ACK! *needs help*

[beandelphiki]

Ms. Meg ******,

Several weeks ago, my mother Liza ********** emailed you regarding the release forms for my case. (I have attached a copy of your answering email.) In this email, you requested that I contact you instead. I apologize that I have taken so long to respond, but I'm uncomfortable with this situation all around. I do not want to discuss something with legal ramifications either by email or by phone. For quite some time, no one was willing to explain to me why I cannot meet with someone in person about this.

You say in your email that I should contact you to clear up any questions I might have, but I have very few questions right now – the whole procedure is too unclear to me at this point to even begin to formulate many questions.

You state, "There is some minimal information we require. It is spelled out on the referral form that we forward to Dr. Miles. It is not intended to be intrusive, and the only person to see it is another clinician." However, I do not know how intrusive it is unless I know what is on the referral form, and I question that I have no voice in that part of the process.

You commented that the release of information form we now have is standard and can be adapted. I take this to mean that you have no other forms to send us in its place. Would it then work for us to simply take the form we have, cross out and initial the parts requesting the details of my case and then sign it and send it in? Would that be legally valid?

I await your response when it is convenient for you to get back to me.

Dan **********

---

The aforementioned email to my mom:

Liza,
Thank you for your email. I do not have a file on Dan as no paperwork has
been completed by Dan. I would be happy to set up a file and make the
appropriate referral. The most appropriate way to do so would be for Dan to
contact me so that we could fill out the necessary forms, answer any
questions regarding coverage, the referral and what kind of information we
would require. I do require his signiture on the intake form, although that
could be handled by mailing the form.

If we are to make a referral to anyone, in this case Dr. Miles, we do have
to have a signed release of information. The one that you likely saw, and
is likely the same one Dr. Miles has seen before. It is our standard one
although it can be adapted to fit. We do not want details of the case. You
are correct, that is between Dr. Miles and Dan. As Kelly, Luttmer &
Associates, Ltd. is taking on the responsibility for payment, we are
involved and have some professional and ethical obligations. There is some
minimal information we require. It is spelled out on the referral form that
we forward to Dr. Miles. It is not intended to be intrusive, and the only
person to see it is another clinician.

I am in the GDC office today and would welcome a call from yourself or from
Dan. I am here each Wed. from 8:00 to 4:30. My number is ***-****. My
voicemail is confidential. Otherwise, you can reach me at my downtown
office at ***-**** ext. *** and leave a message for me there.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Meg ******, C. Psych.
EAP Consultant

---

Basically, the situation is: the forms the insurance company sent us ask for a full release for every session I have with Dr. Miles. Which means, essentially, that he would have to tell them everything that happened in every session. He'd have to write up a report for each one. Nobody likes that - not me, not my mom, not Dr. Miles. (If nothing else, it's more work for him.)

I have to get this fixed. The woman we have to email is a right bitch who in that email up there is basically ignoring what my mom said about what kind of information they need. (Basically, the only thing they need to have is proof that sessions they pay for have occurred and proof that Dr. Miles is on the up-and-up. That's it.) And she's only in one day a week.

I can't see her in person because my dad is the only one who's allowed (it's his insurance) and he doesn't think anything's wrong with the original form and we should just sign it.

And everyone's telling me that I have to deal with this because I'm a legal adult and my parents can't do it for me...but my mother's been very slow to give me any of the above info. How can I do this is I don't understand it? What if something goes wrong? This is legal stuff - I'm not exactly qualified to deal with my own legal matters without assistance, and it feels like people are keeping things from me.

Arrgh. The insurance lady is in the office tomorrow, so I have to send it tonight - but I don't know if I should send what I have written there. *worrits* It's kind of pissed sounding, I guess - because I AM pissed off. I wonder if that will backfire?

Comments

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Oh! Okay. :) Gotcha then, that makes sense.

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

ye can't chat tonight can you?
Actually... we'll be at the fair tomorrow, and I have a doc's appointment first, so if you could I couldn't stay on for long... just wondering

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

What time?

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

oh.. um.. 2am?
actually, we'll probably be home earlier tomorrow, like, closer to 1am your time.. if that would be better.