- The request must be clinically relevant to the health of the child
- There must be no existing insurance coverage for the requested expenses
- One request per year, per child for a maximum of three times in a child’s lifetime
Financial guidelines
Take your adjusted gross income (found on the first page of your federal income tax return) and subtract out-of-pocket medical expenses for the child in the past year. Compare the final outcome to the table below.
Clinical and Equipment Guidelines
| Number of dependent children | Qualifying income cannot exceed |
| 1 | $40,000 |
| 2 | $55,000 |
| 3 | $70,000 |
| 4 | $85,000 |
| 5 | $100,000 |
Travel and Lodging Guidelines
| Annual income | Maximum grant amount |
| $0–$25,000 | $700 |
| $25,001–$50,000 | $450 |
Vehicle Modification Guidelines
| Annual income | Maximum grant amount |
| $0–$25,000 | $2,500 |
| $25,001–$35,000 | $1,250 |
Expenses Covered
Expenses covered:
- Treatment: Clinical procedures, medicine, therapy, prosthesis, etc.
- Equipment: Wheelchairs, assistive technology equipment, care devices, hearing aids, etc.
- Displacement: Lodging (only if charitable housing is unavailable), gas ($0.33 per mile), parking and transportation related to a child’s care
- Vehicle modifications: Lifts, ramps and transfer boards
Expenses not covered:
- Home modification projects
- Alternative or experimental drugs, treatment or therapy where there is controversy in the medical community
- Wheelchair-accessible van purchases
- Requests for research funding, mass population grants or other not-for-profit organizational grants
- Requests for debt reduction/past medical bills
- Copays or deductibles
- Therapy dogs
Application Process
If the child is receiving care in the United States, download the application for assistance. If the child is receiving care outside the United States, contact our case managers at firsthandfoundation@cerner.com.
- Complete the application and gather supporting documents.
- Upload the completed application and supporting documents.
- You can also mail or fax the application and supporting documents.
First Hand Case Managers
2800 Rockcreek Parkway
North Kansas City, MO 64117
Fax: (816) 571-1569 - A case manager will review the submitted application and supporting documents.
- First Hand’s Clinical Decision Committee meets the first Wednesday of every month to review submitted applications.
- A case manager will follow up with the applicant within two weeks of the Clinical Decision Committee meeting.
- If approved, First Hand will send funding to the provider (not the family) within three weeks of approval.
- Funds must be used within 12 months of the date granted.
