Insurance companies sued for trying to force psychologists to disclose confidential information of rape victims

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

CENTRAL JERSEY — Meredith sought psychological counseling four years ago, after she was raped.

The Middlesex County resident, a state employee and graduate student, says she has made great progress and wants to continue sessions with her psychologist.

But recently, Meredith has had second thoughts about her therapy.

The reason: Representatives of Magellan Health Services Inc. have repeatedly questioned her therapist about the details and necessity of her counseling sessions.

Her therapist has refused to divulge information about Meredith contained in treatment notes from counseling sessions. These notes can include intimate details about a patient's thoughts, experiences and feelings.

But like many patients whose therapists have been questioned by Magellan case managers, Meredith fears her insurance may stop paying for her sessions in an effort to cut costs. She said she could not afford to see her therapist should the insurance company refuse to pay.

...

Meredith said the counseling has improved her life; it made it possible for her to cope with the trauma of her rape and to return to work and graduate school.

Contending that Meredith's experience is not unique, the New Jersey Psychological Association has sued Magellan, Horizon Healthcare Services Inc. and the State Health Benefits Commission, charging the two health care providers and the administrative agency with trying to force psychologists to disclose confidential patient information in order to get paid.

...

In a joint statement, Horizon and Magellan said they have done nothing wrong, and added that their "priority is to see that members receive proper treatment.''

...

A Pennsylvania psychiatrist won a lawsuit against Magellan in 2003 after he claimed the company had tried to force him from its network after he refused to turn over five complete patient files, citing confidentiality concerns. The psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Shrager, was reinstated by Magellan after an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge ruled in his favor.

...

The National Coalition of Mental Health Providers and Consumers Inc., based in Commack, N.Y., has been advocating for health care providers to protect access to care as well as patient privacy for nearly 20 years.

The coalition claims that insurance companies are more likely to question the necessity and costs of psychiatric treatment than medical care provided for physical ailments.

"The insurance company system for managing mental health care is not just discriminatory, but it consumes a large portion of the funds intended for providing mental health services,'' clinical psychologist Ivan J. Miller wrote in a May 2009 article posted on the coalition's Web site.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100406/HEALTH/100406002/After+rape++a+new+trauma++Insurance+companies+want+details+before+paying+the+bills

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Don't worry. Soon the government will be requesting those records and making arrests based on what you tell your therapist.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Don't worry. Soon the government will be requesting those records and making arrests based on what you tell your therapist.

The juxtaposition of that response next to the title "more rational than most" is amusing.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

The juxtaposition of that response next to the title "more rational than most" is amusing.

Do you not feel a government is capable of this?

[that_girl 9]

Do you not feel a government is capable of this?

Lots of people in the world are capable of murdering their neighbors or performing in a drag show, but not everyone does it.

[mawilson 2,133]

Don't worry. Soon the government will be requesting those records and making arrests based on what you tell your therapist.

If you do something illegal and then tell your therapist about it, you deserve to get caught.

Just sayin'.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

If you do something illegal and then tell your therapist about it, you deserve to get caught.

Just sayin'.

Which is why therapists are "Mandated Reporters" but if you think about doing something illegal and discuss it with you therapist you don't deserve to be arrested for the thoughts or fantasy...

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Do you not feel a government is capable of this?

What monumental leap of paranoia does it take for you to make the jump from capitalistic-greed-for-profit invasion of privacy to Big Brother doing the same?