SWFL mom calling on medicaid for better therapy option
SWFL mom calling on medicaid for better therapy option
A Southwest Florida mother is calling on Florida's Medicaid program for better therapy options during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OF 25 HAS DIED FROM COVID 19 INTHE U-S.
IN FACT, SEVERAL PEOPLEIN THAT AGE GROUP HAVE DIED.APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH-- AND TONIGHT WE WANT TO SHAREA SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MOM’S STORY.SHE’S FIGHTING FOR PROPERTHERAPY FOR HER SON -- DURINGTHIS PANDEMIC.SHE TELLS FOX 4’S ROCHELLEALLEYNE THE STATE’S MEDICAIDSYSTEM HAS BEEN GIVING HER THERUNAROUND FOR WEEKS.:14 TO 20{PK}"What does ’d’ say?""Dah.
Dah."THIS IS 2-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH.((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"He has the biggest funniestpersonality."BUT JUST ONE-YEAR-AGO -- HISMOM-- ALISANNE-- SAYS THINGSLOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT FOR HIM.((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"He was completely non-verbaland he would get upset so hewould start banging his head andas a parent I didn’t know how tohandle that."SHE CREDITS HIS TRANSFORMATIONINTO THE TALKATIVE, ACTIVE -- --TODDLER YOU SEE BEFORE YOU --"Can you touch your head?"--TO SOMETHING CALLED "A-B-A"THERAPY.((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"It’s called Applied BehavioralAnalysis and basically what thatdoes it helps him with hisbehaviors."BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC -JOSEPH WAS GETTING ABOUT 20HOURS A WEEK AT A CENTER INNAPLES.HIS THERAPISTS HAVE SWITCHEDHOME-BASED THERAPY FOR NOW...BUT THINGS ARE STILL UNCERTAIN-- AND SHE SAYS MEDICAID ISN’TMAKING THINGS ANY EASIER.((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"It feels like it’s a constantbattle some days."THE INSURANCE -- WHICH ISHANDLED BY FLORIDA’S AGENCY FORHEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION --ORAHCA-- HASN’T GIVEN ANY CLEARGUIDELINES AS TO IF OR WHEN THEYSHOULD SWITCH TO TELE-THERAPY.*BUT THEY HAVE MADE IT CLEARTHAT *IF CHILDREN RECEIVINGA-B-A THERAPY HAVE TO SWITCH TOAN ONLINE VERSION BECAUSE OFCOVID-19 CONCERNS -- THEY WON’TCOVER ANY INTERACTIONS BETWEENTHE THERAPIST AND CHILD -- WHATTHEY WILL PAY FOR IS FOR PARENTSTO LEARN HOW TO GIVE THE THERAPYTO THEIR KIDS.((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"I wouldn’t be able to do thetherapy justice that’s why thesepeople are trained to be able tothis therapy.
They know how todo it, they’re the expert."IN A STATEMENT -- AHCA TOLD METHAT IF PARENTS ARE FEELINGOVERWHELMED -- THEY WOULDPROVIDE A TEMPORARY IN HOMETHERAPIST TO HELP --((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"The problem with that is whenyou throw someone new in with myson they have to spend days ofwhat they call "pairing."ITS BASICALLY BUILDING ACONNECTION -- FROM SCRATCH.ALISANNE SAYS SHE’S ALREADY HADTHE TRAINING -- AND WHILE SHE’SHAPPY TO HELP OUT -- SHE’SCALLING ON A-H-C-A TO PROVIDEBETTER GUIDANCE AND FLEXIBILITY-- SO THAT HER SON’S THERAPISTSCAN MAKE THE FINAL CALL --((Alisanne Colkitt//Wants betterservices for son))"One thing that works for onekid, is not going to work
