Insurance & Payment Info
At ACCESS Speech Therapy, we strive to make the billing process as transparent and straightforward as possible. We accept health insurance across multiple states as well as private pay options.
Private Pay & Out-of-Network Policies
Please contact our front office at (559) 423-0744 or email us at hello@access-speech-therapy.com for a transparent breakdown of our private pay fee schedule or to verify your plan's specific network status.
Hanford, CA Clinic
- Tricare-TriWest
- Blue Cross of California
- Blue Shield of California
Belton, TX Clinic
- Tricare-TriWest
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
- Medicare of Texas
Greeneville, TN Clinic
- Private Pay / Out-of-Network Only
- (In-network insurance paneling coming soon)
In-Network Insurance Providers
We are currently in-network with the following healthcare insurance providers, organized by our physical state locations:
Financial Policy: The client or legal guardian is responsible for all services rendered. Private pay fees, insurance co-pays, co-insurance, and unmet deductibles are due in full at the time of your scheduled session.
Private Pay / Self-Pay Rates
If you are uninsured, choose not to utilize your health insurance plan, or are seeking services in a state where we do not currently participate with your specific insurance panel (such as Tennessee):
- We gladly welcome private pay/self-pay clients.
- Detailed itemized superbills can be provided upon request for you to submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Contact Our Billing Team
Evaluation and treatment rates vary based on the specific clinical duration, complexity, and specialized nature of the services required—such as specialized pediatric feeding or adult orofacial myofunctional (airway) therapies.
Frequently Asked Questions
My insurance doesn’t require a prescription or a referral. Do I still need to provide one?
Yes. Even if your insurance plan allows self-referrals, a physician’s prescription is still required by our clinic for billing and medical necessity documentation purposes.
How do I refer a patient (or have my doctor refer me) for services?
To initiate services, your doctor’s office or referral clerk will need to send a prescription to us. They can submit it in one of two ways:
- Fax: (559) 354-8214
- Mail: ACCESS Speech Therapy, 1150 N. Douty Street, Suite A, Hanford, CA 93230
- Have questions about the referral process? Reach out to our team directly at (559) 423-0744 or email hello@access-speech-therapy.com
Does insurance typically cover speech therapy?
Many health insurance plans do provide benefits for speech therapy, but limitations are common. These limits are often based on age, specific medical diagnoses, or a capped number of allowed sessions per calendar year. Because every policy is unique, we highly recommend calling your insurance provider to verify your specific outpatient speech therapy benefits.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the fixed amount you must pay out-of-pocket for medical services before your insurance company begins to pay. This amount varies by policy and typically resets at the start of your calendar or plan year. If you have an unmet deductible, payment for the session is expected at the time of each visit.
What is a co-pay?
A co-pay is a fixed, flat dollar amount (e.g., $30) that your insurance policy requires you to pay at each visit. Co-pays are due upon arrival at the time of your service.
What is co-insurance?
Co-insurance is your share of the costs of a healthcare service, calculated as a percentage (e.g., 20%) of the total allowed amount. If your deductible has been met, you are responsible for this percentage at the time of your visit.
What happens after I return my new patient paperwork?
Once you return your completed intake packet and we receive the required prescription from your doctor, our team follows a seamless three-step process:
- Scheduling: Your packet is passed to our front office team, who will reach out to schedule your initial evaluation.
- Patient Double-Check: Once your evaluation date is set, we highly recommend calling your insurance provider one final time to personally confirm your outpatient speech therapy benefits.
- Reminder: We do not verify insurance benefits. Please contact your insurance provider to verify the following codes
92523 = Speech and Language Evaluation
92507 = Speech and Language Treatment
Speech, Feeding & Airway Education
Welcome to our educational hub, a dedicated space where you can learn more about speech development, pediatric feeding, and airway health topics. We believe that empowering families with knowledge is the first step toward successful therapy outcomes.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) Education
Foundational Support for Speech and Airway Health
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) involve abnormal patterns of the mouth and face muscles during rest, swallowing, and speech. When these muscles don’t work together correctly, it can impact dental alignment, airway development, and clear communication. Our specialized therapy focuses on retraining these muscle patterns to support long-term health and functional success.
At ACCESS Speech Therapy, we provide a comprehensive, airway-conscious approach to OMD. We believe that addressing the root cause of myofunctional issues—rather than just the symptoms—is the key to helping our clients breathe, eat, and speak with ease.
Children & Toddlers
- Chronic mouth breathers
- Those with tongue ties (pre/post-op)
- Children with persistent thumb or pacifier habits
- Those with narrow palates or dental crowding
Adults & Teens
- Individuals with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)
- Those experiencing TMJ pain or jaw tension
- Post-orthodontic relapse (teeth shifting)
- Chronic neck or facial muscle fatigue
Professional Collaboration
- Orthodontic patients (preparing for braces)
- Individuals working with ENT specialists
- Those referred by airway-focused dentists
Signs That Someone May Benefit from OMD Therapy
- Persistent mouth breathing (day or night).
- Visible tongue thrust when swallowing or speaking.
- Difficulty keeping lips together at rest.
- Messy eating or difficulty managing certain food textures.
- Waking up with a dry mouth or feeling tired after sleep.
When Should OMD Therapy Be Introduced?
The ideal time for intervention is as soon as symptoms are identified. Early intervention can often prevent more significant structural issues as a child grows.
- Children as young as 4-5 can often participate in formal exercises.
- Pre-orthodontic screening is highly recommended.
- Myofunctional therapy can be done alongside expansion or other dental work.
- Adults can successfully begin therapy at any age to address chronic issues.
Does OMD Affect Speech?
Yes. While not all OMDs cause speech disorders, many do. The most common speech issue associated with OMD is a frontal lisp (where the tongue pushes through the front teeth on sounds like 's' or 'z'). If the underlying muscle habit is not corrected, traditional speech therapy for these sounds may not stick over time.
By addressing the muscle pattern first, we provide the foundation needed for clear, sustainable speech:
- Improved tongue placement for 's', 'z', 'sh', and 'ch'.
- Reduced dental interference with sound production.
- Faster progress in traditional articulation therapy.
- Long-term retention of speech improvements.
Airway Screening
Every OMD evaluation includes a screening for airway restriction or breathing issues to ensure a whole-body approach.
Myofunctional Evaluation
We perform a detailed assessment of oral structures, muscle tone, and functional patterns during rest and swallowing.
Nasal Breathing Retraining
We work on establishing nasal breathing as the primary habit to support proper jaw development and oxygenation.
Tongue Posture & Swallowing
Exercises are used to retrain the 'tongue-to-roof-of-mouth' rest posture and correct swallowing patterns.
Collaboration with Specialists
We work closely with local ENTs, dentists, and orthodontists to coordinate care for the best structural outcomes.
Maintenance & Habituation
We ensure that new muscle habits become permanent, protecting your investment in orthodontic or airway work.
Why Families Choose ACCESS Speech Therapy
Families choose ACCESS for our specialized focus on airway health. We don't just look at the mouth in isolation; we consider how oral rest posture affects sleep, breathing, and overall well-being. By integrating myofunctional exercises with traditional speech therapy goals, we ensure that our clients don't just improve their sounds—they improve their quality of life.
What is OMD?
- Orofacial: Refers to the mouth and face.
- Myofunctional: Refers to the muscle function and patterns.
OMDs are a group of disorders where the muscles of the face and mouth do not function correctly. This can manifest as mouth breathing, tongue thrust during swallowing, or an open-rest posture of the lips. Over time, these habits can lead to issues with jaw growth, dental crowding, and speech clarity.
Who Can Benefit from OMD Therapy?
OMD therapy is highly individualized and beneficial for anyone seeking better muscle function and breathing health.
Our OMD Process
Frequently Asked Questions
Will OMD therapy fix my child's dental crowding?
While therapy corrigates the muscle pressure that can contribute to crowding, it doesn't move teeth directly. However, it often makes orthodontic work more efficient and results more stable.
How long does OMD therapy typically take?
The timeline varies, but many clients see initial habit shifts within 4-6 months of consistent exercise. Full habituation can take longer depending on the complexity of the case.
Is Myofunctional therapy the same as speech therapy?
They are related but different. Speech therapy focuses on sound production and language, while Myo focuses on the underlying muscle function and rest postures of the tongue and lips.
Can therapy help if I've already had braces?
Absolutely. In fact, many adults start therapy because their teeth shifted after braces due to an uncorrected tongue thrust habit. Therapy helps ensure your smile stays straight for the long term.
Why Families Choose ACCESS Speech Therapy
Families choose us because of our whole-patient approach. We don’t just prescribe a tool; we integrate communication into the fabric of the client’s life. By collaborating with families, schools, and other therapeutic professionals, we ensure that every person we serve isn’t just carrying a device—they are using their voice.
Ongoing Therapy
Continued support to ensure the communication system grows as the client’s needs and skills evolve.
Family & Caregiver Training
We teach the support network how to model AAC and facilitate communication in daily life.
Device Setup & Personalization
We customize the vocabulary, layout, and voices to truly represent the individual’s identity.
Insurance Funding Assistance
Our team handles the complex paperwork and reports required for insurance-funded high-tech devices.
Device Trials
Clients can test different tools and apps in real-world scenarios before completing a final recommendation.
Comprehensive Evaluation
We assess motor, visual, and language abilities to find the right access method and system.
Does AAC Prevent Speech?
This is a common concern for families, but research consistently shows the opposite: AAC does not stop a person from learning to speak. In many cases, it actually supports and encourages natural speech development by reducing frustration and providing a clear model of language.
Benefits found in research include:
- Increased frequency of communication attempts.
- Expanded vocabulary and sentence length.
- Improved social engagement and confidence.
- Decreased behavioral issues related to frustration.
When Should AAC Be Introduced?
The answer is: as soon as a communication delay or difficulty is identified. Waiting for speech to develop is no longer the standard recommendation.
- There is no minimum age for AAC.
- AAC can be used alongside traditional speech therapy.
- Early intervention with AAC supports cognitive and social development.
- It provides a “bridge” while spoken language is emerging.
Signs That Someone May Benefit from AAC
- Spoken language is limited, difficult to understand, or absent.
- Extreme frustration when trying to communicate wants and needs.
- Withdrawal from social interactions or communication attempts.
- Significant reliance on a caregiver to “translate” or interpret speech.
- Speech is not effective for functional communication in all settings.
Developmental Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Developmental Language Disorder
Neurological Conditions
- Stroke (Aphasia)
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Parkinson’s Disease
Medical Conditions
- Head and neck cancers
- Vocal fold paralysis
- Tracheostomy or ventilator use
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
Every Person Deserves a Voice
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) includes all of the ways that someone shares their wants, needs, ideas, and feelings when they are not using spoken language. Spoken language can be difficult for a variety of reasons, and AAC provides a way for a person to communicate effectively with those around them.
Our whole-patient philosophy toward AAC is rooted in the belief that communication is a fundamental human right. We focus on empowering each individual to connect with their world using tools that best suit their unique abilities and lifestyle.
What is AAC?
- Augmentative: Means to add to someone’s speech.
- Alternative: Means to be used instead of speech.
AAC can include a wide range of systems, from no-tech to high-tech:
- Gestures and facial expressions
- Signs (e.g., American Sign Language)
- Writing or drawing
- Picture communication boards
- Speech-generating devices (SDGs)
- Mobile apps designed for communication
Who Can Benefit from AAC?
AAC use is determined based on an individual’s communication needs rather than a specific medical diagnosis.
Our AAC Process
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a young child or toddler use AAC?
Absolutely. Research shows that early introduction of AAC supports developmental milestones and reduces communication-related frustration in young children.
Does AAC replace traditional speech therapy?
No. AAC is often used together with speech therapy. It provides an immediate way to communicate while we continue to work on natural speech production.
Will my insurance cover a speech-generating device?
Many insurance plans cover medical-grade SGDs if a formal evaluation and report prove medical necessity. Our team assists with the entire funding process.
What if the user has limited hand or fine motor control?
We evaluate for specialized access methods such as eye-gaze tracking, head-tracking, or switch scanning to ensure everyone can communicate regardless of physical limitations.