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Special Needs
Early Intervention - Budget Cuts
Okay so I live in AZ...that should explain it lol!!!
But on a serious note, our state legislators have decided to cut all Early Intervention therapies due to an AZ budget crisis. This means that Beau (Autistic) will lose all therapies (we can not afford to pay for these out of pocket). Cash will continue his services because he is part of ALTCS (long term care).
If you have a moment please visit my blog, I have included information to the Govenor. Even if you only take a moment to call on behalf of our family or email her our website it will help.
10 day termination of service letters were apparently mailed with yesterday's date. I will fight until I no longer can to try and restore and or continue the services he needs.
Thanks guys
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Early Intervention - Budget Cuts
This is totally illegal.....Federal guidelines state that birth through 21 recieve services. Will do this later when I have a few minutes more.....
Wow. What a scary situation.
From what I am reading (there isn't a lot out there) you are covered until your authorization ends (usually one year from your start or annual review date - your providers would know) OR until they send you a termination letter. If you don't get a termination letter, services can continue but you can't get anything new.
It sounds like providers, lobbyists, and state legislators are working to come up with something quickly, so hopefully this won't last long-term. In the meantime, children not getting necessary services is a pretty sympathetic news story bound to garner a lot of attention and outrage. I would get the media involved in any way possible. I have always said that my best job security comes from the phrase "cutting help for children with disabilities." Nobody wants to support that - certainly no politician wants to have that phrase around their necks for the rest of his or her (short) career.
If you haven't already done so, you might also look into Social Security benefits to help cover the costs of private therapy.
WOAH! There's a law that should protect you. I will go and do that. IDEA, that's what it's called I think. Maybe its just for school aged... Im not sure.
Google IDEA PL 101-476
BFP 3/9/12 Natural M/C 4/11/12
Obviously we are trying to fight this as a family and as a community. I will look up IDEA in a few. We have called sent pictures, you name it contacting the news might not be a bad idea.
The letter stated that services for Beau would end on March 13, 2009 due to a shortfall in the state budget. Its as a last resort that the Division is writing to inform mr that DDD services will stop. I can appeal and will today but services will not continue through the appeal ....
If funds become available for services the division will contact us.
Between this going on the past few weeks and Cash I am at a low, I can't sleep and my heart is broken. Cash's diagnosis is scary enough and knowing that is a genetic gene mutation I worry daily that I gave it to him which makes sleeping even worse, my anxiety is growing. The sad part is Cash has a diagnosis that is fairly understood, with Beau and his Autism each day is different and can be very different than the one before. You never know how he will approach or welcome the day before him. I have seem the progress Beau has made in just a few short months, I feel so lost for all the children losing services, its children with Downs, CP and others wth developmental delays.
Thank you for at least reading this and offering help from those of you that did.
Although all states currently participate in IDEA, they are not required to. I'm not sure about opting out and how it affects FAPE, but I imagine they just lose the federal funding that comes with it.
That really sucks. There is a strong possibility that we will be moving to Arizona in the next year and I've been hearing some very negative things on another group I belong to as well.
3 boys (15, 8, 6), 1 girl (4)
Wow, I was just heading over here to get some pointers from you ladies because we're facing the same trouble, but to a much lesser extent. My guys need PT and speech therapy, and I am having a heck of a time finding a place (through our insurance) that will give us these services because they aren't far enough behind to qualify for EI (in AZ, with the HORRILBE budget situation - in a state with more $ we would have been in the system long ago).
Pumpkinbug, from what I understand EI money is federally funded, so if your kiddos are in the EI program Brewer can't get her fingers on the money that provides services to your kids. Which SHOULD mean that your kids should continue to reiceve services.
From what I understand, state-funded DDD services will continue for children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or autism. So you should be getting continuing care for Beau through DDD.
This situation is beyond horrible.
Re: Impact of Budget Cuts to Early Intervention in Pima County
Details are still being worked out, so the following is subject to change as we receive more answers to our questions:
We have been notified by the Division that there are no state funds to continue to provide early intervention services to state funded children. This includes developmental special instruction, nutrition, occupational, physical and speech therapy. Support coordination, including intake and eligibility, will still be provided for children and families.
Children who are eligible for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) are not affected by this change.
New Referrals: Effective immediately, all new children referred and eligible for the Division of Developmental Disabilities will be assigned to a state support coordinator with Child Family Services.
Children/Families currently receiving Occupational, Physical, Speech therapies or Nutrition:
? Children who are currently authorized for this service will continue to receive this service until the authorization ends OR until there is a notice provided to families by the Division that there are no state funds for the service. These notices are expected soon.
? Children eligible for AHCCCS Acute Care Health Care (TSC- Targeted Support Coordination) ? the Health Plans, including CMPD for children in foster care and Indian Health Services, will be responsible for any needed therapies under EPSDT requirements. Families will be required to get a script and prior authorization from the Health Plan for therapy to begin or continue. Transition to the Health Plan must begin right now!
? Children with private insurance (TPL) ? Families will need to get prior approval from that Health Plan for needed therapies.
Children/Families currently receiving Developmental Special Instruction:
? Children who are currently authorized for this service will continue to receive this service until the authorization ends OR until there is a notice provided by the Division that there are no state funds for the service. These notices are expected soon. This is the notice I received last night stating services end on 3/13/09
? Children who are in Foster Care (ACYF or DDD) may continue to receive this service with state funds.
Support Coordination:
? Children who are eligible for AHCCCS Acute Care Health Care (TSC-Support Coordination) ? AHCCCS pays the Division for support coordination for these children so they may be able to continue with their current support coordinator. We are waiting for a final decision on this.
? Children who are receiving support coordination from an early intervention provider and funded with state only dollars, will be transferred to a state support coordinator with Child Family Services when the authorization expires OR when notice is provided by the Division that there are no state funds for the service. These notices are expected soon.
This is very difficult for many people, in all areas of our early intervention community. I will do everything possible to keep you informed as more information is available and clarified. Please feel free to share this with families as you see them and to support their understanding of how they may be affected by these changes.
Sincerely,
Pat
Pat Healy, Area Program Manager
Child/Health/Therapy Services
Division of Developmental Disabilities ? District II
I work in EI in Mass, in general we provide a high level of service. With budget cuts, the state has recently made eligibility more restrictive (from 25-30% delay) and has required children receiving specialized autism services to have an official rather than a preliminary diagnosis from a PCP.
My boss and I were talking about this recently. In the new stimulus package there is some money earmarked for EI (about 500 million I think for IDEA part C - that is the federal law that mandates EI). My boss said some agencies in some states do not comply with IDEA, therefore do not receive federal funds and do not bill third party payers such as insurance companies.
I know this doesn't really help, but I am very sorry for your situation. Do you think your private insurance could cover services at a private clinic. I did an internship at Tucson Medical Center, and they had a large pedi rehab dept, and were usually successful w/ getting insurance to pay for visits for the under 3 crowd, good luck!