The financial needs of the Early Intervention (EI) service system have been neglected over the past three decades, leading to a capacity crisis that threatens the viability and availability of EI services to the nearly 70,000 infants, toddlers, and their families who depend on them. Community-based EI provider reimbursement rates are about the same as when the program began in 1994. Early Intervention providers are leaving the field to earn significantly more in other settings despite the promise of real and lasting improvements for the children with disabilities who are served by the program. This critical shortage of EI providers has resulted in delays and denials of services across the state. New York State is failing to meet its legal obligation to ensure access to timely evaluations and services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

While we appreciate the Governor’s proposed 5% increase for in-person EI services and an additional 4% rate modifier for rural and underserved areas, thirty years of neglect requires a minimum investment of an 11% Early Intervention rate increase if we are to begin to live up to our obligation to the smallest New Yorkers and their families.

The Legislature must raise the Governor’s proposed 5% Early Intervention rate increase to 11% for all in-person EI services and maintain the proposed 4% rate modifier for rural and underserved areas.