insuracne companies human?

[Guest guest]

I do not think there is anything human or humane about the corporate insurance companies- it is all about $$$ and making it hand over fist...

Frisch Hara, MA, MT-BC, LCAT

Board Certified Music Therapist

Licensed Creative Arts Therapist

Psychotherapist

www.musictherapyonline.com

Re: Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield

> >

> >Dear Dassie:

> >

> >I am very sorry to hear about your reimbursement

> challenges. This is

> >difficult for all of us. Please try to remember

> that the license in NY State is a

> >start point. The license gives you the right to

> practice creative arts therapy in

> >NY State (like the right to operate a motor

> vehicle) and to do so without one

> >would be illegal, unethical and is prosecutable as

> a felony. Period. The law

> >also protects the profession to some degree on

> setting minimum requirements.

> >

> >Remember the Education Law is a consumer protection

> act and not a third party

> >payment law. The bright side is that it

> legitimizes us in a way we have

> >never been before, but there still is much work to

> be done.

> >

> >Are you surprised that the insurance companies

> don't want to pay? They don't

> >want to pay for necessary surgeries and

> hospitalizations, or mental health

> >care in any form for that matter- and what they do

> end up paying is not (at this

> >point) worth the stamp and the aggravation. If they

> could get away with not

> >providing any care at all they would try. It would

> increase their profits. The

> >insurance companies make more money when they deny

> claims and that is their

> >business and they pay people to do it. They are in

> it to make shareholders a

> >profit and little else.

> >

> > One of the ways third party payment is going to

> have to come is from a

> >demand made by consumers. I would suggest asking

> your client to appeal the decision

> >ad Nauseum and write to her insurance company

> explaining in great detail why

> >this for m of therapy is absolutely necessary.

> Also, I would ask her primary

> >care physician as well as a psychiatrist (if one is

> involved) to write similar

> >letters. If they deny again, she appeals again and

> this time take it to the NY

> >State insurance regulatory division and have them

> investigate. You may be

> >surprised. This has worked for some in the past.

> >

> >We all must join with our clients and other members

> of the field in applying

> >pressure on the insurance companies.

> >

> >Further than that, remember that psychoanalysts

> have had thriving practices

> >for over 50 years and insurance companies have

> never, ever covered them. They

> >do so I believe on the strength of their work and

> finding clients that can

> >afford out of pocket treatment.

> >

> >Sigh. I know this is not easy.

> >

> >Please join us this weekend at the Town Hall

> meeting and lets try and get

> >some of these things changed. Go to the NYCCAT

> website for details. Do not let

> >the bastards beat you, we are moving forward.

> >

> >Yours in unity,

> >

> >Alan Pottinger BFA, MA, RDT, LCAT

> >Treasurer

> >NYCCAT

> >

> >

> >

> >************************************** See what's

> free at http://www.aol.com.

>

>

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