ATLANTA— State Representative Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain) today issued the following statement regarding increased funding for occupational, physical and speech therapy providers in the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 2019) budget:
“During the 2018 legislative session, I successfully worked to obtain increased reimbursement rates for certain occupational, physical and speech therapy provider service codes to 80 percent of the 2014 Medicare fee schedule. This increase in the Department of Public Health budget is in alignment with the increase that I successfully obtained for the Department of Community Health in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. The increase in reimbursement rates will allow Georgia the ability to attract more qualified therapists to underserved communities across the state for children with special needs in our Babies Can’t Wait program and the Children’s Intervention Services program under the Department of Community Health.
“As a long-time advocate for special needs children and their families, I realize disparities for skilled therapy providers in low-income and underserved communities, which is why I requested to include the reimbursement rate increase in the FY 2019 budget and am happy that the Georgia General Assembly agreed. A child’s earliest years are instrumental in developing cognitive, physical and social growth, and they deserve to receive the care they need from the most qualified medical professionals.”
Representative Karen Bennett represents the citizens of Districts 94, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism, Health & Human Services and Regulated Industries committees.
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