Army Veteran

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2019

Unfortunately, IPN (and I think most of these types of programs) have their own little stable of ‘approved evaluators’ and by ‘approved’ I think means they’ll ‘opine’ whatever is necessary to suck a person into monitoring and if even remotely possible, their treatment schemes. This includes twisting whatever you might say, and even straight up lying in order to cram you into a little box that justifies branding you with some kind of substance use disorder, appropriate or not. This crap is not about recovery. These people have zero interest in wether or not you get sober, stay sober, manage your mental health issue or even keep your license. It’s about money...yours going to them and their associated cronies. All you have to do is browse the many threads here to see that the idea that the programs, the evaluators and likely even the toxicology testing arms are all in bed together. It is truly legalized extortion with your livelihood as the hostage.
Should you not be able to acquiesce to their demands, usually for increasing amounts of money, as well as unnecessary (and possibly damaging) ‘treatment’ schemes, you will merely be tossed to the curb and their attention will turn to the next poor, uninformed, troubled soul/potential cash cow.

In my time, 5+ years, I spent close to 6 figures on their ridiculous evaluations, testing and treatment. None of which was covered by the very good insurance that I had. Both useless evaluations and associated ‘neuropsychiatric testing’ (a whole ‘nother bit of mysterious BS as well as the ‘treatment’ they mandated were all cash only.

If you think this all screams ‘unethical’ and conflict of interest’, you would be correct. As I said before, it’s not about recovery (maybe one day, a long time ago it was), it’s all about the dollar bills, baby.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Oct 13, 2019

Yep these programs are about sucking as much cash as they can from you. Worse they are driven by nurses. We love to cast blame on these monitoring programs for the heaps of nonsense they pile on nurses in “recovery” but the truth is these monsters are are own creation. Nurses love nothing more then showing their superiority to other nurses and any excuse to overpunish and be uber intrusive into another nurses life is a good one.

Melissa B. · Oct 13, 2019

Any ideas on what I should do if the Department of Health decides not to acknowledge my 45+ day residential in patient treatment at my VA? Supposedly IPN is closing my case and will send it to doh in florida. No work=no money to pay for "their" 4 day eval. I have va benefits and am getting good help and actual treatment not being made feel like crap from the doctor in Gainesville. I already feel bad enough about myself I don't need him to look down on me.???

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Oct 13, 2019

Of course they should accept the treatment course you are undertaking. I hope they do. I fear they wont

Ninjagurl · Oct 15, 2019

Fellow Vet here...5+ years clean and sober after completing VA inpatient and outpatient programs which are EVIDENCE-BASED. In my case, the BRN never got involved but I might recommend that you find out what gold standard guidelines the department of health is using to base the quality of "their" program on and see if your mental health provider at VA would draft a letter proving that the VA program meets those same quality guidelines based on gold standard evidence. Good luck to you and Thank you for your service...

Nurse_Mike, ADN, RN · Oct 15, 2019

don't know how applicable this is but... off the top of my head, I had a request form the DMV in civilian land for a driver course to be taken, and also a civi. employer that needed a letter. The military was not offering what either wanted, but in both different cases I had things that could possibly be construed in the general framework of what was wanted. What made it a success however was speaking in person to the military admin employees and specifically asking for them to draft custom literature to give to the civi's. Military personnel often are empathetic to the obstacles that can present themselves when transitioning out of the service. Don't just ask questions and take their word for it as the final authority, go in person and speak with those in the office that will be playing a role in the admin. side of what you need. Oh, and remember, flattery and maybe a box of Godiva prob. won't hurt either.

Melissa B. · Oct 15, 2019

Thanks to Ningagurl and Nurse Mike for your replies. My choices were spend more money on a 4 day in-patient eval, ($4000.00) or getting complete treatment and support, I went with the Va. Hopefully that will show my commitment to this whole nightmare.