What a coincidence that the day after the letter to editor was published (see in blog), I receive a telephone call from a Blue Cross representative inviting me to join their panel as they decided to let more mental health professionals in. Another colleague of mine also received the same call as well.
This is great news as more families will be served in the next common months.
Robbin Miller, LMHC
Moderator
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Letter to the Editor:
Letter to the Editor:
(Published in the Worcester Telegram and Gazettee)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Children need services for mental health
I applaud Massachusetts officials for implementing stage one of the Rosie D v. Romney case this year. Doctors will be paid $18 per evaluation for assessing the mental health needs of children at their clinics across the state. While this method is a positive step in identifying possible mental health issues affecting our children, much more work is still needed. Currently, there is a shortage of qualified mental health professionals due to inequitable productivity requirements and low reimbursement rates from health insurance companies.
Additionally, commercial health insurance companies such as Fallon Community Health Plan and Blue Cross/Blue Shield (under their behavioral health network) will not open their panels for licensed mental health counselors to join their networks. As a result, there are waiting lists at area clinics to serve children with mental health needs. I’m asking the Legislature and parents to lobby the above entities to open their panels so our children can get quality mental health services. Also, for the state to implement more efficient ways to pay clinicians fairly and to retain them for the benefits of our children with mental health needs.
WENDY EDMOND
Shrewsbury
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Mental Health Crisis PT 2:
I have written about how the Rosie D. vs Romney settlement calls for increased mental health services for children in Massachusetts. While the first phase calls for primary care doctors to prescreen children for mental health services in their offices, there are still other barriers that exist as well.
We are aware of the shortage of qualified mental health clinicians to provide the above services due to low reimbursements and not being paid for no-shows in mental health clinics (non-profit) in Massachusetts. There is another barrier that I need to make everyone aware of.
I have spoken to mental health professionals who are having difficulty getting on commercial insurance panels. There is discrimination by a few who are refusing to open their panels because of the false perception and assumption that the market is saturated. This is not true at all. The irony of this belief is that children are not getting the mental health services they need from private practitioners due to long waiting lists. In fact, several mental health clinics in Central Massachusetts have stopped taking one comercial health insurance company due to the shortage of qualified licensed mental health professionals.
As a result, many children are not getting the mental health services they need. It is estimated that over 100,000 children in Massachusetts need these services according to Health Care For All website, www.hcfa.org.
What can parents and mental health professionals due to stop this injustice for our clients?
Here are few pointers:
1) Talke to your legislators to create new laws to make insurance companies open up their panels for mental health services for children when there is an unmet need.
2) Write letters to the editor in your local newspapers.
3) Contact the associations that represent social workers and mental health counselors in your state and ask them to lobby for changes that will benefit the clients.
4) Request meetings with these insurance companies to create an open dialogue of voicing your concerns.
Robbin Miller, LMHC
www.rmillerchat.com
Moderator
We are aware of the shortage of qualified mental health clinicians to provide the above services due to low reimbursements and not being paid for no-shows in mental health clinics (non-profit) in Massachusetts. There is another barrier that I need to make everyone aware of.
I have spoken to mental health professionals who are having difficulty getting on commercial insurance panels. There is discrimination by a few who are refusing to open their panels because of the false perception and assumption that the market is saturated. This is not true at all. The irony of this belief is that children are not getting the mental health services they need from private practitioners due to long waiting lists. In fact, several mental health clinics in Central Massachusetts have stopped taking one comercial health insurance company due to the shortage of qualified licensed mental health professionals.
As a result, many children are not getting the mental health services they need. It is estimated that over 100,000 children in Massachusetts need these services according to Health Care For All website, www.hcfa.org.
What can parents and mental health professionals due to stop this injustice for our clients?
Here are few pointers:
1) Talke to your legislators to create new laws to make insurance companies open up their panels for mental health services for children when there is an unmet need.
2) Write letters to the editor in your local newspapers.
3) Contact the associations that represent social workers and mental health counselors in your state and ask them to lobby for changes that will benefit the clients.
4) Request meetings with these insurance companies to create an open dialogue of voicing your concerns.
Robbin Miller, LMHC
www.rmillerchat.com
Moderator
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