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]

It's 2 am and I'm falling on my face. I'm sending it.

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Sent. ~la~ I'm talking to myself!

*whistle and dances with an umbrella a la Gene Kelly*

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

Sorry I didn't get home in time. I think your email sounds fine as an opening salvo, but not likely to be the "one" that solves everything. She'll probably argue back that her "caseload" or something is such that she can't meet with everyone in person, unless you'd like to make an appointment for next January, or something... and that things could be handled much more "efficiently" by email.

I think that perhaps you should make another email? or more preferrably, call her during those hours, and ask her to
1.) send you the forms by mail as soon as possible, so that you can look them over,
2.) tell her what sorts of information your therapist will need to provide them.
3.) what other information can you provide them to expedite things.

I know it sounds awful... I know, really. I'm in the midst of all sorts of psychological treatment, as you know, and I've had to sign releases of information to insurance companies so that they have access to my therapist.

Basically, all she is required to send them, is a survey that she has me take about once a month or so... or every 5 to 10 sessions. She said that it's read by computer, and not by anyone, and that all of her notes and stuff is strictly confidential. They just want to know that the therapist thinks that I still need to be in therapy.

Because... if the therapist thinks I'm fine, then they want to stop paying for treatments, but they know that they're not therapists, so it's not within their scope of knowledge to say that, "he no longer needs therapy." Because, of course, then if I kill myself, they could be sued for millions of dollars.

So, really, I know that it sounds like an amazing breach of confidentiality, but it's not meant to be. The "minimal" amount of information that they require is usually not a transcript of your session, or detailed reports, or anything like that. It's just an opinion by a licensed therapist that you do, indeed, require the treatment that they're being asked to pay for.

*big huge hugs*

sorry I wasn't there for you.

I don't think you should be floated off to do all this on your own... that would be ridiculous. You don't have the information, and neither do you have access to the paperwork and forms that your parents have, that tell them who to contact, how, and when. Also... you've never dealt with that much beuauracracy, and that's not something you can just navigate without guidance or experience. Also, you're right... legal stuff is legal stuff, and it needs to be done right.

I don't think they'll like you crossing out parts of their forms... just sayin'.

Maybe you could call her and ask her to explain it to you? She sounds fairly amiable and kinda asked for a phone call. I know you hate phone calls, but sometimes... it's the most direct way to get things done. I'd just ask her what information they need from you, how you can get it to them, and what else you can do to expedite the process. Also, I'd ask about the specific forms and releases, and what sort of information they're going to be collecting from your therapist.

Sorry... again... but I think you did pretty ok for yourself so far... if that helps.

*big huge hugs*

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

whoops.. ammend #2 to say, "(ask her to) tell you what sorts of information your therapist will need to provide them."

er... *blushes*
sorry

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Nono...

1) We CAN'T meet her in person. Only dad can.

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. *nods*

2) We know what kind of information we want to give out and Dr. Miles wants to agree to. ONLY that the sessions actually occurred. (And that Dr. Miles is okay for me to work with - qualified and all.) That's it. We just need to get them to agree - and seriously, by law that is ALL they need to have. That is ALL I'm willing to give, period. It's none of their business otherwise.

3) We have forms. We don't like them. From what I get from her email, they don't even HAVE the right forms to send us. The original forms we have DO demand a full report for every session, which is why we refuse to sign them.


Oh yes, and my mother doesn't get this any better than I do. I asked her to explain it to me and she said she didn't have a clue. *sighs* She also said that the woman wasn't answering her questions.

*nods* So yeah...frustrating situation all around. And I really, really don't want to call her. I suppose in some ways it's easier to work out, but not in others, you now? And if I have it in writing what she says... *shrug*

Anyway, crossing things out was my mom's idea. Because mom already emailed her and told her flat-out the two things we would agree to them knowing (stated in point 2) and since we haven't gotten new forms...

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

ok.. well... in that case, I think you should photocopy the forms, then alter them as needed and sign them, then photocopy that and then mail the forms to her... just so she has something to work with. Sounds like she's more concerned over the lack of having a "file" to work with than anything...

Oh, and if they're multipart forms... *shrugs*
I guess just photocopy the altered ones for your record and then send them back. She can always send you more originals if she wants you to alter them in a different way.

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

Plus, you could include a little note with it saying, "per your email instructions, here are the forms you requested, adapted as necessary."

just to be a little snarky.
;)

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

How can you alter forms after you've photocopied them? *confused*

Grr, anyway - her email back says we can't do anything until I sign the "intake forms." I dunno if that's the form we already have or not.

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just meant to photocopy them first, then alter the copies, so that you still have "pure" originals. Or... if they're multipart forms, then just alter it and make a photocopy of it before you send it so that you have a record of what you altered and sent to them.

[beandelphiki.livejournal.com]

Yes, but HOW do you alter them?

[siegeengine.livejournal.com]

oh... just... like you said. crossing out and initialling. Just so you have records of what you did or something. Sorry.. I'm not clear or something.

[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.