A Growing Crisis for Texas Families

Pediatric therapy is a calling, driven by dedication and service. Yet after more than 15 years of reimbursement rates failing to keep pace with inflation, even the most committed providers are struggling to sustain their practices in Texas.

Too few providers coupled with an unprecedented demand for pediatric therapy has resulted in skyrocketing waitlists. Thousands of Texas children are waiting too long for critical care, resulting in poor outcomes and increased cost of long-term care.

Providers rates lag by 41%

In 2012, pediatric speech therapy home care providers were reimbursed $137 per encounter in today's dollars. Now, they only receive $118 — and that's the difference before accounting for inflation.

Waitlist continue to skyrocket

Waitlists grew by 46% in only 6 months between July-December 2023. After the 2024 Medicaid unwinding, waitlists shot right back up by 19%.

THE DATA SHOWS...

Investing in pediatric therapy is fiscally responsible.

Investing $15,000 in early intervention for a child with significant developmental delays can generate an estimated annual return of $60,000 through reduced long-term public expenditures.
(Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 2024 Regional Reports)

High-quality early childhood intervention can save taxpayers in the form of reduced costs related to education, criminal justice and welfare assistance.

STEPS' SOLUTION

Rate increase, automation, and workforce development.

STEPS is working to develop Texas' pediatric therapy workforce by funding scholarships at public colleges and is finding ways for the State to more efficiently deliver care and reduce waitlists by automating pediatric therapy waitlists.

But these efforts will only go so far without the wages to maintain a strong workforce. Increasing therapy provider wages is the most effective way for Texas to recruit, train, and retain qualified therapy providers and staff. This will reduce rapidly growing pediatric therapy waitlists and help children receive care when they need it, long before it reaches crisis levels.