Practices varied, but providers shared the following common approaches for annual therapy evaluations for children who did not qualify for a specific therapy at admission:

– Conduct a brief developmental screening at the annual IFSP/ISP review to determine whether the child’s current functioning warrants a full re-evaluation for the previously-excluded therapy.
– If the screening suggests the child may now benefit from a therapy they previously didn’t qualify for, order a full evaluation and proceed through the authorization process.
– Document the annual screening outcome and clinical rationale in the annual review notes — this protects against audit findings and demonstrates ongoing clinical oversight.
– Do not discharge a child from a therapy type at admission without a plan to re-screen at annual review; needs can change significantly as children develop.

Providers noted that when a child’s status changes enough to qualify for a new therapy, getting the physician’s order and PASSE authorization in place before the annual date allows services to begin without delay.