So they'll pay for a psych, but not counseling!!!

[Guest guest]

(Hey all, this article does not have a url attached, as its a members-only

website (doncha hate that!), and I didn't feel like giving them all my

personal information. If you must see the article as it was posted, go to

Austin American Statesman).

Therapy cuts sink in

town woman one of thousands who lost access to most Medicaid-funded

therapy sessions

By Ball

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Sheri Pizzini cuts herself.

The 28-year-old town woman, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia,

slices her arms and legs when she's stressed or nervous. Sometimes she

doesn't even know she's done it until she sees the blood on her skin.

Pizzini takes medication for her illness, but that doesn't eliminate her

urge to hurt herself. Her psychologist used to help her with the problem.

But in October, because of budget cuts made by Texas legislators, Pizzini

lost her regular therapy sessions.

Pizzini says that lack of support has caused her to cut and burn herself

more often.

" I feel really alone without that outlet, totally isolated, " she said. " My

symptoms increased. I have more healing scars on me right now. I don't have

that security. "

Pizzini is among the 128,000 adult Texans who lost Medicaid-funded mental

health services last year after the budget cuts. Now, mental health

advocates say that policy decision -- along with other funding cuts by the

Texas Legislature -- is hurting people.

" It's bad, " said Gail Goodman, executive director of Waterloo Counseling

Center. " I've been a therapist for 10 years. In the past, I thought there

was always somewhere for people to go for help. Now I don't. "

Last year, in an effort to help plug the state's $9.9 billion budget

deficit, lawmakers decided that Medicaid would no longer cover therapy by

professionals including psychologists, therapists, counselors and social

workers. The move, estimated to save the state $34.2 million over two years,

forced thousands of people to find care elsewhere.

Lawmakers said at the time that the decision to cut mental health services

was difficult, but it was just one of many tough choices made to prevent

raising taxes.

Of the 128,000 people affected, almost 3,000 live in County,

according to the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. About 700

live in on County.

Medicaid still pays for visits to a psychiatrist. But most psychiatrists

don't provide therapy and mainly focus on medication issues, said

Gantt, public policy director for the Mental Health Association in Texas.

Meanwhile, most Medicaid recipients can't afford regular therapy with other

professionals such as social workers, who usually charge $75 to $125 per

session.

After Pizzini lost her Medicaid funding for therapy, her psychologist

reduced her rates in order to keep seeing the town woman. But Pizzini,

who does not work, says she still can't afford it.

" I'm supposed to see her soon, but I don't have enough money this month, "

she said. " I haven't seen her in three or four months. "

Local groups that provide therapy say they are being inundated with new

requests for help by people who lost their Medicaid-funded therapy. Many of

those people are desperate, said Camille , clinical director for

LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit organization that provides counseling for

youth and families.

" We've seen an increase in the number of suicidal clients here, " said.

" It's become a regular part of our work. "

The lack of therapy, combined with cuts to local mental health centers, has

forced many people to turn to psychiatric hospitals or emergency rooms, said

Goodman of Waterloo Counseling.

Those troubles started after January 2003, when officials ordered the Texas

Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to cut its budget by 7

percent. Community mental health centers cut services to clients and stopped

filling employee vacancies.

Additional services were slashed later that year after lawmakers cut more

than $14 million in funding to the 41 community mental health centers.

According to the Indigent Care Collaboration -- a nonprofit that tracks

medical care for poor people in and on counties -- mental

health diagnoses at 20 Austin-area hospitals and health clinics rose

steadily over the past year, jumping 37 percent from January 2003 to January

2004.

Similarly, in February 2004, there were 50 percent more diagnoses than in

the previous February. Mental health care advocates attribute these

increases to the cuts in services at mental health facilities.

" It's really serious, and it's really frustrating, " Goodman said.

Pizzini was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia more than 10 years ago,

when she was 17. She later spent three months in Seton Shoal Creek

psychiatric hospital.

Over the years, Pizzini has received mental health treatment from community

mental health centers. She still receives services and medication from

Bluebonnet Trails Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, but

because of a lack of resources, the agency does not provide her therapy.

That may soon change for Pizzini. This year, Bluebonnet began contracting

with private counselors in the community to provide short-term therapy for

clients without insurance, said Booth O'Quinn, chief operating officer for

the mental health center.

Pizzini hopes she'll start attending therapy sometime soon.

" It's really cool they're doing this, " she said. " I'm excited. "

aball@...; 912-2506

Dangers of not treating mental illness

Untreated mental illness can have serious consequences, including:

* Incarceration. While only 5 percent of the U.S. population has a serious

mental illness, roughly 16 percent of the population in prison or jail has a

serious mental illness, according to the Mental Health Association in Texas.

* Hospitalization. One year of psychiatric hospitalization costs

$80,000-$90,000, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Outpatient services cost about half that, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000.

* Suicide. About 90 percent of people who commit suicide suffer from

untreated or undiagnosed mental illness.

* Violence. Though the vast majority of mentally ill people never commit an

act of violence, approximately 1,000 of the nation's estimated 20,000

homicides each year are committed by people with untreated schizophrenia and

manic-depressive illness, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a

Virginia-based nonprofit group for people with mental illness.

Lost benefits

Medicaid still covers services by psychiatrists, but no longer pays for

counseling services by licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family

therapists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social

workers/advanced clinical practitioners.

Number of adults who lost most Medicaid-funded mental health benefits in

Texas in 2002.

Statewide:128,000

[Guest guest]

(Hey all, this article does not have a url attached, as its a members-only

website (doncha hate that!), and I didn't feel like giving them all my

personal information. If you must see the article as it was posted, go to

Austin American Statesman).

Therapy cuts sink in

town woman one of thousands who lost access to most Medicaid-funded

therapy sessions

By Ball

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Sheri Pizzini cuts herself.

The 28-year-old town woman, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia,

slices her arms and legs when she's stressed or nervous. Sometimes she

doesn't even know she's done it until she sees the blood on her skin.

Pizzini takes medication for her illness, but that doesn't eliminate her

urge to hurt herself. Her psychologist used to help her with the problem.

But in October, because of budget cuts made by Texas legislators, Pizzini

lost her regular therapy sessions.

Pizzini says that lack of support has caused her to cut and burn herself

more often.

" I feel really alone without that outlet, totally isolated, " she said. " My

symptoms increased. I have more healing scars on me right now. I don't have

that security. "

Pizzini is among the 128,000 adult Texans who lost Medicaid-funded mental

health services last year after the budget cuts. Now, mental health

advocates say that policy decision -- along with other funding cuts by the

Texas Legislature -- is hurting people.

" It's bad, " said Gail Goodman, executive director of Waterloo Counseling

Center. " I've been a therapist for 10 years. In the past, I thought there

was always somewhere for people to go for help. Now I don't. "

Last year, in an effort to help plug the state's $9.9 billion budget

deficit, lawmakers decided that Medicaid would no longer cover therapy by

professionals including psychologists, therapists, counselors and social

workers. The move, estimated to save the state $34.2 million over two years,

forced thousands of people to find care elsewhere.

Lawmakers said at the time that the decision to cut mental health services

was difficult, but it was just one of many tough choices made to prevent

raising taxes.

Of the 128,000 people affected, almost 3,000 live in County,

according to the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. About 700

live in on County.

Medicaid still pays for visits to a psychiatrist. But most psychiatrists

don't provide therapy and mainly focus on medication issues, said

Gantt, public policy director for the Mental Health Association in Texas.

Meanwhile, most Medicaid recipients can't afford regular therapy with other

professionals such as social workers, who usually charge $75 to $125 per

session.

After Pizzini lost her Medicaid funding for therapy, her psychologist

reduced her rates in order to keep seeing the town woman. But Pizzini,

who does not work, says she still can't afford it.

" I'm supposed to see her soon, but I don't have enough money this month, "

she said. " I haven't seen her in three or four months. "

Local groups that provide therapy say they are being inundated with new

requests for help by people who lost their Medicaid-funded therapy. Many of

those people are desperate, said Camille , clinical director for

LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit organization that provides counseling for

youth and families.

" We've seen an increase in the number of suicidal clients here, " said.

" It's become a regular part of our work. "

The lack of therapy, combined with cuts to local mental health centers, has

forced many people to turn to psychiatric hospitals or emergency rooms, said

Goodman of Waterloo Counseling.

Those troubles started after January 2003, when officials ordered the Texas

Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to cut its budget by 7

percent. Community mental health centers cut services to clients and stopped

filling employee vacancies.

Additional services were slashed later that year after lawmakers cut more

than $14 million in funding to the 41 community mental health centers.

According to the Indigent Care Collaboration -- a nonprofit that tracks

medical care for poor people in and on counties -- mental

health diagnoses at 20 Austin-area hospitals and health clinics rose

steadily over the past year, jumping 37 percent from January 2003 to January

2004.

Similarly, in February 2004, there were 50 percent more diagnoses than in

the previous February. Mental health care advocates attribute these

increases to the cuts in services at mental health facilities.

" It's really serious, and it's really frustrating, " Goodman said.

Pizzini was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia more than 10 years ago,

when she was 17. She later spent three months in Seton Shoal Creek

psychiatric hospital.

Over the years, Pizzini has received mental health treatment from community

mental health centers. She still receives services and medication from

Bluebonnet Trails Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, but

because of a lack of resources, the agency does not provide her therapy.

That may soon change for Pizzini. This year, Bluebonnet began contracting

with private counselors in the community to provide short-term therapy for

clients without insurance, said Booth O'Quinn, chief operating officer for

the mental health center.

Pizzini hopes she'll start attending therapy sometime soon.

" It's really cool they're doing this, " she said. " I'm excited. "

aball@...; 912-2506

Dangers of not treating mental illness

Untreated mental illness can have serious consequences, including:

* Incarceration. While only 5 percent of the U.S. population has a serious

mental illness, roughly 16 percent of the population in prison or jail has a

serious mental illness, according to the Mental Health Association in Texas.

* Hospitalization. One year of psychiatric hospitalization costs

$80,000-$90,000, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Outpatient services cost about half that, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000.

* Suicide. About 90 percent of people who commit suicide suffer from

untreated or undiagnosed mental illness.

* Violence. Though the vast majority of mentally ill people never commit an

act of violence, approximately 1,000 of the nation's estimated 20,000

homicides each year are committed by people with untreated schizophrenia and

manic-depressive illness, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a

Virginia-based nonprofit group for people with mental illness.

Lost benefits

Medicaid still covers services by psychiatrists, but no longer pays for

counseling services by licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family

therapists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social

workers/advanced clinical practitioners.

Number of adults who lost most Medicaid-funded mental health benefits in

Texas in 2002.

Statewide:128,000

[Guest guest]

(Hey all, this article does not have a url attached, as its a members-only

website (doncha hate that!), and I didn't feel like giving them all my

personal information. If you must see the article as it was posted, go to

Austin American Statesman).

Therapy cuts sink in

town woman one of thousands who lost access to most Medicaid-funded

therapy sessions

By Ball

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Sheri Pizzini cuts herself.

The 28-year-old town woman, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia,

slices her arms and legs when she's stressed or nervous. Sometimes she

doesn't even know she's done it until she sees the blood on her skin.

Pizzini takes medication for her illness, but that doesn't eliminate her

urge to hurt herself. Her psychologist used to help her with the problem.

But in October, because of budget cuts made by Texas legislators, Pizzini

lost her regular therapy sessions.

Pizzini says that lack of support has caused her to cut and burn herself

more often.

" I feel really alone without that outlet, totally isolated, " she said. " My

symptoms increased. I have more healing scars on me right now. I don't have

that security. "

Pizzini is among the 128,000 adult Texans who lost Medicaid-funded mental

health services last year after the budget cuts. Now, mental health

advocates say that policy decision -- along with other funding cuts by the

Texas Legislature -- is hurting people.

" It's bad, " said Gail Goodman, executive director of Waterloo Counseling

Center. " I've been a therapist for 10 years. In the past, I thought there

was always somewhere for people to go for help. Now I don't. "

Last year, in an effort to help plug the state's $9.9 billion budget

deficit, lawmakers decided that Medicaid would no longer cover therapy by

professionals including psychologists, therapists, counselors and social

workers. The move, estimated to save the state $34.2 million over two years,

forced thousands of people to find care elsewhere.

Lawmakers said at the time that the decision to cut mental health services

was difficult, but it was just one of many tough choices made to prevent

raising taxes.

Of the 128,000 people affected, almost 3,000 live in County,

according to the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. About 700

live in on County.

Medicaid still pays for visits to a psychiatrist. But most psychiatrists

don't provide therapy and mainly focus on medication issues, said

Gantt, public policy director for the Mental Health Association in Texas.

Meanwhile, most Medicaid recipients can't afford regular therapy with other

professionals such as social workers, who usually charge $75 to $125 per

session.

After Pizzini lost her Medicaid funding for therapy, her psychologist

reduced her rates in order to keep seeing the town woman. But Pizzini,

who does not work, says she still can't afford it.

" I'm supposed to see her soon, but I don't have enough money this month, "

she said. " I haven't seen her in three or four months. "

Local groups that provide therapy say they are being inundated with new

requests for help by people who lost their Medicaid-funded therapy. Many of

those people are desperate, said Camille , clinical director for

LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit organization that provides counseling for

youth and families.

" We've seen an increase in the number of suicidal clients here, " said.

" It's become a regular part of our work. "

The lack of therapy, combined with cuts to local mental health centers, has

forced many people to turn to psychiatric hospitals or emergency rooms, said

Goodman of Waterloo Counseling.

Those troubles started after January 2003, when officials ordered the Texas

Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to cut its budget by 7

percent. Community mental health centers cut services to clients and stopped

filling employee vacancies.

Additional services were slashed later that year after lawmakers cut more

than $14 million in funding to the 41 community mental health centers.

According to the Indigent Care Collaboration -- a nonprofit that tracks

medical care for poor people in and on counties -- mental

health diagnoses at 20 Austin-area hospitals and health clinics rose

steadily over the past year, jumping 37 percent from January 2003 to January

2004.

Similarly, in February 2004, there were 50 percent more diagnoses than in

the previous February. Mental health care advocates attribute these

increases to the cuts in services at mental health facilities.

" It's really serious, and it's really frustrating, " Goodman said.

Pizzini was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia more than 10 years ago,

when she was 17. She later spent three months in Seton Shoal Creek

psychiatric hospital.

Over the years, Pizzini has received mental health treatment from community

mental health centers. She still receives services and medication from

Bluebonnet Trails Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, but

because of a lack of resources, the agency does not provide her therapy.

That may soon change for Pizzini. This year, Bluebonnet began contracting

with private counselors in the community to provide short-term therapy for

clients without insurance, said Booth O'Quinn, chief operating officer for

the mental health center.

Pizzini hopes she'll start attending therapy sometime soon.

" It's really cool they're doing this, " she said. " I'm excited. "

aball@...; 912-2506

Dangers of not treating mental illness

Untreated mental illness can have serious consequences, including:

* Incarceration. While only 5 percent of the U.S. population has a serious

mental illness, roughly 16 percent of the population in prison or jail has a

serious mental illness, according to the Mental Health Association in Texas.

* Hospitalization. One year of psychiatric hospitalization costs

$80,000-$90,000, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Outpatient services cost about half that, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000.

* Suicide. About 90 percent of people who commit suicide suffer from

untreated or undiagnosed mental illness.

* Violence. Though the vast majority of mentally ill people never commit an

act of violence, approximately 1,000 of the nation's estimated 20,000

homicides each year are committed by people with untreated schizophrenia and

manic-depressive illness, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a

Virginia-based nonprofit group for people with mental illness.

Lost benefits

Medicaid still covers services by psychiatrists, but no longer pays for

counseling services by licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family

therapists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social

workers/advanced clinical practitioners.

Number of adults who lost most Medicaid-funded mental health benefits in

Texas in 2002.

Statewide:128,000

[Guest guest]

(Hey all, this article does not have a url attached, as its a members-only

website (doncha hate that!), and I didn't feel like giving them all my

personal information. If you must see the article as it was posted, go to

Austin American Statesman).

Therapy cuts sink in

town woman one of thousands who lost access to most Medicaid-funded

therapy sessions

By Ball

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Sheri Pizzini cuts herself.

The 28-year-old town woman, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia,

slices her arms and legs when she's stressed or nervous. Sometimes she

doesn't even know she's done it until she sees the blood on her skin.

Pizzini takes medication for her illness, but that doesn't eliminate her

urge to hurt herself. Her psychologist used to help her with the problem.

But in October, because of budget cuts made by Texas legislators, Pizzini

lost her regular therapy sessions.

Pizzini says that lack of support has caused her to cut and burn herself

more often.

" I feel really alone without that outlet, totally isolated, " she said. " My

symptoms increased. I have more healing scars on me right now. I don't have

that security. "

Pizzini is among the 128,000 adult Texans who lost Medicaid-funded mental

health services last year after the budget cuts. Now, mental health

advocates say that policy decision -- along with other funding cuts by the

Texas Legislature -- is hurting people.

" It's bad, " said Gail Goodman, executive director of Waterloo Counseling

Center. " I've been a therapist for 10 years. In the past, I thought there

was always somewhere for people to go for help. Now I don't. "

Last year, in an effort to help plug the state's $9.9 billion budget

deficit, lawmakers decided that Medicaid would no longer cover therapy by

professionals including psychologists, therapists, counselors and social

workers. The move, estimated to save the state $34.2 million over two years,

forced thousands of people to find care elsewhere.

Lawmakers said at the time that the decision to cut mental health services

was difficult, but it was just one of many tough choices made to prevent

raising taxes.

Of the 128,000 people affected, almost 3,000 live in County,

according to the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. About 700

live in on County.

Medicaid still pays for visits to a psychiatrist. But most psychiatrists

don't provide therapy and mainly focus on medication issues, said

Gantt, public policy director for the Mental Health Association in Texas.

Meanwhile, most Medicaid recipients can't afford regular therapy with other

professionals such as social workers, who usually charge $75 to $125 per

session.

After Pizzini lost her Medicaid funding for therapy, her psychologist

reduced her rates in order to keep seeing the town woman. But Pizzini,

who does not work, says she still can't afford it.

" I'm supposed to see her soon, but I don't have enough money this month, "

she said. " I haven't seen her in three or four months. "

Local groups that provide therapy say they are being inundated with new

requests for help by people who lost their Medicaid-funded therapy. Many of

those people are desperate, said Camille , clinical director for

LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit organization that provides counseling for

youth and families.

" We've seen an increase in the number of suicidal clients here, " said.

" It's become a regular part of our work. "

The lack of therapy, combined with cuts to local mental health centers, has

forced many people to turn to psychiatric hospitals or emergency rooms, said

Goodman of Waterloo Counseling.

Those troubles started after January 2003, when officials ordered the Texas

Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to cut its budget by 7

percent. Community mental health centers cut services to clients and stopped

filling employee vacancies.

Additional services were slashed later that year after lawmakers cut more

than $14 million in funding to the 41 community mental health centers.

According to the Indigent Care Collaboration -- a nonprofit that tracks

medical care for poor people in and on counties -- mental

health diagnoses at 20 Austin-area hospitals and health clinics rose

steadily over the past year, jumping 37 percent from January 2003 to January

2004.

Similarly, in February 2004, there were 50 percent more diagnoses than in

the previous February. Mental health care advocates attribute these

increases to the cuts in services at mental health facilities.

" It's really serious, and it's really frustrating, " Goodman said.

Pizzini was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia more than 10 years ago,

when she was 17. She later spent three months in Seton Shoal Creek

psychiatric hospital.

Over the years, Pizzini has received mental health treatment from community

mental health centers. She still receives services and medication from

Bluebonnet Trails Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, but

because of a lack of resources, the agency does not provide her therapy.

That may soon change for Pizzini. This year, Bluebonnet began contracting

with private counselors in the community to provide short-term therapy for

clients without insurance, said Booth O'Quinn, chief operating officer for

the mental health center.

Pizzini hopes she'll start attending therapy sometime soon.

" It's really cool they're doing this, " she said. " I'm excited. "

aball@...; 912-2506

Dangers of not treating mental illness

Untreated mental illness can have serious consequences, including:

* Incarceration. While only 5 percent of the U.S. population has a serious

mental illness, roughly 16 percent of the population in prison or jail has a

serious mental illness, according to the Mental Health Association in Texas.

* Hospitalization. One year of psychiatric hospitalization costs

$80,000-$90,000, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Outpatient services cost about half that, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000.

* Suicide. About 90 percent of people who commit suicide suffer from

untreated or undiagnosed mental illness.

* Violence. Though the vast majority of mentally ill people never commit an

act of violence, approximately 1,000 of the nation's estimated 20,000

homicides each year are committed by people with untreated schizophrenia and

manic-depressive illness, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a

Virginia-based nonprofit group for people with mental illness.

Lost benefits

Medicaid still covers services by psychiatrists, but no longer pays for

counseling services by licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family

therapists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social

workers/advanced clinical practitioners.

Number of adults who lost most Medicaid-funded mental health benefits in

Texas in 2002.

Statewide:128,000