Florida Therapy News: New Institutes, Stuttering Coverage & Dry Needling Updates

Happy Friday, Florida therapy friends!

I don’t know about you, but keeping up with what’s happening in our state, especially when it comes to regulations, coverage changes, and new developments, can feel like a full-time job. And let’s be real: you already have a full-time job running your practice and taking care of kids.

So here’s what I’m doing for you every Friday: rounding up the news that actually matters to pediatric therapy practice owners in Florida. No fluff. No geriatric PT updates that don’t apply to your world. Just the stuff that could impact how you run your business and serve your kiddos.

Let’s dive into what’s happening this week.

USF Is Building Something Big in Tampa

Okay, this one’s exciting. The University of South Florida just announced they’re launching the nation’s first fully integrated voice and hearing institute right here in Tampa.

This isn’t just another academic center. We’re talking about a facility that combines research, clinical care, and education all under one roof, specifically focused on voice and hearing disorders. For those of us in the pediatric therapy world, this is huge. More research means better evidence-based practices. More clinical training opportunities means better-prepared clinicians entering the field. And more visibility for communication disorders means more families understanding when their kids need help.

If you’re an SLP in Florida, keep your eye on this. There could be collaboration opportunities, continuing education programs, or even research partnerships down the line. I’m genuinely curious to see how this impacts the pipeline of new grads coming into our state and whether we’ll see more specialization in pediatric voice and hearing disorders.

Stuttering Coverage: Florida’s Finally Catching Up

Now let’s talk about something that’s been a long time coming: Florida HB 785.

This bill is all about expanding insurance coverage for stuttering therapy, and it’s moving through the legislature right now. Here’s what you need to know:

The bill would require both Medicaid and private insurance plans to cover stuttering treatment. Even better? It explicitly includes telehealth services, which we all know became a lifeline during the pandemic and has stayed relevant for families who live far from clinics or have transportation challenges.

For pediatric SLPs, this could be a game-changer. I talk to practice owners all the time who’ve had to turn away kids with stuttering issues because the family couldn’t afford out-of-pocket therapy or their insurance refused to cover it beyond a few sessions. It’s heartbreaking. This bill would change that.

What’s the current status? The bill is working its way through committee reviews. It’s got bipartisan support, which is always a good sign, but we’re not at the finish line yet. Keep an eye on this one, especially if you serve a lot of kids with fluency disorders.

And here’s my plug: while you’re watching these legislative changes, Extra Mile Billing is staying on top of the coverage requirements and billing codes so you don’t have to. When (fingers crossed) this passes, we’ll make sure you’re ready to bill for it correctly from day one.

Dry Needling for OTs: New Standards on the Horizon

If you’re an occupational therapist or you employ OTs in your practice, Florida HB 867 is on your radar (or it should be).

This bill is all about establishing official standards and requirements for OTs to perform dry needling in Florida. Right now, it’s a bit of a gray area. Some OTs are trained and practicing it; others are unsure if they’re allowed. This bill would create clear guidelines around training requirements, scope of practice, and safety standards.

Why does this matter for pediatric practices? Honestly, dry needling isn’t something most of us use with kids, it’s more common in adult ortho settings. But if you’re running a multi-specialty clinic that serves across age ranges, or if you’re thinking about expanding services, this could open some doors.

The bill is setting up specific continuing education requirements and certification standards, so if you’ve got OTs on staff who want to add this to their skill set, you’ll want to follow this one closely.

Physical Therapy Wellness Services: Less Red Tape

Here’s one that flew under the radar for a lot of people: HB 869 and its companion bill SB 1262.

These bills are focused on reducing regulatory barriers for physical therapists who want to offer wellness and health promotion services. Think: injury prevention programs, fitness consulting, ergonomic assessments, services that keep people healthy before they need therapy.

For pediatric PT practice owners, this could mean more flexibility in how you structure programs. Want to offer a sports injury prevention clinic for young athletes? Or a wellness program for kids with developmental coordination challenges? This legislation is trying to make that easier by removing some of the bureaucratic hoops you currently have to jump through.

The bills are still being debated, but the general sentiment is positive. The idea is that PTs should be able to use their expertise for health promotion, not just rehabilitation. Makes sense to me.

Quick Hits: Other Florida News You Should Know

A couple of other things happening in our state that might impact your practice or the families you serve:

Cameras in special education classrooms: There’s ongoing discussion about requirements for surveillance cameras in special education settings. This one’s getting mixed reactions, some parents are advocating strongly for it, while educators and administrators have concerns about privacy and implementation. If you work in schools or collaborate closely with special ed teachers, this is worth keeping on your radar.

Cursive is back: Florida just mandated that elementary schools teach cursive handwriting again. I know, I know, some of you are thinking “finally!” while others are rolling their eyes. But for pediatric OTs who work on fine motor skills and handwriting, this could impact your school-based practice and the referrals you get.

Here’s What I Want You to Remember

Look, I get it. You didn’t get into this field to track legislation and policy changes. You got into it to help kids communicate better, move better, and reach their potential.

But here’s the thing: these changes directly impact your ability to do that work. Better insurance coverage means more families can afford your services. New institutes mean better research and training. Clearer regulations mean you can confidently expand your service offerings.

So yes, it matters.

And while you’re staying focused on providing excellent care to your kiddos, just know that we’re over here at Extra Mile Billing keeping track of how all these changes impact billing, documentation, and reimbursement. When HB 785 passes and you can suddenly bill for stuttering therapy through Medicaid? We’ll have your codes ready. When the dry needling standards are finalized? We’ll know exactly how to document it.

That’s literally our job: so you can keep doing yours.

Stay in the Loop

I’ll be back next Friday with another roundup of what’s happening in Florida therapy. In the meantime, if you hear about something I should be tracking, shoot me a message. I’m always listening.

And if you’re drowning in billing headaches and want to actually focus on therapy instead of fighting with insurance companies? Let’s talk. Because while you’re building better futures for Florida kids, someone should be making sure you’re actually getting paid for it.

Have a great weekend, and keep doing the incredible work you do.

Aaron Marshall
CMO, Extra Mile Billing