What’s The Difference Between Therapy And HCBS?
Does your child have emotional, physical, or behavioral problems? Maybe they have been diagnosed with a developmental disorder and now need to go ahead with treatment and therapy. It can be confusing to figure out the road ahead when your child has special needs – especially if you’re not sure what the next step is. In some cases, your child may need therapy, and in others, they may need more specific care. While HCBS provides free services to help children with challenges and their families, many people don’t really know the difference between therapy and HCBS. Here’s everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
What is therapy?
There’s a variety of therapy types and certified therapists who work with children. As experts in their specific field, they will be able to help your child with things like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or play therapy. This comes at a cost of around $ 200 per session of 45 minutes, and treatment could be anything from 5 sessions up to 16 sessions. Medicaid pays a portion of a session, but parents have to do a co-payment upfront as well. The amount that Medicaid pays varies from state to state.
During and after therapy, your child may show improvement in one area. But as a developing child, there might be other areas where more support is needed. This may involve additional therapy.
Developmental disorders are complex and may affect different areas of behavior, mental processes, motor skills, and the overall development of your child. For example, if your child has behavioral problems because of ADHD but also struggles to express their ideas verbally, they might need a therapist for the speech disorder as well as a therapist for the behavioral problems. You will have to make an appointment to take your child to the therapist for therapy once, or even twice, a week depending on what is needed. This can easily become a costly and time-consuming activity for you and your child.
What does HCBS offer?
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are specially designed for children and youth under the age of 21 to get appropriate services through Medicaid. If your child is a member of Medicaid, the services offered by HCBS are free and ongoing for however long a child needs them, up to the age of 21. The services are offered at home or in your local community. If a child does not receive any care or treatment, struggles with a developmental disorder, and requires services on a daily basis, HCBS offers the services the home healthcare services child needs. All children can receive the services and there are no exclusions.
The aim of HCBS is to provide necessary services and therapy to children and their families in their homes and/or the community. Multiple services are available to assist children to achieve success in their daily living at home, in an educational institution and to ultimately function as well-adjusted citizens in society. The services are to help them function effectively in their communities and at home, and avoid higher levels of care and out-of-home placements. The non-institutionalized settings provided by HCBS enable the children receiving professional home health care services, therapies, and care to remain at home and in their communities. However, HCBS is family-driven and also supports caregivers, and family members to assist the children in functioning within society.
Who provides the services to my child through HCBS?
The services meet the need of each child’s physical, developmental, and behavioral health. These are provided by a number of qualified and certified service providers, designated and authorized by HCBS to provide appropriate services. These service providers must comply with state and federal requirements to provide a specialized service. The services are provided in a flexible package that is adapted to meet your child’s changing needs. This package will include all the areas where your child might need help.
Types of HCBS Care
Care management
Care managers are assigned to each child. They assign professionals to do assessments and determine the services your child and the family might need. They stay in touch with therapists and service providers and give regular feedback to you.
Assessment and treatment
The managed care care manager helps with assigning the necessary services providers to assess your child and assign all services that might be needed. They observe your child’s progress and determine whether the initial treatment package must be adapted or changed.
Home health care
Skilled nursing care is provided for weekly checkups on your child’s physical health at home if needed. They also assist with health promotion and disease prevention by suggesting other services such as possible diet care or an exercise routine that can be provided by other professionals such as a physiotherapist or dietician.
Personal care
If the caregiver or family taking care of the child has a problem with giving the child a bath or transporting the child, HCBS provides help and managed health care.
Respite services
This service is available for the caregiver or family who is responsible for the child. It provides short-term help to relieve the primary caregiver for an hour a day or weekly or overnight. They can also provide help with the duties in the home, such as cleaning or cooking – wherever help is necessary to relieve the caregiver.
Durable medical equipment
If you need a wheelchair, a nebulizer, a portable oxygen concentrator or masks, or any other equipment, HCBS can help you get these.
What do I need to do to get HCBS services for my child?
Don’t worry, you do not have to do this process on your own to get help for your child. Progen Care is here to help you. We help you find out what free services your child qualifies for and help you access them. All you need to do is reach out – then you get a case manager who will assist you personally and guide you through the paperwork, process, and everything else. We also provide a free assessment with a licensed professional to help your child get diagnosed so that we can help them get the care they deserve. Get started with Progen Care now to help your child overcome their challenges.
