I have blogged in the past about getting help for kids with Hypotonia. Dealing with the school districts, etc. Well, I have always felt fortunate that we have insurance that covers my daughter's physical therapy and I don't have to rely on the school district. One thing I hadn't thought of, what if physical therapists stop taking insurance?
When I found out about my daughter's Hypotonia, the first thing I did was look for a PT. I found a great one right away. The practice only focused on Kids, the space was fun and the therapist was fantastic. We had to drive a half hour to get there but it was well worth it. After about a year she informed me she was closing her practice. She was still doing home visits but she was not licenced in our State so she could no longer treat my daughter. She felt very bad about the situation. I on the other hand didn't see the big deal. I was disappointed of course but understood the decision and thought we will just find someone else. No problem. Well, it turns out it was a big problem! She recommended a place that treats children but I could not get a time slot after school and the only option was to take her out of school once a week (this place was a 20 min drive). I looked further and found only 1 other PT that treats kids in our area! I couldn't believe it! Everyone tells me that Hypotonia is a somewhat common problem. I find it curious why so few PT's treat kids.
So we are seeing the new PT. My daughter loves her and is responding to the exercises. Great! The other day she informed that they are considering no longer taking insurance. Apparently, they don't take it for OT and Speech. She said dealing with the insurance companies is getting too time consuming. I haven't heard any more about it but wonder how much more this will cost. Will getting private PT become too cost prohibitive? The schools are also maxed out on budget so even if they cover her PT will it be enough?
When I went to the school district they told me the issue was medical and my insurance will cover her treatment. What if insurance doesn't cover the treatment? Then what? I am going back to the school to have my daughter re-evaluated and for now insurance is covering her treatment... The situation just got me thinking that probable in the not so soon future that won't be the case.
What options will there be to treat these kids? It seems that current government legislation is promising to improve our children's future but I only see it getting worse. I don't know anyone that is benefiting from the current insurance changes and the Core learning policies seem to eat up already shrinking budgets in our schools. This means less support for the kids that are on the edge. The only way to get help is to be on the bottom or the top. What about the kids in the middle? Don't they deserve our help and support. They are now the most at risk because they are becoming the forgotten.
I will keep fighting for my daughter because I can and I have too. I worry about a day that, it is not enough and think about the kids that don't have anyone to fight for them.
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