As most of you know by now, we have two special needs children. Our daughter was recently diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Basically, she worries about EVERYTHING beyond what is even normal for an adult. Forgetting her library book on library day causes a complete meltdown (yelling and throwing items included).
About 6 weeks ago, we found ourselves looking for a new place to go for therapy and help. We found one that has thus far been great. They are teaching her coping skills. They are teaching her how to recognize her anxiety beforehand. They are even helping her to learn to realize when she is overreacting.
Last night at her appointment, we had a bomb dropped on us. The children have state funded medicaid. It turns out that the 6 weeks of therapy (once a week for a total of 6 visits) plus the 2 visits with the psychiatrist for medication purposes brings us to 8 out of our limit of 20 visits for the year. Yes, you get TWENTY visits for a year. This is for all mental health related appointments. We are 2/5 of the way there already. How can that be. So, for a child whose problems are great and require intensive therapy (meeting at least once a week), the limit runs out mid may. When you add in that the child needs to be monitored for their medication, you run out even sooner than that.
Does anyone else see a problem with this? What are we supposed to do for the remainder of the year? Expect her to shelve her problems? Expect her (a 7 year old with anxiety issues) to figure it all out for herself. Before you suggest that we pay for the sessions ourselves, I already inquired about that. It turns out that because she has medicaid, they cannot EVER accept cash from us.
The mental health system is broken. While we hear about all kinds of problems and incidents that therapy could have helped prevent or helped someone cope with, the help is just not available. How many times have you heard someone say "why didn't they seek help?" when you hear a horrible tragedy has transpired on the news. Well, we now have the answer to that question. It is because the mental health system is broken.
No comments:
Post a Comment