United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Krista's right. Early Intervention is the name of a program that offers therapy services to young children. Your local school district's special education office would have the info if you just called and asked about early intervention services.

Going to a BPI specialist is something completely separate. That's the "doctor" portion of the equation. That doctor is the one you will choose to treat your child's injury. The early intervention is the "OT/PT" part of the equation and will be part of your overall treatment. The specialist will give you instructions on what to have your therapist do. Hope that makes sense!

Janet

Thanks for clarifying that. I'm glad to know there might be assistance available. My husband and I haven't even thought of how much this will cost us financially yet. I guess right now we're just thinking of the baby and totally just focusing on her. HOpefully the bills won't ever get to where it'll be a hardship.

Also I'm in Oregon. If anyone's from here and have info on programs around these parts that would be great! my email is mommyto2lovebugs@yahoo.com

Here is a brochure on the Early Intervention program in Oregon.

http://www.ode.state.or.us/gradelevel/p ... eiengl.pdf

Hope this helps!

Cherie

Hmmm... so correct me if I'm wrong here but to get EI, I'd have to apply for it and see if my daughter is not responding at the normal level(not sure how else to phrase it)? And if she does qualify what will happen is they will let her see the OT for a very small fee (based on income) regardless of what our normal insurance co-pay would be?

Right now our insurance just okay'ed her being seen by the OT... Does it cost very much to see one? The OT wants to see my daughter once a week to start with and I'm starting to worry about expenses now.

Yes you are right. Insurance coverage for therapy depends on what your insurance allows for a maximum of visits per year, or per calendar year.
For example, my insurance covers 52 PT or OT visits (not 52 of each though) so when Ella has PT once a week it works out okay and I only have a $15 co pay. When we had her in OT and PT it still worked out ONLY b/c we missed a few visits b/c she was sick or else we would have been over. After Ella's surgery she had therapy 3X weekly but only for a few months so it still worked out okay b/c prior to surgery she wasn't in formal therapy. So you have to ask your insurance company how many PT/OT visits are allowed and covered. Find out if they consider PT and OT the same thing as far as coverage.
I would apply for EI. I think it is well worth the time to apply. It's simple. Some paper work and then a meeting for them to come and evaluate the child. At least thats how easy it was here! Try it out. If not, you always have your insurance and before you know it your baby will be too old for EI. Take advantage of it while you can. (Some states ask for a higher price for EI so it is almost the same as paying another therapy facility outside of EI.) Figure out what would work best for you and your situation. Go from there. Good luck!
~Krista~

bump

Definitely look into the EI because it can get your child so many benefits that she may not receive without EI. Our insurance company (it stinks) only covers 20 OT or PT visits per year! Can you believe it? So the EI gives us the OT 1/week and PT 1/month. My daughter is much older than yours and had received more therapy when she was younger.

There are also medicaide waiver benefits that you may qualify your daughter for. There's an old post on this forum that talks about it. I'll see if I can bump it up for you. These benefits have allowed my daughter to receive aquatic therapy which she wouldn't have been able to receive otherwise.

Get in contact w/a BPI specialist. The medical resource directory has many good ones listed. Parents here will give you their own personal feelings on doctors, but you have to make that decision for yourself.

We initially did ROM exercises with each diaper change. It takes but a couple minutes and is so beneficial. Now of course it's much more difficult since my daughter is almost 3 years old and doesn't want to cooperate with ROM.

Keep touching your daughter's arm too. This will be stimulating for nerve healing/regrowth and proprioception (gosh, I hope I spelled that correctly---it's how she knows where her hand and arm are in reference to her body).

Ask all your questions. No question in silly. We've all thought them and heard them before. We're all a warm and welcoming support family here.

Welcome to the boards by the way.

Tanya in NY
(Amber's Mom, ROBPI, almost 3 years old)