Guest guest Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Hi there! With all the discussion in Washington about Health Care Reform, and President Obama's emphasis on getting something passed this year, I was wondering - Is anyone interested in e-mailing/advocating with the committees in the House and Senate and President Obama to include in the legislation increased/required health insurance coverage of rehabilitative speech and occupational therapy after age 3? Sort of like the Mental Health Parity Bill that created equal coverage for mental health benefits as for other medical conditions - it actually got passed through as a rider on the federal bail-out package in some form. My kid is an " in-betweener " - she doesn't qualify for anything through the school because her " academic needs are being met " and she doesn't qualify through health insurance for speech because she doesn't have the " right " diagnosis and she's over age 3. She needs speech and OT for dyspraxia, sensory integration disorder, a tongue tie that was clipped, and oral motor delay/fluency issues (no stutter). The insurance companies all seem to write their coverage so if a kid is over age 3, they only will allow 2 months worth of speech or OT and only if there is a " guarantee of significant improvement " , not due to a congenital anomaly, and only allow a max of 30 visits a year. Basically they are trying to eliminate paying for Speech and OT for kids who legitimately need it and then make the process so hard people give up. All the good therapists are also opting out of insurance and going private pay only because they don't want to mess with the insurance companies. Don't get me started! :-) We are in Texas, by the way. Anyway, I'm happy to climb on this soap box and research who is on the House and Senate Committees and get their contact information, etc. I know this is not a political forum, so e-mail me if you are interested, and I'll either create a website or get the information to you. I'm just thinking off the top of my head. If anyone already knows about an initiative like this, I'd appreciate any information you have. Now is the time! Take Care, Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Diane, I would be happy to help lobby via letters/email to the political powers that be! I don't even try to use private insurance, b/c they won't pay for it unless it's from an accident or a medical condition like a stroke. So we are out of luck there and I've not tried to appeal anything. We pay out of pocket for any private speech, but we are fortunate to get speech multiple times a week during the school year and have gotten summer speech for the past 2 summers! Bonnie > > Hi there! > With all the discussion in Washington about Health Care Reform, and President Obama's emphasis on getting something passed this year, I was wondering - > > Is anyone interested in e-mailing/advocating with the committees in the House and Senate and President Obama to include in the legislation increased/required health insurance coverage of rehabilitative speech and occupational therapy after age 3? > > Sort of like the Mental Health Parity Bill that created equal coverage for mental health benefits as for other medical conditions - it actually got passed through as a rider on the federal bail-out package in some form. > > My kid is an " in-betweener " - she doesn't qualify for anything through the school because her " academic needs are being met " and she doesn't qualify through health insurance for speech because she doesn't have the " right " diagnosis and she's over age 3. She needs speech and OT for dyspraxia, sensory integration disorder, a tongue tie that was clipped, and oral motor delay/fluency issues (no stutter). > > The insurance companies all seem to write their coverage so if a kid is over age 3, they only will allow 2 months worth of speech or OT and only if there is a " guarantee of significant improvement " , not due to a congenital anomaly, and only allow a max of 30 visits a year. Basically they are trying to eliminate paying for Speech and OT for kids who legitimately need it and then make the process so hard people give up. All the good therapists are also opting out of insurance and going private pay only because they don't want to mess with the insurance companies. Don't get me started! :-) > > We are in Texas, by the way. > Anyway, I'm happy to climb on this soap box and research who is on the House and Senate Committees and get their contact information, etc. I know this is not a political forum, so e-mail me if you are interested, and I'll either create a website or get the information to you. I'm just thinking off the top of my head. > > If anyone already knows about an initiative like this, I'd appreciate any information you have. Now is the time! > > Take Care, > Diane > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 We live in Panama City Florida - very interested! [ ] Re: Advocacy, anyone? Diane, I would be happy to help lobby via letters/email to the political powers that be! I don't even try to use private insurance, b/c they won't pay for it unless it's from an accident or a medical condition like a stroke. So we are out of luck there and I've not tried to appeal anything. We pay out of pocket for any private speech, but we are fortunate to get speech multiple times a week during the school year and have gotten summer speech for the past 2 summers! Bonnie > > Hi there! > With all the discussion in Washington about Health Care Reform, and President Obama's emphasis on getting something passed this year, I was wondering - > > Is anyone interested in e-mailing/advocating with the committees in the House and Senate and President Obama to include in the legislation increased/required health insurance coverage of rehabilitative speech and occupational therapy after age 3? > > Sort of like the Mental Health Parity Bill that created equal coverage for mental health benefits as for other medical conditions - it actually got passed through as a rider on the federal bail-out package in some form. > > My kid is an " in-betweener " - she doesn't qualify for anything through the school because her " academic needs are being met " and she doesn't qualify through health insurance for speech because she doesn't have the " right " diagnosis and she's over age 3. She needs speech and OT for dyspraxia, sensory integration disorder, a tongue tie that was clipped, and oral motor delay/fluency issues (no stutter). > > The insurance companies all seem to write their coverage so if a kid is over age 3, they only will allow 2 months worth of speech or OT and only if there is a " guarantee of significant improvement " , not due to a congenital anomaly, and only allow a max of 30 visits a year. Basically they are trying to eliminate paying for Speech and OT for kids who legitimately need it and then make the process so hard people give up. All the good therapists are also opting out of insurance and going private pay only because they don't want to mess with the insurance companies. Don't get me started! :-) > > We are in Texas, by the way. > Anyway, I'm happy to climb on this soap box and research who is on the House and Senate Committees and get their contact information, etc. I know this is not a political forum, so e-mail me if you are interested, and I'll either create a website or get the information to you. I'm just thinking off the top of my head. > > If anyone already knows about an initiative like this, I'd appreciate any information you have. Now is the time! > > Take Care, > Diane > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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