ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Hundreds of Florida children with disabilities are losing access to equine therapy services that help them cope and thrive. <\/p>\n
Providers across the state say the sudden disruption came after they received an unexpected email earlier this month indicating they would no longer be reimbursed for services without additional Medicaid documentation.<\/p>\n
One of those impacted providers is Freedom Ride<\/a>, a Central Florida nonprofit founded in 1998, which, according to their website, \u201cprovides therapeutic horseback riding and related activities for over 80 children and adults with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, autism, developmental delay, attention deficit disorder, deafness and many emotional and learning disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n They also offer a Mental Wellness program known as Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL).<\/p>\n [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it\u2019s FREE)<\/a> | PINIT! Share your photos<\/a>]<\/p>\n \u201cYou come to Freedom Ride and this property. It\u2019s just pure peace,\u201d said Karen Boebinger, a certified therapeutic riding instructor. To explain the program\u2019s impact, Boebinger tells the story of a young, nonverbal girl named Talia whose parents brought started her on the program several years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was with us for about a year, and one day she was grooming the horse and petting the horse and she actually said the word \u2018horse.\u2019 Her parents absolutely lost it,\u201d Boebinger said. \u201cAnd now she works at Publix, and she is a chatterbox. That came through the power of the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n But now, that power to heal is in jeopardy.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout 50% of our clients utilize Medical Transport Management (MTM) for their payments,\u201d Boebinger said. \u201cWe have officially received notice that they are no longer reimbursing Freedom Ride. This is a big deal for all expressive therapies throughout the state.\u201d<\/p>\n Gravity the horse at Freedom Ride. (Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n MTM manages the Expressive Therapy network for Sunshine Health, a Florida-based health plan that provides government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Long Term Care, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.<\/p>\n On Oct. 13, equine therapy providers received an email from MTM stating, \u201cWe will be unable to reimburse for services unless we have a valid Medicaid ID and certification for the therapy you provide on file for your businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n Boebinger said the email came as a surprise because they have been working with MTM for 12 years.<\/p>\n A notice from Sunshine Health<\/a> on October 14 reminded providers that the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) requires an active Medicaid ID number on file to continue receiving reimbursement.<\/p>\n Freedom Ride applied for a Medicaid ID on October 20, but Boebinger said their application is still \u201cin process\u201d.<\/p>\n On October 24, Sunshine Health announced<\/a> it will end its relationship with Medical Transport Management effective December 31, 2025. In the meantime, the company will hold a provider town hall<\/a> in November and December to help explain the updated Medicaid requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cThis could go on for six, eight months,\u201d Boebinger said.<\/p>\n When asked what can be done to help, Boebinger offered a direct plea to viewers.<\/p>\n