Medical Therapy Program

The Medical Therapy Program is a special program that provides occupational and physical therapy, specialized medical equipment (like walkers, wheelchairs, and braces for arms and legs), and Medical Therapy Conference services for children who have disabling conditions, generally due to neurological or musculoskeletal disorders.

The Medical Therapy Conference team includes the child and their family/caregiver, occupational and physical therapists and a doctor. This team works together to recommend and provide the therapy and specialized medical equipment the child needs to participate in daily life.

Services are provided at Medical Therapy Units (MTUs) that are specialized outpatient clinics  located on public school sites.

Children ages birth to 21 who live in California and have a qualifying medical condition such as:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Arthrogryposis
• Juvenile Arthritis
• Brachial Plexus Injury
• Amputations
• Burns

There are no financial criteria for eligibility for the Medical Therapy Program. Any children who meet the criteria described above may be served in the Medical Therapy Program regardless of income.

Referral to the Medical Therapy Program can be made by a parent, teacher, school nurse, or physician. 

There is no cost for participating in the Medical Therapy Program for children who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries and/or who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). For children who are not Medi-Cal beneficiaries and do not have an IEP, there is a small annual fee for participation in the Medical Therapy Program.

Financial information may be needed to help your child get specialized medical equipment or other special services, and there may be additional costs associated with these items and services.

An occupational therapist (OT) focuses on small movements of the body (such as hand movements) and self-care skills (such as grooming, bathing, and feeding and eating). A physical therapist (PT) focuses on the large movements of the body, such as rolling, crawling, walking, and other forms of mobility.

Both OTs and PTs:

• Teach families/caregivers about their child’s medical condition and how to work and play with them to achieve therapy goals.
• Routinely assess and modify the therapy plan as needed.
• Assess for, recommend, and monitor specialized medical equipment.

Determining therapy frequency is a partnership between therapists and children and their families/caregivers, with the doctor providing final approval of each therapy plan. Therapy visits are meant to work toward specific self-care and mobility goals.

All children who participate in the Medical Therapy Program will receive periodic therapy services. More frequent therapy may be recommended in the following cases:

• Child is in a critical period of learning a skill.
• Following or in preparation for a significant life change for the child/family/caregiver.
• Child is experiencing significant growth and development.
• Child has recently had orthopedic surgery.
• Child has emerging health or medical issues.
• Child is experiencing significant changes. involving specialized medical equipment.