Please Help Avert This Crisis

I am writing to ask for your help in averting an impeding financial crisis in the frum community. For years, the standard career track for many of our women (and some men, as well) has been to enter the field of early intervention either as an OT/PT/SP or special education provider. It has been a solid parnassah for many, many families who rely on it to feed their families, pay their mortgages and send their children to Yeshiva.

Recently, in its attempt to balance its budget, the state of NY has decided that EI is expendable. There have already been cuts of 10% and 5% in EI reimbursement, but those cuts are small compared to the currently proposed changes. Brad Hutton and the Early Intervention Coordination Council are currently in the process of changing the reimbursement methodology for EI services. Among other changes, the EICC will essentially require all EI sessions to be 45 minutes instead of the more common 30 minutes without any increase in pay. This will result in a pay cut of 33% to therapists and providers. Needless to say, a drop in pay of almost 50% in a 15 month period to a large segment of our community could chas vishalom have a devastating effect.

Of course, this is all without elaborating on the benefits of EI and its importance for our children. The government is curiously attempting to save money by cutting a service that in the long term helps save by preventing the need for services for older delayed and disabled children. The proposed changes will likely result in the closing of many agencies. It will also force therapists with full schedules to reduce the number of children they service, and since the pool of available therapists is not unlimited, some children in need of services will not receive help at all.

Please act now to help prevent this crisis.

Contact Brad Hutton and the EICC (before May 25,2011) and let them know that you object to the proposed changes to the EI reimbursement methodology. You can contact them via email, phone, fax or mail:

Katherine Ceroalo

New York State Department of Health

Bureau of House Counsel, Regulatory Affairs Unit

Corning Tower Building, Rm. 2438

Empire State Plaza

Albany, New York 12237

(518) 473-7488

(518) 473-2019 (FAX)

[email protected]