December newsletter: Grateful as 2010 ends, plus tips for health, insurance, more

Winding down for 2010...

As the year ends, we remember all the goodness that has happened at Lake House during 2010.

We've introduced spiritual teacher Markus Kasunich, had fun with InterPlay, and made healing art in the open art studio with artist Robin Mitchell, plus enjoyed a succesful and well-attended Health & Gift Fest. 

We've hosted Marybeth Buchele, who's become our visiting resident homeopath, offering workshops, classes and appointments with homeopathic and natural remedies, the only homeopathic practice in Racine. (She'll be back in January!)

People have come from Illinois, Milwaukee, Racine, Union Grove, Burlington and Kenosha to take part in our new "Ancestors Constellations & Healing" groups, and particpants in our trainings  for helping professionals and educators have been enthusiastic.

It's been gratifiying to have so many people embrace these new ideas and programs. Stay tuned for more. We have great programs coming up for 2011.

Keep holidays happy and healthy.

See my blog with lots of tips to stay  healthy and enjoy the holiday season. Avoid overeating and overdrinking, rest and have remedies for colds and flu.

Make sure your insurance company isn't overcharging you!

Here's important news from the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers:

Insurance companies are attemping to undermine the new mental health parity bill with high co-payments. The chapter has been informed of at least three insurance companies in Wisconsin that have charged consumers specialty doctor co-pays instead of a primary doctor copay as the result of the new mental health parity law.

Federal regulations prohibit the charging of a specialty doctor co-pay for mental health services. Anyone who is charged a specialty doctor copay instead of a primary doctor copay should file a complaint with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. You also should send Marc Herstand, execuctive director of the Wisconsin NASW chapter,  a copy of any response from Office of Commnisioner of Insurance.

When people (men, politicians) cry...

Such a good blog post, we want recommend it. A little essay on crying, inspired by John Boehner, U.S. Congressman who will be the new speaker of the House.

Tune into this beautiful solstice video

Truly we are all one in this beautiful universe. Enjoy!

12 reasons why people don't have health care

I was pleased to participate in Friday’s noon march and rally for health care changes in Racine. (See picture at top originally published in the Racine Post with accompanying story.) There are many reasons why people are not able to receive quality health care. As a practicing health care professional, I have observed and discussed all of these reasons:

They have lost their jobs, due to plant closings, business layoffs, downsizing and other factors relating to our current economy.

They have depended on receiving benefits from a spouse’s health care plan and the spouse has lost his or her job due to plant closings, business layoffs, downsizing and other factors relating to our current economy.

They have a job, but it does not provide health care benefits. They must pay for all health benefits out of pocket.

They are in transition – just graduated from high school or college, for instance, and are hunting for a job. Or they may have moved with a spouse to a new area and are still job hunting. Or they may have moved home to care for the needs of an elderly relative which they consider their unpaid “job.”

They have depended on receiving benefits from a spouse’s health care plan, and the spouse is abusive (physically, emotionally, sexually) to themselves, their children or both. They must leave the relationship to maintain their safety, sanity or their lives. Once they are divorced, benefits are no longer available.

They have health care benefits but the insurance policy has a very high deductible ($4,000 or more) and they cannot use any benefits until that annual deductible is met.

They have health care benefits but cannot afford the fees that are out-of-pocket expenses, including co-pay charges, medication charges and the like.

They have health care benefits but the benefits are very limited and do not cover certain procedures or kinds of care. Strangely enough, one benefit that is not covered by some insurance policies is treatment for nicotine addiction, which as we know, brings or exacerbates multiple serious physical health problems – high blood pressure, heart attacks, respiratory difficulties and the like.

Their health care plan does not provide for pre-existing conditions. This means that if you have a medical problem which exists at the time you enroll in or purchase your health insurance, the insurance company will deny all claims pertaining to this medical problem for a certain period of time. In other words, a person facing an emergency situaton may have to wait 12 to 18 months to receive treatment -- at which time the siutuation could deteriorate.

Certain parts of their health care plan are limited to a specific number of sessions, perhaps just six or 10 sessions a year. This is common with certain policies relating to mental health treatment. While some issues are able to be addressed in that amount of time, other serious conditions may need much more time to treat and resolve.

Their health care plan does not provide for treatment from certain hospitals, clinics, physicians, dentists or practitioners. They are extremely limited in the care they can receive and from whom – even if they would be better served by the practitioner or clinic of their own choice.

Their health care needs can be resolved – often easily and more affordably – from a practitioner who uses complementary or alternative medicine, such as an acupuncturist, massage therapist, naturopathic physician or another professional in a similar field. Their insurance policy does not recognize the value of these fields, nor does it reimburse for such treatments.

Education to prevent disease, reduce stress (which is often the precursor for physical and mental health problems), high levels of training for practitioners and changes in certain lifestyle habits that contribute to illness are also important, of course, but not a substitute for good health care.

Top 6 health trends for 2009

We're just into the beginnings of 2009, the time when experts are looking forward with predictions for headlines for the year.

One of the areas that is often neglected -- despite its growing interest by public and professionals alike -- is that of alternative and complementary heath. These trends surely will affect businesses, both large and small, as well as the way that health care is sought and delivered in our communities. Here is my list of top health trends:

Interest in alternative treatments will experience a second surge. As more mainstream medications, from Aleve to Prozac to Vioxx, are showing seriously dangerous side effects, we'll be looking for new solutions to minimize health conditions. Even though interest in alternative treatments is already high, more people, practitioners and patients will be willing to experiment with new remedies, activities and lifestyle changes to avoid these kinds of medications. Yoga, tai chi, qigong, Feldenkrais, imagery, acupuncture and other exercises and modalities will continue to gain attention due to their ability to calm, soothe and attend to medical situations such as chronic pain, hypertension, obesity and stress.

Along with the growth of interest in alternative medicine, there will be a growth in the interest of alternative psychotherapy and personal and business coaching. "Alternatives" don't just come down to herbs, massage and yoga, as valuable as they are. People can experience significant growth and change -- often in short amounts of time -- with activities that use drama, guided imagery, music therapy, art therapy, sand tray therapy and other modalities that speak to people's whole selves, not just symptoms.

In our buy-buy culture and go-go lives, we'll step up the need for personal satisfaction rather than external achievement. This may well mean a "diet" on activities, trimming our schedule of overextended lifestyles and creating routines and opportunities for our overstressed bodies and minds. Products and services, including personal coaching, will assist in helping us focus on what is really satisfying and comforting.

As insurance costs bump up, a greater push to keep students and employees healthy. This will mean a closer examination of cafeteria food in schools and vending machines in work places, including information on how eating patterns create stress, obesity and health and behavior problems. Food processing companies and vendors are upgrading their searches to develop and market products that are not only healthy but actually promote health.

Special interest treatments will be developed for special interest groups. Studies are showing that various groups, whether ethnic or otherwise, are at higher risk for certain health concerns. Just one for-instance: a research study is showing showing high rates of smoking in the LGBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) community. In some parts of the country, LGBT smoking rates can be as much as 50 percent higher than their heterosexual counterparts, making nicotine an emerging public health priority for LGBT individuals.

Nicotine treatment programs will gradually become more varied and incorporate alternative methods of treatment, care and support. These alternative methods may include acupuncture, non-traditional psychotherapy, online support groups, herbal therapy, dietary changes or a combination of unique interventions designed to fit the individual's needs. More insurance companies are offering help with nicotine cessation, too, as it becomes apparent that nicotine use hurts health and contributes to many illnesses and conditions. The fact is that smoking kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS, car accidents and drug and alcohol use combined.

Lots of good reasons for self pay for psychotherapy

Are there good reasons to bypass your insurance company for psychotherapy benefits and pay directly for your psychotherapy?

In a word, yes.

A few years back, a University of Illinois study of Fortune 50 corporations found that fully half of the companies surveyed used employee medical records in making employment-related decisions. And of those, nearly 20 percent didn’t inform the employee. A 1991 survey of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment found that almost a third of the employers that maintained employee medical records let their personnel departments read those records without notifying the employee.

If you choose to pay the bill yourself directly to the therapist – the private pay option – you have lots of other benefits:

You may pick the psychotherapist of your choice, rather than having a business telling you who to see.

You will have flexibility in the kind of treatment modality that you receive determine your own goals and length of treatment.

You will not receive a mental health diagnosis because the therapist will not be reporting to your insurance company.

You will be assured of complete confidentiality. Your health records will not be shared with anyone without your written permission. Your spouse, parent, significant other, boss, brother or friend will not know that you are seeking psychotherapy unless you tell them.

You will not "bump into" co-workers who may be seeing the same therapist because that person is the only therapist contracted with your place of employment.

You will not have to worry that a record of a mental health diagnosis may affect your future capacity to obtain health or life insurance.

You will be able to stay with your psychotherapist, even if your insurance plan coverage changes.

At first glance, some folks may have difficulty believing that private pay is a realistic option. Yet counseling or therapy compares well with the price of other important services and personal needs – auto repairs, health club memberships, dental work – and is related to present and future happiness and life satisfaction. People who genuinely want to make changes in their lives manage to identify priorities and budget their money differently.

Here are some ways people are able to afford to pay privately for therapy:

Examine your budget closely and determine what expenses you can defer in your life for six months or a year. Fewer new shoes and faraway airline tickets? Less stops at your favorite coffee shop or big-ticket restaurant? More modest gifts at Christmas, weddings and other holidays?

Ask about a payment installment plan. Ask your psychotherapist of choice if he or she is able to identify other payment plans for you.

Some psychotherapists offer reduced fees to students and others, such as activists, artists and low-income people. Sometimes reduced fees are also available for highly motivated people who can come to daytime appointments or other off-hours times rather than evening hours, which are usually at a premium.

Discuss with your therapist how you can extend the value of your psychotherapy treatment. This may mean that you will have fewer appointments (perhaps once every three weeks) and participate in other activities such as journal writing, self-help groups, reading and structured talks with a trusted friend or mentor) to keep the momentum going.

Keep in mind that psychotherapy can also save you MORE money in the long run. Benefits can include less money spent on stress-related illness, less problems at home that may cause a financial drain and improve your job performance. For more on specific benefits of therapy, click here.

One last note regarding confidentiality and special circumstances to consider:

There are a handful of situations where therapists are “required to act” that apply whether you have signed a release of information or not and whether insurance is utilized or not. These include: court-subpoenaed records, in the case of child or elder abuse or in the case of harm to yourself or others. In these cases, the therapist is required legally and ethically to protect the involved parties. In most cases, you and your therapist will be discussing these situations as a part of your treatment to decide how best to handle each individual case.