BCBS of Illinois has decreased the in network rate of reimbursement for speech therapy as of 6/1/21 by 14% without any prior notification.  This is a significant decrease.  In the past 20 years, this has never happened within the field.  To put this in perspective, the new reduced rate is consistent with the rate of reimbursement paid by BCBSIL over a decade ago.  Our reimbursement is going back in time, but our expenses are not!   Our speech language therapy practices all over the state  are taking a massive hit and are finding it difficult to stay open and cover operating costs. 

The reduced rate will in turn force therapists to reduce their clients’ treatment time in half to recoup decreased rate. This is hurting thousands of families whose children need our services. Many private practices in Illinois are small businesses and heavily rely on insurance reimbursement to operate. With the decreased rates many will be forced to close their doors, then where will all of our families turn to for therapy?

As a woman pioneered field, we are being discriminated against! Physical therapists,  occupational therapists, ABA therapists and psychologists are not getting their rates decreased, why are speech language pathologists being targeted? Our rates are already lower than other therapists and now we are taking a larger hit! Small independent women opened businesses will be unable to provide specialized services that so many vulnerable populations need.

The rate reduction is completely unacceptable and we need to stop this. Please help us spread the word and share this petition to encourage BCBSIL and our state representatives to make a change for the better for all these families and small businesses.