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Public Health: 34 children wait for Early Intervention services amid provider shortages
Summary
Public Health Director Tina McDougall reported 138 children are enrolled in Early Intervention and 34 remain on the wait list for services such as speech and occupational therapy; low provider numbers and reimbursement rates contribute to waits, and one child has waited more than a year.
Tina McDougall, Director of Public Health, told the committee that Washington County currently has 138 children enrolled in Early Intervention and 34 children on a wait list for services that include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and special instruction. McDougall said children may be waiting for multiple services and waiting times vary; one child has waited over a year, a condition she attributed to a shortage of providers and low state-set reimbursement rates.
McDougall reported 35 providers serve Washington County across Early Intervention disciplines; the county and state have taken steps including a 5% reimbursement increase in the last state fiscal year, but McDougall said additional work is needed to reduce the wait list. The committee received the report; staff said they are actively working to decrease wait times.
