Mental health care here changes. Not for the better, as usual.

[Guest guest]

Yesterday was another frustrating day in my health system. After almost three

years of free services, the outpatient psychiatric center suddenly started

charging copays. My medical bills (apart from meds) more than doubled. The free

services happened because the business office couldn't seem to keep a cashier

in the center, and the outpatient center didn't want to make us crazy folk

have to deal with the hospital. They've decided they don't care about that,

because now we check in with the hospital cashier beforehand, adding a long walk

and in my experience usually also a wait to visits. This makes my biweekly

therapy sessions and my psychiatrist visits full-day events instead of just a

part

of my days, requiring a rest and readjustment period after I get home now. The

extra money and time also means I'm probably not going to go to group

anymore. I am thankful we were free for so long and ultimately I don't mind

paying

.... however ... there are some I've seen who could just manage the clinic and

couldn't tolerate the hospital. Sigh. Why do they insist on surprising mental

patients and taking our lunch money?