If you’re living in a rural area and struggling to find in-home therapy for your child, you’re far from alone.
Getting in-home therapies like occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy (ST), and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can be notoriously difficult when you don’t live in the city. And countless families face this struggle.
Not having access to necessary therapies is just not an option for your child, and we intend to help you out. This article will teach you how to navigate the system and get the in-home support your child needs to live their best life.
Look into Traditional Medicaid or Early Intervention
Want a reliable gateway to in-home therapy services? Traditional Louisiana Medicaid and EarlySteps (also called Early Intervention) are promising routes to take, especially for those residing in rural areas. Each one has different eligibility criteria and benefits:
- Early Intervention. EarlySteps provides tailored assistance and support to babies and toddlers with conditions likely to lead to developmental delays. Services are often provided in the home or in daycare. Contact Caroline Nailor Oglesby, MAEd Director, by phone at 225-342-0095 or by email at Caroline.Oglesby@la.gov for more information. Learn more about EarlySteps here.
- Traditional Medicaid. Medicaid Louisiana is designed to cover all medically necessary services for eligible recipients. If your child qualifies, Medicaid can cover in-home therapies like OT, PT, ST, or ABA at no cost to you. Just be sure the provider you choose accepts Medicaid and offers in-home services in your area. Learn how to apply here.
Understand What Traditional Medicaid and Early Intervention Cover
Through Early Intervention or traditional Medicaid, your child may receive any combination of in-home occupational therapy, in-home physical therapy, in-home ABA therapy, and more. The coverage specifics will depend on the results of your child’s evaluation and the program’s offerings, among other things. Treat your support coordinator as your main resource for coverage questions.
Ask Your Support Coordinator About Teletherapy Options as Well
Location difficulties can sometimes make it impossible for your child to receive care in their home. In these cases, teletherapy may be able to bridge the gap. Speech and ABA therapy are very well-suited for virtual sessions, and you may even find a virtual care format to be more convenient than in-person therapy options. Some providers may offer hybrid (in-home and virtual) services.
Accessing in-home therapy in a rural area takes persistence, but it is possible if you know the resources available to you. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you find the care and support your child needs.
