BubbleChog

The more I deal with healthcare here the more I understand why Americans like to shoot people. (BTW thats a piece of hyperbole - I realise not all Americans want to shoot up cinemas/schools/post offices/doctors offices)

I have suffered from depression in the past and take an anti-depressant. When I first arrived here I had some minor issues getting my new family doctor to re-prescribe the meds I was on. Eventually he did it but told me I should probably find a Mental health practitioner. I then got myself knocked up and so for the last 18 months I have either been pregnant or breastfeeding so no drugs for this Chog.

In November I began to feel myself sliding into a dark place so I went to see the family Doctor who refused to write me a new scrip and told me I needed to see a specialist. He gave me a few names who either don't take insurance - any insurance not just mine, or don't write prescriptions because they are counsellors not doctors. After some online research I managed to find a MH practice that accepted my insurance AND wrote prescriptions.

I phoned up at the end of November to make an appointment - the earliest they could fit me in was yesterday. I don't drive so Mr Chog took a sick day to take me. we got Babychog in the car and arrived 20 mins early for my 8.45 appointment so I could fill in the reams of paperwork I was expecting. Filled in the paperwork and waited. and waited. and waited

After 45 mins I asked the receptionist how much longer it would be. she gave me a lurid green piece of paper which informed me my appointment could take over 3 hours. Shortly afterwards a guy came out to tell me the assessor would see me soon.

At 11.30 a woman called my name and took me in for an assessment, questions about my history, family history, current situation. After an hour or so she tells me that I will need to make an appointment to see the nurse and a therapist and after those appointments they will let me know if I need to see the doctor. I can see the nurse in 3 weeks and a therapist 2 weeks after that.

I spent the whole bloody morning trying to get a prescription to stop me spiralling into an avoidable abyss of despair. If I wasn't crazy before all this started I certainly would be now

So now I'm trying to figure out what to do. I think I may need to try and find a less useless GP rather than specific MH sevices

Speedwell

Buibblechog, call your insurance company, explain what happened, and see if they can give you a few names of covered practitioners who can prescribe for you. If the terms of your insurance require that you be referred to the "specialist", see if that can be waived in your case due to what you've gone through.

NatashaB

I have issues with the cost of healthcare here and the fact that not everyone has access to it, but I have to say I am always happy with the service I receive. My doctor is very 'pill-happy' and will always prescribe me something rather than telling me to go away and 'see how it goes' as my UK GP did, and I never have issues getting referrals and appointments within a couple of days. I think GPs here are really only a first-line triage to deal with infections, day to day illnesses and sprains, they refer on to specialists for anything more complicated than that.

Having said that, my GP practice is very helpful with making sure any specialists they refer to are covered by insurance and anywhere I call up will happily validate my insurance and the costs I will pay; yours doesn't sound very helpful. Does your insurance website have a list of specialists that will accept your insurance? I would give that to your doctor and ask which one they recommend.

dunroving

Stories like this make me understand why some people get on a plane and become NHS tourists. Would probably be a lot cheaper and more convenient to pay a visit to your old GP and get a prescription and then fly back.

This is one of the very practical reasons I decided not to return to the US. I love the place but it is seriously dysfunctional in key areas that can really mess you up.

Hope you can get it sorted.

BubbleChog

Speedwell I don't need a specialist referral, but the list of specialised MH providers I was looking at was from my insurance company website. I had the same problem with their list most of them are just counsellors - not even doctors.
I don't know if its a specific problem in Atlanta or more widespread that MH doctors are moving away from dealing with insurance companies because the insurance companies are even more flakey about what they will and won't cover with regards to psychologucal issues. Lots of the Psychiatrists seem to be accepting no insurance at all. You pay them up front then undo all the work by going crazy trying to deal direct with your insurance.
Lx

sir_eccles

Unfortunately this is very common. The money they get back from insurance companies is often a very small percentage of their fee so most don't even bother accepting insurance. I think the ACA did introduce slightly better mental health coverage but it is still a pain to find a good provider.

My wife suffered from very bad post partum depression and she was recommended someone by our midwife. Out of network and actually just recently has decided to stop taking insurance all together but she was also a nurse as well as a therapist so could prescribe. Luckily the wife has got a lot better and has cut down the number of visits. We figured it was just another cost of the birth and paid it but for many less fortunate it is a cost they cannot afford.

Rete

Change doctors. I get my anti-depression meds from my primary physican.

Sally Redux

So you didn't even get to see a doctor?

Sorry to hear about the way you're feeling, that's quite a worry with a new baby. Wish I could help you.

AmerLisa

I would really, really suggest you change doctors. Not always a fun thing to do, I know, but this doctor is not helping you and you need help now! Whether here or there doctors aren't perfect and this one isn't helping you. Keep looking until you find one that will listen to you.

Sally Redux

Sometimes the insurance company wants you to go straight to a specialist for mental health issues.

RoadWarriorFromLP

I don't have any personal experience with this, but I am under the impression that mental health issues in the US are not covered by many insurers, which could explain part of your dilemma. (Not much reason for the doctors to join the networks when the claims won't be allowed, anyway.)

You may want to just go to these doctors directly, and pay them out of pocket. Ask them for their cash price in advance, and see if you can negotiate -- I would guess that a doctor's visit will be something less than $150.

That, or find another GP who is happy to prescribe pills when asked. Many of them do.

BubbleChog

Previously my primary did write the scrip but because of the baby he was burbling about post partum and my breastfeeding so said he wouldn't.

I'm looking for a new primary. I miss my lovely GP.

Michael

Some doctors including my original primary care physician have prejudices against serotonin type drugs and won't prescribe them. Change physicians and the problem is solved. Some prescribe them like candy and others won't prescribe them at all.

I wouldn't usually recommend seeing a specialist unless at least a few different drugs are tried first since all the specialist will do is try to convince you that talking will solve the problem and he/she can charge big money for each visit.

It is definitely a prejudice since serotonin drugs are not a controlled substance. Generally the prejudice comes from reports that some people on serotonin drugs have committed suicide, duh.

Anian

When I first read this I thought you meant they were angry, but it is clear that is applies much better to the rest of your post - untreated mental health issues. The US is awful about getting people the help they need before they do harm.

BubbleChog

That's the thing that's REALLY annoyed me. I've had bouts since I was 19 and I've been through the whole gamut of Anti-depressant meds. The scrip I'm looking for is a tetra-cyclic which though they often have more side effects are generally better at helping more serious depression and is usually prescribed for people like me who don't really respond to lots of the newer Anti depressants.

@Anian - it works on both levels though. I'm kind of lucky in that I know whats happening to me and I'm trying REALLY hard to do something before it gets out of hand again