Víctor Moreno, president of the Asociación de Profesionales y Proveedores de Servicios de Terapia (APPST), called on Puerto Rico’s Department of Education to update reimbursement rates for special education therapy services, warning that the fee structure in place since 2015 is driving therapists off the island. "Every therapist we lose represents one more therapy for a child in the United States and one less for a special education child in Puerto Rico," Moreno said in written statements.
The group’s claim is based on a study by economist Gustavo Vélez, presented June 10 to Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés, which found that current rates fail to reflect inflation, rising administrative costs, or current labor market conditions. APPST argues providers are being compensated based on economic conditions from more than a decade ago while facing higher costs for staff, insurance, technology, electricity, water, transportation, and regulatory compliance.
Moreno said this gap limits companies’ ability to offer competitive pay, prompting many therapists to seek work in other U.S. jurisdictions with better salaries and conditions.