Illinois Parents Applaud New Law for Much Needed Therapies

04/24/09

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports the new law that states 'habilitative therapies geared for children with developmental disabilities will be regarded as 'rehabilitative' therapies. According to Dr. Alan Rosenblatt, a Pediatrician from Chicago, ''insurers routinely deny reimbursement for physical and speech ''habilitative'' therapy on the grounds that these are educational, not medical, services.''

All in the last week in the last month in the last 3 months in the last 6 months in the last year

Search Career Advice

Habilitative therapies such as physical therapy or speech therapy, are designed to teach developmental delayed individuals new skills or improve functioning, however, if a child suddenly became disabled and these kinds of 'rehabilitative' therapies were required to restore normal skills, insurers would honor the claim deeming these services medically necessary.

Under the new law, the insurers will reimburse caregivers for the 'habilitative' therapies for children with developmental disabilities up to 19 years old and will no longer make a distinction between the two therapies. Thanks to the new law, more children will be able to receive habilitative therapies and their parents will be reimbursed for the cost of the therapies. However, the new law does not mandate 'insurance companies to offer a minimum level of coverage 'for either habilitative or rehabilitative therapies.' Furthermore, many insurance companies have restrictions on the various kinds of therapy and these conditions will still apply.

• Search Legal Jobs
• Search Articles
• Employer Listing

United States

Search jobs

All in the last week in the last month in the last 3 months in the last 6 months in the last year

Search Career Advice

Select In-House Law Firms Government Recruiters Public Interest

Search Employer

According to Rosenblatt, ''research shows early intervention can make a significant impact on the quality of life and long-term potential for children'' with developmental disabilities. This will ensure that Illinois children with disabilities get the necessary treatments to help them reach their full potential.''

Illinois is the third state to pass the new law; Maryland and the District of Columbia have already passed similar laws.