| Have you heard that the Office of Mental Health of | | | | who have had to switch therapists with whom they |
| New York has implemented a new intiative called | | | | have built up that all to important relationship for |
| Personalized Recovery Oriented Services? It is | | | | years. They had to switch as it wasn't "one stop |
| basically a back handed way in that mental health | | | | shopping". |
| providers can bill federal medicaid funds in leu of | | | | Also I am an active member of a social club serving |
| medicare in order to lower the deficit of New York | | | | the mentally ill and they are going PROS in order to |
| state. | | | | get the funding they need to function. The problem |
| Speaking as a consumer of mental health services, I | | | | here is that many of our activities are not going to |
| know that this initiative first of all limits my choice of | | | | be "bill-able" under PROS. and they are not going to |
| providers. You see, they want to make it one stop | | | | offer them if they aren't going to be paid for them. |
| shopping. In order for me to see a doctor at a clinc | | | | I, like many others, need socialization and not |
| to get the meds I need to function(and I do quite | | | | "therapy" sessions. If you are a consumer or have |
| well on the combination of them and my current | | | | the ability to speak up for those who can't in NY |
| providers) I must also see their therapist regardless if | | | | then write or call the governor. The federal |
| I actually need one or even if I don't.I have friends | | | | government really doesn't need NYs woes. |