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TIPS for Finding OT Services
By Michelle Morris
If you are trying to
obtain therapy services and just aren't sure where to start -- here are
some suggestions:
1. Call your local
hospital and ask if they have the type of therapy program you need
available on an outpatient basis.
2. Remember, if
your child is on SSI Medicaid, providers are not allowed to hit you up
for cash payments if they accept Medicaid.
3. Have the
'waiting list' blues? Our clinic has a waiting list too, but if a
parent is a squeaky wheel, they are bumped to the front of that list.
If a parent persisted, a spot was found. Quickly.
As you are calling some
of these places, first ask if they accept Medicaid, or your type of
insurance, then ask if they are able to get your child in right away.
Because "s/he is having some serious issues, and you are very
concerned."
4. Insurance. I
have a list of codes most commonly paid by insurance carriers for
therapy. If you need some advice in this area, read my article “Most
Commonly Paid Insurance Codes”
5. There are also
organizations, like the Shriner's and the Elks who provide, free of
charge usually, Home services. In many locations, it is once a
week, for each therapist, done in your home. You will need to contact
your local or state organizations to find what services may be
available. This does vary from state to state. This is an option,
if you find you have to wait.
6. Age. Find out
about your state's Early Intervention programs (ages 0-3). They
evaluate, and provide services, free of charge. I know that some
parents prefer private OT's, PT's, and SLP's. My feeling is; something
is better than nothing while we wait on the ideal.
7. Your Medicaid
may require a referral from a doctor for authorization. If you don't
know the doctors in your area, try an easy way to narrow down that
search for a pediatrician who will give you a referral. Simply call one
after another, in the local phone book, and ask:
- "Does this
doctor refer children to OT, ST and PT in this area?"
- "Does s/he
refer for Sensory Processing Disorder?" (or insert the diagnosis of
your child)"
Usually the nurses and
receptionists know the answer, because they do the paperwork, and send
the referrals. Also when asked, our OT clinic would not refer a
specific doctor, but they would give a list of doctors names to
parents, upon request, of those who refer most frequently.
Depends on which you
find first, the chicken or the egg? If you find a therapy clinic first,
ask them. If you find a doctor first, ask them for clinics who are
accepting new patients right now. They know.
Copyright © 2003 Michelle Morris
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