Frequently Asked Questions

We strive to ensure that you are utilizing your degree optimally while doing as little non-therapy tasks as possible. Below is a list of some of the tasks we do and support we offer our therapists….

• Insurance Credentialing
• Insurance In-Network Pursuit
• Insurance Claims Submission and Follow-up
• Insurance Coding
• Obtaining Doctors Orders for Insurance Pre-Authorization
• Provide Mentoring
• Streamlining Paperwork Required by Contractors
• Note Entry
• Support with Conflict Resolution
• Technical Support
• Direct Deposit
• Posting Assessment Reports and Enter Assessment Data (only with First Steps)
• Direct Providers to Appropriate Contract Staff
• Provide Examples for Contract Specific Documentation
• “Grandfathered Rapport” (We have an excellent rapport with all our contractors. New Providers will come in to an already established positive rapport with contractors.)
• Provide Test Forms and Service Notes

For more information visit our Compensation and Benefits Page.

First, a referral will come to you via the contractor’s in-take department. The case manager will then call either you or us to see if you have availability for the referral. You can accept or deny referrals on a case by case basis. Next, you will contact the family to schedule your initial assessment/visit. (Note: You do not have to verify scheduling with us. If a specific time and date works for you and the family, you are ready to go.) After establishing goals based on your evaluation and the family’s requests, you begin the fun part…. therapy. In-home pediatric therapy has 2 main focuses: interactive envivo therapy and parent involvement. Children learn through play and the most effective for of therapy is therapy conducted in the child’s natural environment.

When: We base our pay schedules upon our contractor’s pre-determined pay periods. Therapists working with us on our First Steps Contract will be reimbursed approximately every 2 weeks. Our therapists working on our Home Health Contracts get reimbursed monthly. All reimbursement is completed using direct deposit for our therapists’ convenience. How Much: Pay ranges from $65/hr- $100/hr. First Steps payment is unit (15 minute interval) based. First Steps providers are reimbursed at a unit rate of $16.25 which equals out to $65/hr. Visit duration and frequency are determined by the IFSP Team at the initial meeting for each kiddo. Home Health payment is visit based. Home Health providers are reimbursed at the rate of $40-50 per visit, depending on which Home Health contract you work with us on. Visits are typically 30-45minutes in duration and once to twice a week in frequency.

This also differs depending on whether the referral is First Steps or Home Health.

First Steps: Anyone can refer a child for therapy to First Steps. First Steps then evaluates the child using 2 different evaluations (an individual and a family assessment). If the child qualifies for services the Service Coordinator (SC) who received the referral will then call providers who have openings and whose specialties match the child’s needs. If you are available for a referral in the county the child lives in for the discipline the child needs, the SC will call you. You can either accept or deny the referral at that point in time.

Home Health: In order for a child to receive Home Health services a doctor’s order is required. A parent/guardian, therapist, or doctors office can refer the child for therapy. If a parent/guardian or therapist refers the child a doctor’s order will still be required before the child can receive services. After the order is obtained by the Home Health Agency, the Case Manager for the child will call New Beginnings. New Beginnings will then call therapists who have openings for the respective disciplines the child’s need. (Home Health Agencies prefer to contact us directly because we have multiple disciplines and can disperse referrals with multiple needs within our group.) At that time you can accept or deny the referral for evaluation.

• Paper Service Note (This is done regardless if you are attending a meeting, providing therapy or conducting an evaluation)
• Assessment and Progress Report Approximately Every 6 Months for Each Child
• Discharge Summary at the Time of Discharge

Home Health:

• Service Note for Each Session with the Patient (Evaluations and visits)
• Assessment and Progress Report for Each Child at the End of the Authorization Period (typically every 3-6 months)
• Discharge Summary at the Time of Discharge

• Expressive and/or Receptive Language Disorders/Delays
• Feeding Issues
• Dysphagia
• Prematurity
• Cerebral Palsy
• Texture Aversions
• Visual Imparments
• Gross and Fine Motor Delays
• Sensory Processing Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Articulation and Phonological Disorders
• Apraxia/Dyspraxia
• Hyper or Hypotonia
• Down Syndrome
• Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders
• Microcephaly
• Spinal Disorders (Torticollis, etc…)
• Developmental Delays
• Various Syndromes or Genetic Disorders