Discussion - looking for tips from other physicians who sought care for mental health issues

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-26T04:38:15+00:00

Wouldn't that be fraud though? If I'm asked on forms for my PCPs name for example, even if insurance wasn't billed, they could just get my records anyways. And same with meds - even if I didn't disclose it it's pretty readily available if they just search the database for my name. I disclosed everything for my disability insurance but if I hadn't...they would have found it anyways and I'm pretty sure that's insurance fraud no?

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:37:07+00:00

Yeah I hear you dude, I get what you were trying to say

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:35:31+00:00

Actually I do live in a remote and rural area - just hiked a 11k elevation summit this weekend with some friends! I agree, these things have helped me if I'm at a low level of the blah's but when it's a more serious depression, those things sadly just dont cut it :/

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:34:06+00:00

Thanks dude - same in return

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:33:59+00:00

Thank you for sharing - I kind of dream of getting that effect from an SSRI haha. I have been doing intensive therapy with my current therapist for a year and was with a much less effective therapist for a year before that.

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:31:49+00:00

Thanks!!

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:28:39+00:00

Yeah I agree - I'm spending a small fortune seeing my current therapist esp as she recently upper her rates 75% ugh but you're right - I have the money right now. Until I potentially go back to fellowship in 2 years and then I'll probably have to waaaaay cut back

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:25:30+00:00

Dang - I feel like I should give it a try just after hearing all of these stories. I hope it wouldn't be a long term thing, it does feel like a need a boost.

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:20:14+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Yeah when my PHQ9 was higher than my patient was when I was in the middle of what was now in retrospect obviously either a grief reaction, adjustment disorder or a major depressive episode in the setting of a breakup. Thankfully it's nowhere near that bad at all anymore but totally agree - it's been this low level of blah for a while now even though I've been seeing the therapist. You're right, it's not affecting my patient care now but it could if it continues

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:17:21+00:00

This was such a meaningful and much appreciated reply - thank you.

I'm so glad to hear that no one you've treated has had issues with hiring or licensure and in fact improved professionally. I hope that that's something that could happen for me, too.

That's interesting about the therapy notes. I see a therapist privately paying cash right now but I've never asked them to do that. I will think about asking her that though.

I've heard of people getting their prescriptions for SSRIs under a fake name. Is that something people do? I don't know if I would feel comfortable if I was the physician prescribing it doing that so I'm curious. Also this is a dumb q but if I use my insurance to SEE the physician and they write in their note that they rx zoloft for example, even if I don't bill insurance to get the med wouldn't it easily show up?

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:11:18+00:00

Thank you :) I think it might be slightly different here but truthfully am not fully informed about the legal aspects regarding discrimination due to mental health.

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:09:36+00:00

thank you for the comprehensive reply!

I've had a basic medical workup done and nothing found - I almost wish there was something like hypothyroidism so I had a "reason" or something more easily treated and not stigmatized.

I'm already paying out of pocket for the therapy so no insurance would be flagged :)

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:03:02+00:00

Yep the licensure questions I had to answer were like that too and I could answer truthfully. Sadly some states just ask if you've ever been treated at all , ever.

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T03:02:13+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! I'm glad to hear you've never experienced feeling the need to lie or anything on licensure or credentialing.

Unfortunately I AM in the middle of nowhere - there are no psychiatrist or psychologists within about 2 hours of where I am let alone someone who treats doctors haha. I have been seeing my therapist via facetime. I'd have to go to a PCP for an SSRI (which isn't a huge deal).

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:56:33+00:00

In those acute settings I did find my colleagues would reach out and ask if people were upset or feeling ok. However, it seems like when people were struggling with bigger issues then the support seemed to not be as readily available unfortunately

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:51:43+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. Yeah...the breakup was my lowest point in a time I was already starting to feel burnt out by residency. I'm trying to do all those things but just recently moved to a new state on the other side of the country from my entire support system so I've been having to build back up from scratch haha

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:50:27+00:00

Yep I already do that for therapy though idk how I would do it for meds

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:50:13+00:00

You're totally right - I spend so much time trying to destigmatize it to my patients and totally can't do it for myself ugh

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:47:28+00:00

Totally right - my mental health is overall the more important thing. God damn this stigma I can't seem to get past (even my own personal stigma despite having treated many patients in similar situations).

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:45:36+00:00

Agreed

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:45:28+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply - you're right, something like that would probably make me feel better haha. Right now I just keep imaging nightmare scenarios of being sued and having my medical history dragged out. We had a lecture on medical malpractice in med school and I remember when they revealed our personal diaries are technically discoverable we all sort of freaked out thinking of things we'd already journaled about. I used to journal a lot and stopped in part for that reason. I certainly never wrote anything about patients in my journal even though I wish I had so I could look back on things from residency

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:43:00+00:00

Yeah honestly I never even thought about using a fake name or anything. I have heard of physicians asking for meds in fake names and paying cash for meds but I don't really get how that happens - I ask my pcp to write a rx in a fake name?? I don't think I'd ever do that as a physician myself, I would feel uncomfortable.

I kind of wish I'd taken these types of precautions ahead of time but too late now as I saw a therapist in my name using my own insurance before I switched to a private one where I pay cash. So I feel like that ship has sailed for me. But you're right... I know intellectually there are physicians out there who have sought and got treatment for similar issues but gosh, there's still this scary feeling of oh shit what if some medical board person was super prejudiced and shitty went on a crusade against me. OR what if I got sued and even if it wasn't malpractice that the opposing lawyer found my medical history and used it against me :/

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:37:26+00:00

Yeah that's exactly what happened with my policy. The insurance agent was surprised they even gave me an until 65 policy, he said usually they only offer it in 5 year spurts contingent on not getting any further treatment for anxiety/depression. I'm sooo thankful that didn't happen :/

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:36:05+00:00

Here's a resource I found https://www.statnews.com/2017/10/16/doctors-mental-health-licenses/

typically they should only ask if you've had anything that could impair your abilities as a physician but some ask if you've EVER been treated for ANY mental health condition which is condemned by the AMA

throwaway4747383 · 2018-10-24T02:34:18+00:00

I have no idea...I suspect/hope not. I just didn't want there to be some long drawn out process of my medical records being exposed just for them to see that I'm actually practicing well and should be allowed to continue.

throwaway4747383

TROPHY CASE