First you or your child’s doctor contacts me and we (me and the caregiver) talk and set up the initial visit. Then your child’s is referred for occupational therapy by your child’s MD- that means the pediatrician writes a prescription/MD order for OT.
At the initial visit your child is assessed/evaluated at his or her home / natural environment to determine his/her strengths and weaknesses in 1 or more of these areas: Fine motor, Gross Motor, Sensory System, Communication, Social Interaction, Cognition and Self-Help/ADLs and a score/age equivalent level is determined.
Then a Plan of Care (POC), Home Exercise Program (HEP) or functional activities plan are developed and placed into the family’s routine for your child to reach the long- term and short-term goals that have been developed with the family. The POC is sent to your child’s MD and then to Medicaid /MMA/Insurance company (if that is a requirement).
I currently contract with the local FL Medicaid/MMA plans unfortunately other insurances such as Blue Cross, Etna, Cigna, United have not yet accepted me as an in-network participating provider therefore I can attempt to obtain an authorization for OT or the family can pay out of pocket the current rate of $50 per 40-minute OT session. I also contract with the Florida Early Steps Program and see children from birth to 3.
