By The Clubhouse

It has been more than 2 months since DHS announced that all payments to Early Intervention providers would CEASE to be processed until a balanced budget is passed. Currently, there is no positive news to report on the budget impasse and providers (including the Clubhouse) have been working without pay since July 1. Rauner and Madigan remain grid-locked on many key issues. Here’s what their failure to pass the budget means to EI families and providers:

• As therapists continue to work without pay, many are leaving EI and some businesses are simply terminating EI services.
• The Administrators who do the EI intakes (CFC’s) are not being paid and many have announced that they cannot continue to operate for much longer without payment. The impact of this could be devastating to all EI families within any given CFC region if the CFC closes.
• In addition to the budget crisis, there have been substantial delays in credentialing and allowing therapists to continue to work within EI due to a blackout period this summer with HFS. So even those therapists who are ready and willing to serve EI families cannot get their credential processed.

Families: We strongly suggest that all EI families look carefully at their insurance coverage and be prepared to make decisions for your child in the event that your EI services are disrupted. The Clubhouse has the following options for families:

• We continue to serve EI clients and have no immediate plans to change – but cannot do this indefinitely.
• We are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Call us and we will verify your benefits for you.
• We have discounted rates for all families – and offer very economical groups and individual services with licensed therapists with a minimum of a Masters Degree.

We urge EI families to be prepared – and to call your local legislator and visit The Ounce to learn what you can do to urge the State to release payments to EI.