Keep being told no need for tx

Nurses Recovery

Published

I guess this is more of a vent and curious to your thoughts on the matter. So I went for my official eval veal and was told there was no need for tx by the lady over my case in that board approved facility. The very next day, after she emailed Ms. Monitoring I was told I would have to do some sort of tx but she wasn't sure if it would be inpatient or out patient and for how long. I began accepting that I was probably screwed. I went the following week for my psych eval and the doctor told me no need for tx and even said it would be UNETHICAL for the board to push me into it. Saying if there is nothing to treat then there is nothing to treat. Fine, yes I agree. But, i already no the board is gonna probably railroad me. I fight for myself a bit. Due to the fact I have zero financial means to pay for any of those board approved providers programs (8-25,000 dollars uninsured). I find somewhere in my town that is a non profit and works on in a sliding scale. I leave a voice mail to the lady who has been over my case (not Ms. Monitoring but the facility lady) telling her about this place. Miraculously she "gets it approved". Awesome....I'm going to be able to get through at least this step. I got for my eval at this rehab here in town and upon initially meeting the counselor she asks me what brings me here. I tell her about having been sober for 3 yrs and was honest on my application for licensure. She looked at me incredulously and started laughing! I complete her assessment and she tells me that she cannot suggest I do the IOP (that the Board has told the facility lady that got this place approved that I MUST do-after their facility saying no recommendation for tx and a doctor going as far as to say it would be unethical). She said she would approve me for a one day a week MRT (?) Group. But that was the only thing she would do (giving them something). She kept adamantly saying to approve/accept me for outpatient would be UNETHICAL.

I'm scheduled with her to start next week. I expressed to get my deep concern that this just wasn't going to fly with the board. That what they say goes-and I MUST do. But she was insistent. So now I fear (although not having signed a contract) that the board will come at me with wrath over this and will take this facility off the table as an option. But im really hoping at worst they just tell this lady no I MUST do outpatient and she puts me "where I belong". I mean I am not doing anything wrong here.... I think it is crazy that all of these well educated, licensed addiction specialist are saying no need for tx and to force me into it would be unethical yet here I am.... and in fear of repercussions of their expert opinions. But, **** they are all right. I'm just here for the ******* ride. Cheers.

0 Votes

Well I totally agree that this is all BS if the board requires you to do treatment that you don't need. I would suggest that next time you communicate with the board, rather than offering the negative "I've been told I don't need treatment/IOP), you should phrase it in a positive (treatment needed) way: "dr. X has recommended that I enroll is xyz therapy that meets weekly in order to reinforce my sobriety" or something like that. Phrase it as if you are actively doing something rather than declining something else. Does that make sense?

Don't bring up "I know you said I'd need IOP, but...". No "buts", offer the "treatment" that was recommended, that the doctor "thought you would benefit from."

0 Votes

Very wise...very wise. Thank you.

0 Votes
Specializes in OR.

I agree with Recovering. It's seems to be all in how you word it. Its just appalling that these people appear to be forcing you to find some unethical hack that will say you need some ridiculous overblown treatment regimen. Heck, even they don't seem to be able to find an unethical hack to say that. On the other hand, down here in Flori-duh, we abound with unethical hacks.

If this isn't proof that this garbage is all about the money, I don't know what is.

0 Votes

So I went today to purchase work book and again expressed my concerns. That lady isn't budging. She said the program i'd be attending once a week for 12 weeks IS an outpatient program and that I did not need anything intensive. I sure will be back to vent if it is rejected by the Board. It royally makes me sick that I cannot obtain legal counsel.... I mean especially after I started getting feedback from addiction specialists and psychiatrists. Kinda unbelievable that a few nurses (who i thought weren't allowed to make medical diagnoses) at the tip top have the power to throw out the recommendations from trained professionals in addiction medicine. I'm done fussing. I'm taking it all one day at a time and in a positive spirit. I didn't work this hard to rebuild my life to give up or catch a ungrateful attitude now. This is just another consequence of the choices I made through out my twenties. It's part of the process in rebuilding my life. If I just keep focusing on that- and not on how unfair it all is then I'm gonna be alright.

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
So I went today to purchase work book and again expressed my concerns. That lady isn't budging. She said the program i'd be attending once a week for 12 weeks IS an outpatient program and that I did not need anything intensive. I sure will be back to vent if it is rejected by the Board. It royally makes me sick that I cannot obtain legal counsel.... I mean especially after I started getting feedback from addiction specialists and psychiatrists. Kinda unbelievable that a few nurses (who i thought weren't allowed to make medical diagnoses) at the tip top have the power to throw out the recommendations from trained professionals in addiction medicine. I'm done fussing. I'm taking it all one day at a time and in a positive spirit. I didn't work this hard to rebuild my life to give up or catch a ungrateful attitude now. This is just another consequence of the choices I made through out my twenties. It's part of the process in rebuilding my life. If I just keep focusing on that- and not on how unfair it all is then I'm gonna be alright.

Why can you not obtain legal counsel. In fact with written recommendations in hand a lawyer might be able to help you. Contact the American Association of Nurse attorneys TAANA Executive Office - Home and get a consult.

Hppy

0 Votes

$$$. The 3000 dollars I spent on the evaluation, 300 dollars in gas, and 150 in childcare wiped my savings.

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
$$$. The 3000 dollars I spent on the evaluation, 300 dollars in gas, and 150 in childcare wiped my savings.

I would still call them. You might be able to get a 1 time consult.

Hppy

0 Votes

I agree with Recovery_RN. You just don't want to sound resistant to the board. Just change your wording. Instead of saying they said I don't need treatment, say I went to my evaluation and this is what they recommend, I'm signed up to start (date).

0 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.

I agree, set up a consultation apt. with a lawyer that is familiar with the BON. Mine, that I eventually ended up hiring, talked to me several times on the phone before retaining. Some will even work with you on a payment plan if you did need to retain one, which it kinda sounds like you do.

0 Votes
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

My insurance paid for the psych evaluation I had to obtain. Did your insurance not cover it?some insurances will help pay for out patient therapy.

0 Votes
Specializes in OR.

Back when this surreal nightmare started for me, I was not given a choice as to where to go for the evaluation. I was given 3 choices of who to go see (and of course they were attached to a treatment facility and had financial interest in what they said on that evaluation). All of them were privately run and either did not take my HMO insurance or took no insurance at all (read $3000 please). Since they naturally 'recommended' (read we have your license by the you know what's so if you ever want to practice again, you'll puke up $30,000 for our joke of a treatment program that you don't really need and is in fact totally inappropriate for you and will do more damage than good because we will ignore your psychiatric needs), I pretty much got hijacked/extorted into raiding parental retirement money. Awesome, huh?

So yeah...if insurance paid for any of this roller coaster to ****, you are a fortunate person indeed.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment