Returning soldiers struggle to find therapists

Liebling:-))) · 06-11-2007, 04:42 AM

Returning soldiers struggle to find therapists
Waiting lists grow as military trims payments for mental-health care

Updated: 2:36 p.m. ET June 10, 2007

Quote:

Dr. Barbara Romberg, executive director of 'Give an Hour,' provides free counseling for veterans and their families. The military's insurance plan is paying less money for soldiers to see a therapist or psychiatrist at a time when more of them need help coping with the psychological effects of war.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers returning from war are finding it more difficult to get mental health treatment because military insurance is cutting payments to therapists, on top of already low reimbursement rates and a tangle of red tape.

Wait lists now extend for months to see a military doctor and it can takes weeks to find a private therapist willing to take on members of the military. The challenge appears great in rural areas, where many National Guard and Reserve troops and their families live.

To avoid the hassles of Tricare, the military health insurance program, one frustrated therapist opted to provide an hour of therapy time a week to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for free. Barbara Romberg, a clinical psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area, has started a group that encourages other therapists to do the same.

“They’re not going to pay me much in terms of my regular rate anyway,” Romberg said. “So I’m actually feeling positive that I’ve given, rather than feeling frustrated for what I’m going through to get payment.”

Joyce Lindsey, 46, of Troutdale, Ore., sought grief counseling after her husband died in Afghanistan last December. The therapist recommended by her physician would not take Tricare. Lindsey eventually found one on a provider list, but the process took two months.

“It was kind of frustrating,” Lindsey said. “I thought, ‘Am I ever going to find someone to take this?”’

Roughly one-third of returning soldiers seek out mental health counseling in their first year home. They are among the 9.1 million people covered by Tricare, a number that grew by more than 1 million since 2001.

Fragmented, inadequate benefits

Tricare’s psychological health benefit is “hindered by fragmented rules and policies, inadequate oversight and insufficient reimbursement,” the Defense Department’s mental health task force said last month after reviewing the military’s psychological care system.

The Tricare office that serves Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Bragg, N.C. — Army posts with heavy war deployments — told task force members that it routinely fields complaints about the difficulty in locating mental health specialists who accept Tricare.

“Unfortunately, in some of our communities ... we are maxed out on the available providers,” said Lois Krysa, the office’s quality manager. “In other areas, the providers just are not willing to sign up to take Tricare assignment, and that is a problem.”
AP

Tricare’s reimbursement rate is tied to Medicare’s, which pays less than civilian employer insurance. The rate for mental health care services fell by 6.4 percent this year as part of an adjustment in reimbursements to certain specialties.

Since 2004, Tricare has sped up payments to encourage more doctors to participate, said Austin Camacho, a Tricare spokesman. In some locations, such as Idaho and Alaska, the Defense Department has also raised rates to attract physicians, he said.

“We are working hard to overcome those challenges,” Camacho said.

Jack Wagoner is a retired military officer and psychologist and psychiatrist in private practice who also works for a Tricare contractor. He told defense mental health board members last December that in general, Tricare pays “considerably lower” than private health insurance plans.

According to data from Tricare’s Medical Benefits and Reimbursement System office, Tricare pays mental health providers as much or more than a corporate plan would pay a therapist for treating a patient — although in some cases it is lower.

There are different coverage plans within Tricare, and the amount paid to providers varies by plan, location, specialty and services performed.

Psychologists who treat active duty troops are paid 66 percent of what Tricare views as the customary rate. So a psychologist eligible for a customary rate of $120 per hour would be paid $79.20 for the hour by Tricare, even if the psychologist’s standard rate is $150 per hour.

Active duty troops use Tricare Prime, a managed-care option maintained by private contractors. Their mental health care is free. Guard and Reserve troops and their families frequently use Tricare Standard, a fee-for-service plan. They pay an annual deductible and 20 percent of the amount Tricare pays the therapist.

John Class, a retired Navy health care administrator who now advocates on health issues for the Military Officers Association of America, said Tricare Prime contractors insist that the lower reimbursement rates has made it tougher to maintain a network of providers.

‘Starting to see the pinch’
“We are already starting to see the pinch,” Class said.

In a limited study by Tricare released earlier this year, about two out of three civilian psychiatrists in 20 states were willing to accept Tricare Standard clients among their new patients, the lowest acceptance rate for any specialty.

Any additional cuts in Tricare payouts could mean that “some really good psychologists who specialize in this treatment and are experienced will be seeing less of (military families),” said clinical psychologist Marion Frank, a widow who is president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Gold Star Wives of America, a support group for military widows.

In parts of Montana, some families drive two hours to see a physician of any kind that will take Tricare, said Dorrie Hagan, state family program director for the Montana National Guard.

“When you get away from a city of any size then you start struggling for providers, and they’ll tell you flat out it’s because of the rate of pay,” Hagan said.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Soldiers struggle to find therapists - Mental Health - MSNBC.com

Liebling:-))) · 06-11-2007, 04:45 AM

Families blame vet suicides on lack of VA care
Hospital shortcomings, long waits, mental health stigma part of problem

Families blame vet suicides on lack of VA care - Mental Health - MSNBC.com

Returning vets at higher risk for suicide
VA health clinics lack 24-hour mental health care for troops, review finds

Returning vets at higher risk for suicide - Mental Health - MSNBC.com

Really very sad.

Pacman · 06-11-2007, 07:56 AM

Ask US armies to quit from war, that would be solve the issue but draft isn't serve, though.

Liebling:-))) · 06-12-2007, 05:57 AM

Yeah Pacman...

Phillips · 06-12-2007, 07:09 AM

:sad:

Liebling:-))) · 06-13-2007, 05:20 AM

Yes, it's very very very sad... That's why I am anti-war!!!!!!!!

Suicide risk much higher for male veterans
Study: Ex-troops twice as likely to kill themselves as citizen counterparts

Suicide risk much higher for male veterans - Mental Health - MSNBC.com

Stress, low pay take toll on military moms
Child care is not keeping up with longer deployments, report says
Stress, low pay take toll on military moms - Mental Health - MSNBC.com

WAR must be STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and LEAVE other enemy countries ALONE!!!!!!!!

Texan Guy · 06-14-2007, 12:49 PM

First of all, I feel bad for those veterans.

But.....I have never heard of it before. Many friends of mine got back from the war. They're fine. But they are not to prefer to talk about it.

One of my friends has been to Iraq for 7 times. Because he's sick of listening to the anti-war protesters on the NEWS. He told his CO (Commanding Officer) that he wants to go again.

Come on, most of the Iraqi kids were happy to see the US soldiers. Soldiers gave them the candies and play with them. But the news won't tell you because they wants money.

Iran gave the arms to Iraqi insurgents such as IEDs, RPGs, AK-47 and more most of the news won't tell you.

One injured Iraqi kid. US Army helicopter, Blackhawk, will take the kid to a hospital. News won't tell you.

Look at what President Bush and Homeland Security has done? There are no single attack by a terrorist since 9/11.

Pacman, that won't works, anyway.

How come I'm a only guy here on AD that comes with positive words for the war? Most of you come with negative words for the war. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it."

Reba · 06-14-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan Guy

...How come I'm a only guy here on AD that comes with positive words for the war? Most of you come with negative words for the war. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it."

Aw, you don't need a bogus therapist; you have your head on straight.

You're not alone in your viewpoint. It might seem that way because I (and several other ADers) posted our views prior to you joining. I notice that you've been a member less than one year.

It's good to see fresh posts by newbie members. Sometimes I get worn out posting my view over and over.

I totally support our troops and the mission they are engaged in. I fully agree that both sides of the story are NOT being presented in the press.

I also believe that our troops deserve better support at home, both from the military services, and from the American population. They need the people's support for their morale, and they need the military services (especially medical and financial) for their physical and material needs.

I'm a retired military vet myself, and it burns me greatly when our vets don't get the care that need and deserve. That has to be fixed. But that problem shouldn't be used as a justification to withdraw from their mission.

Our military troops have never received all that they are due, and they never will. What they go thru is beyond adequate repayment.

That's my two cents.

Pacman · 06-14-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan Guy

First of all, I feel bad for those veterans.

But.....I have never heard of it before. Many friends of mine got back from the war. They're fine. But they are not to prefer to talk about it.

One of my friends has been to Iraq for 7 times. Because he's sick of listening to the anti-war protesters on the NEWS. He told his CO (Commanding Officer) that he wants to go again.

Come on, most of the Iraqi kids were happy to see the US soldiers. Soldiers gave them the candies and play with them. But the news won't tell you because they wants money.

Iran gave the arms to Iraqi insurgents such as IEDs, RPGs, AK-47 and more most of the news won't tell you.

One injured Iraqi kid. US Army helicopter, Blackhawk, will take the kid to a hospital. News won't tell you.

Look at what President Bush and Homeland Security has done? There are no single attack by a terrorist since 9/11.

Pacman, that won't works, anyway.

How come I'm a only guy here on AD that comes with positive words for the war? Most of you come with negative words for the war. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it."

You aren't only guy, also PowerON does like that too.

Few of my frends from my high school was quit from armies for personal reason and other one is medical reason.

Sheila · 06-14-2007, 06:30 PM

I was talking to my friend who is in Iraq right now that if he needs therapy when he gets back to try EMDR. I believe it stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Restoration. It is one of the new up and coming treatments for PTSD.

I actually experienced this treatment myself. There are different methods to do it, but it is basically stimulating opposite sides of the brain back and forth. What it does is trick your mind in thinking it is asleep, and help process underlying problems. This will bring it to the surface where they can be dealt with thru therapy. It is really fascinating and I don't think I'm doing it justice here...

Go type EMDR into Google and see for yourselves.

Barbaro · 06-14-2007, 06:42 PM

What Reba said. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. I grew up in a military town and a daughter of the diplomat/scientist and went out with military guys before. We have to stay positive constantly for our troop. I do support our troop. All the way.

KarissaMann05 · 06-14-2007, 08:31 PM

Aw, its awful to hear.. I'm an anti-war too... I strongly believe in all wars are not helpful at all.

my mom was a cadet at North Carolina when I was little toddler.Thank goodness, she quited her army when she heard about iraq in 1990's because she already had my sister and me. She did not want us lost her. But, she still stands for the US army because her ex-army changed her a lot. I'm kinda of agreed with her because we believed in war is about against greedy gov-ment, a cruel leader, etc or any reason I think. Really, I never been in an army so. But, I do watch some war movies sometimes. It's really interesting to watch.

Oh, in the fact, my mom is an anti-war but to support USA army..

Liebling:-))) · 06-15-2007, 07:23 AM

[quote]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan Guy

But.....I have never heard of it before. Many friends of mine got back from the war. They're fine.

It's hard to beleive that you NEVER heard it and claim that they are fine because everyone knows about this.

My Grandad experienced WWII and got severe nightmare!!! It's same with my hubby's Uncle at WWI and WWII as well. I share their experiences... It's bad nightmares for them...

Quote:

But they are not to prefer to talk about it.

See ?

Quote:

One of my friends has been to Iraq for 7 times. Because he's sick of listening to the anti-war protesters on the NEWS. He told his CO (Commanding Officer) that he wants to go again.

It's good for your friend who enjoy to kill enemies. Your friend have a strong person which is not same with others.

Quote:

Come on, most of the Iraqi kids were happy to see the US soldiers. Soldiers gave them the candies and play with them. But the news won't tell you because they wants money.

Ooohhhh yesssss, of couuurrrssse the kids are toooo happpy to see their daddies as the same as US soliders are happpppyyy to return to their own families safety and warm loving.... We are

for soliders who are happy to reunion with their families and partners after long months suffers... I know a lot of US soliders are upset and don't want to transfer to Iraq after Germany.

Quote:

Iran gave the arms to Iraqi insurgents such as IEDs, RPGs, AK-47 and more most of the news won't tell you.

One injured Iraqi kid. US Army helicopter, Blackhawk, will take the kid to a hospital. News won't tell you.

I said the same thing about you because you said that you never heard about this but everyone in the world knows about this but America? I'm total surprised that you didn't know about this. We all know for years that soliders seek for the help after war... It's terrible experience for them. It look like that Bush hide something negative about soliders from you all or what?

Quote:

Look at what President Bush and Homeland Security has done? There are no single attack by a terrorist since 9/11.

Remember that Iraq has nothing do with 9/11 but why continue send soliders to Iraq after Saddam's arrest for?

Quote:

Pacman, that won't works, anyway.

How come I'm a only guy here on AD that comes with positive words for the war? Most of you come with negative words for the war. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it."

wow, you need to open your mind to see the fact that there're truth about war issues. I feel that you has a little knowledge about this.

I cannot beleive after read those sentence (red bond) and must say that you are an ignorant person, I ever known is HERE...

Liebling:-))) · 06-15-2007, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mann_K05

Oh, in the fact, my mom is an anti-war but to support USA army..

Yes I am an anti-war and support US army as well because I work together with them.

Reba · 06-15-2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liebling:-)))

It's good for your friend who enjoy to kill enemies. Your friend have a strong person which is not same with others.

Whoa! Texan Guy NEVER said that his friend enjoyed killing the enemy. That is a slanderous statement.

You should apologize for that.

Reba · 06-15-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liebling:-)))

Yes I am an anti-war and support US army as well because I work together with them.

How are you supporting the troops if you are against their mission? That is NOT support. That is opposition to the troops.

How can you be anti-war and yet draw a paycheck from what you consider to be warmongers? That doesn't make sense.

Liebling:-))) · 06-15-2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Whoa! Texan Guy NEVER said that his friend enjoyed killing the enemy. That is a slanderous statement.

You should apologize for that.

No, I do not need to apology for that. I has the right to state what I thought about this since he said himself. One of my friends has been to Iraq for 7 times. Because he's sick of listening to the anti-war protesters on the NEWS What is this? Of course it tells alot that he enjoy himself.

I believe that mothers, wives and children don't like to hear those word.... because US soliders killed there for no reason...

His own word in previous post.. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it." What is this? Of course sick word...

I do not see the reason why I should owe an apology for that.

Liebling:-))) · 06-15-2007, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

How are you supporting the troops if you are against their mission? That is NOT support. That is opposition to the troops.

How can you be anti-war and yet draw a paycheck from what you consider to be warmongers? That doesn't make sense.

What I support them is not opposition... but the fact because I know them in real life, not you.

I support and comfort them because they don't want to go Iraq war. I find very sad because everyone in the world know from newspapers, TV and real life that US soliders want to go home and don't want to stay in Iraq... Some soliders don't want to go and some US soliders are willing go. I beleve you know from several threads about them don't you.

A lot of US soliders and civil are against to go Iraq war because they know it's not necassary to go there.

Reba · 06-15-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liebling:-)))

No, I do not need to apology for that. I has the right to state what I thought about this since he said himself. One of my friends has been to Iraq for 7 times. Because he's sick of listening to the anti-war protesters on the NEWS What is this? Of course it tells alot that he enjoy himself.

You have the right to your opinion but you don't have the right to lie about what other people post. Texan Guy never said that his friend enjoyed killing. So you told a lie about Texan Guy. Also, you insulted his friend by saying that he enjoyed killing. His friend never said that, and you insulted his character by your statement. You owe them both an apology.

You also insulted other soldiers by implying that they enjoy killing. That is a gross injustice to them all.

Quote:

His own word in previous post.. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it." What is this? Of course sick word...

I didn't say anything about that statement. It is totally irrelevant to what I stated.

Quote:

I do not see the reason why I should owe an apology for that.

You think it's OK to lie about people? Unbelievable.

Reba · 06-15-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liebling:-)))

What I support them is not opposition...but the fact because I know them in real life, not you.

I support and comfort them because they don't want to go Iraq war. I find very sad because everyone in the world know from newspapers, TV and real life that US soliders want to go home and don't want to stay in Iraq... Some soliders don't want to go and some US soliders are willing go. I beleve you know from several threads about them don't you.

A lot of US soliders and civil are against to go Iraq war because they know it's not necassary to go there.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you really do support the war. Your job supports the US war effort. If you really didn't support the war you would quit your job. You certainly wouldn't be a hypocrite and accept American blood money if you were truly anti-war.

Liebling:-))) · 06-15-2007, 08:16 AM

[quote]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

You have the right to your opinion but you don't have the right to lie about what other people post. Texan Guy never said that his friend enjoyed killing. So you told a lie about Texan Guy. Also, you insulted his friend by saying that he enjoyed killing. His friend

06-11-2007, 04:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Liebling:-))) Hiiiiiii it's meeeeee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 24,834	Families blame vet suicides on lack of VA care Hospital shortcomings, long waits, mental health stigma part of problem Families blame vet suicides on lack of VA care - Mental Health - MSNBC.com Returning vets at higher risk for suicide VA health clinics lack 24-hour mental health care for troops, review finds Returning vets at higher risk for suicide - Mental Health - MSNBC.com Really very sad. __________________ sniffing you

06-11-2007, 07:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Pacman o_O Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 12,743	Ask US armies to quit from war, that would be solve the issue but draft isn't serve, though. __________________ Oh damn, don't mess with me

06-12-2007, 05:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
Liebling:-))) Hiiiiiii it's meeeeee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 24,834	Yeah Pacman... __________________ sniffing you

06-12-2007, 07:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Phillips Lets ride horses! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somewhere in Northeast Posts: 6,305 Blog Entries: 3	:sad: __________________ *Enjoy life today, Yesterday has past and Tomorrow may never come.*

06-13-2007, 05:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
Liebling:-))) Hiiiiiii it's meeeeee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 24,834	Yes, it's very very very sad... That's why I am anti-war!!!!!!!! Suicide risk much higher for male veterans Study: Ex-troops twice as likely to kill themselves as citizen counterparts Suicide risk much higher for male veterans - Mental Health - MSNBC.com Stress, low pay take toll on military moms Child care is not keeping up with longer deployments, report says Stress, low pay take toll on military moms - Mental Health - MSNBC.com WAR must be STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and LEAVE other enemy countries ALONE!!!!!!!! __________________ sniffing you

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

06-14-2007, 12:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Texan Guy IRELAND FOREVER! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,668	First of all, I feel bad for those veterans. But.....I have never heard of it before. Many friends of mine got back from the war. They're fine. But they are not to prefer to talk about it. One of my friends has been to Iraq for 7 times. Because he's sick of listening to the anti-war protesters on the NEWS. He told his CO (Commanding Officer) that he wants to go again. Come on, most of the Iraqi kids were happy to see the US soldiers. Soldiers gave them the candies and play with them. But the news won't tell you because they wants money. Iran gave the arms to Iraqi insurgents such as IEDs, RPGs, AK-47 and more most of the news won't tell you. One injured Iraqi kid. US Army helicopter, Blackhawk, will take the kid to a hospital. News won't tell you. Look at what President Bush and Homeland Security has done? There are no single attack by a terrorist since 9/11. Pacman, that won't works, anyway. How come I'm a only guy here on AD that comes with positive words for the war? Most of you come with negative words for the war. Oh, Christ, help me. I need a therapist like a caveman having problem with the Geico's quote, "So easy a caveman can do it." __________________ I am infected with your stupidity!

06-14-2007, 06:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sheila Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 302	I was talking to my friend who is in Iraq right now that if he needs therapy when he gets back to try EMDR. I believe it stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Restoration. It is one of the new up and coming treatments for PTSD. I actually experienced this treatment myself. There are different methods to do it, but it is basically stimulating opposite sides of the brain back and forth. What it does is trick your mind in thinking it is asleep, and help process underlying problems. This will bring it to the surface where they can be dealt with thru therapy. It is really fascinating and I don't think I'm doing it justice here... Go type EMDR into Google and see for yourselves. __________________ "An interpreter must give his blood to the work interpreted." -Claude Arrau Deaf Love

06-14-2007, 06:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Barbaro doomsday clock's clicking Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: dæləs Posts: 251	What Reba said. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. I grew up in a military town and a daughter of the diplomat/scientist and went out with military guys before. We have to stay positive constantly for our troop. I do support our troop. All the way.

06-14-2007, 08:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
KarissaMann05 Jessie's Character Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,111 Blog Entries: 6	Aw, its awful to hear.. I'm an anti-war too... I strongly believe in all wars are not helpful at all. my mom was a cadet at North Carolina when I was little toddler.Thank goodness, she quited her army when she heard about iraq in 1990's because she already had my sister and me. She did not want us lost her. But, she still stands for the US army because her ex-army changed her a lot. I'm kinda of agreed with her because we believed in war is about against greedy gov-ment, a cruel leader, etc or any reason I think. Really, I never been in an army so. But, I do watch some war movies sometimes. It's really interesting to watch. Oh, in the fact, my mom is an anti-war but to support USA army.. __________________ Credit by KarissaMann05