Bronx Rep. Richie Torres criticized Gov. Cathy Hochul for failing to oversee New York state's early intervention program for young children with developmental disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome.
“New York State's early intervention program is the worst in the nation, ranking 50 out of 50,” Torres said in a letter to Hochul on Sunday. “It's time for you to end your dubious honor of presiding over America's worst early intervention program.”
His criticism of early childhood education programs is just the latest rant against Hochul, who Torres is considering challenging in the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Torres said there are 10,000 children with disabilities waiting for early intervention in the state, an increase of 500% since 2020.
Democratic lawmakers also say early intervention providers, including specialists such as physical therapists and speech therapists, are not paid for their work, jeopardizing programs already struggling to accept patients. It is said that there is
The early intervention program began last year as Massachusetts-based Public Consulting Group, a contractor to the state health department, launched a new software system for therapists to manage cases and bill for services. I didn't get off track.
The transition to a software system was a glitch-prone, delay-prone disaster. According to research by North Country Radio last month.
Industry research shows that half of New York therapists providing early intervention services do not receive their full salary, Albany-based therapist Lacey Schweigert told the Post.
Tracy Harris, who has been a speech therapist for 30 years and has run her own business, Building Blocks, in Watertown upstate for the past 20 years, said providers have to complete reimbursement forms 25 times. It says you have to click.
“You're not going to get new customers. They're going to end up on a waiting list,” Harris said.
“This program is the worst ever.”
The two therapists said they sent a letter to all New York state legislators asking for help, and Torres, who represents the Bronx, responded and spoke with them via Zoom meeting.
“I’m so glad he’s involved,” Harris told the Post.
Torres said the mismanagement of the program for the most vulnerable young children was outrageous and unacceptable.
“The broken system of early intervention existed long before you took office, and yet you have destroyed that broken system like never before, turning the nation's worst EIP into a complete mess. It has thrown us into a state of chaos and crisis,” Torres said furiously. His note to Hochul.
“There are families whose children with disabilities are not receiving federally mandated services. There are working-class health care providers who are not receiving wages.”
He also cited a 2023 audit conducted by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli regarding delays in services for many young children before the software issue occurred.
Torres urged Hochul to “fundamentally reduce the labor shortages and waiting lists that are worsening on your watch. Increase reimbursement rates by 11% to stabilize working-class EI providers. and stabilize cash-strapped counties with fair revenue.”
A spokesperson for the state Department of Health responded on Hochul's behalf, saying the software glitch had been resolved.
“New York State's top priority is to ensure that the 70,000 children in early intervention programs continue to receive the medical care and resources they need,” a spokesperson told the Post. said in a statement. “Since its launch on October 15, technical issues with EI-Hub have been resolved and providers have been reimbursed in a timely manner.
“The Department will continue to work with vendors to provide training for providers and make further improvements to increase the efficiency of the system.”
The ministry said that although a 5% increase in operators' salaries had been approved, providers still complained that it had not been realized, and that contractors Public Consulting Group had no remuneration until the software work was completed. pointed out that they were not paid.
Public Consulting Group had no immediate comment.
