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Home Front: WoT
Troops Struggle With Finding Therapists
2007-06-11
Hand-wringing piece from AP, but to the extent that this is true, we need to be better about helping our troops after they return. A few additional dollars would have a measurable impact.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Soldiers returning from war are finding it more difficult to get mental health treatment because military insurance is cutting payments to therapists, on top of already low reimbursement rates and a tangle of red tape. Wait lists now extend for months to see a military doctor and it can takes weeks to find a private therapist willing to take on members of the military. The challenge appears great in rural areas, where many National Guard and Reserve troops and their families live.

To avoid the hassles of Tricare, the military health insurance program, one frustrated therapist opted to provide an hour of therapy time a week to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for free. Barbara Romberg, a clinical psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area, has started a group that encourages other therapists to do the same. ``They're not going to pay me much in terms of my regular rate anyway,'' Romberg said. ``So I'm actually feeling positive that I've given, rather than feeling frustrated for what I'm going through to get payment.''

Joyce Lindsey, 46, of Troutdale, Ore., sought grief counseling after her husband died in Afghanistan last September. The therapist recommended by her physician would not take Tricare. Lindsey eventually found one on a provider list, but the process took two months. ``It was kind of frustrating,'' Lindsey said. ``I thought, 'Am I ever going to find someone to take this?'''
Posted by:Steve White

#8  Sorry for the triple post. After I clicked on the "submit query" button, I kept be re-directed to the Roadside America webpage and though that the comment did not take.

Once again, sorry for the triple post.
Posted by: occasional poster   2007-06-11 09:44  

#7  "wouldn't take Tricare because either 1) the price Tricare would allow for the treatment was less than the therapist was willing to work for"

Yeah, she willing to treat an injured veteran, but not unless she gets paid extra. (What an American!) The second reason (thankfully), slow payment, is not now an issue, at least in region 1. My claims get processed in a couple weeks, as opposed to several months back when it was called CHAMPUS.
Posted by: occasional poster   2007-06-11 09:34  

#6  "wouldn't take Tricare because either 1) the price Tricare would allow for the treatment was less than the therapist was willing to work for"

Yeah, she willing to treat an injured veteran, but not unless she gets paid extra. (What an American!) The second reason (thankfully), slow payment, is not an issue now, at least in region 1. My claims get processed in a couple weeks, as opposed to several months back when it was called CHAMPUS.
Posted by: occasional poster   2007-06-11 09:33  

#5  "wouldn't take Tricare because either 1) the price Tricare would allow for the treatment was less than the therapist was willing to work for"

Yeah, she willing to treat an injured veteran, but not unless she gets paid extra. (What an American!) The second reason (thankfully), slow payment, is not an issue now, at least in region 1. My claims get processed in a couple weeks, as opposed to several months back when it was called CHAMPUS.
Posted by: Lonzo Crineth4440   2007-06-11 09:31  

#4  The therapist probably wouldn't take Tricare because either 1) the price Tricare would allow for the treatment was less than the therapist was willing to work for (large insurors negotiate much lower rates with providers than individuals pay), and/or 2) The paperwork and payment delays involved in dealing with Tricare (and other large insurors) cause providors to decline to deal with them.
The referring physician probably recommended that therapist because they were 'good', but for that same reason they probably had as many well-paying private clients as they could handle, and hence decline dealing with Tricare. My wife's OB-GYN for years declined Big Insurance ABC patients - but he was good and his prices were fair to individuals, so we paid our own way outside the insurance coverage. ALL these problems will be fixed by HillaryCare, where nobody can decline anybody and all rates are defined by the government. Of course, that good therapist may decide to become a stockbroker instead of treating PTSD, but .....
Posted by: AEinstein   2007-06-11 09:07  

#3  "The therapist recommended by her physician would not take Tricare."

So what's the therapist going to do when Tricare II Hillarycare is the only payer? Or like most Bluies, he/she hasn't thought much beyond getting Ms. Mandatory National Health care in power? Oh, that's right, the leftie mantra is 'one set of rules for me, a separate set of rules for thee'. Nevermind.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2007-06-11 09:05  

#2  "The therapist recommended by her physician would not take Tricare." Sound like the therapists is the problem and not the military. It's not like TriCare said no and trust me I hate defending TryCare, but in this case they are not the bad guy.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2007-06-11 00:56  

#1  it can takes weeks to find a private therapist willing to take on members of the military

I wonder how long does it takes to find one willing to treat illegal immigrants?
Posted by: gromgoru   2007-06-11 00:49  

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