This vs That

He Said/ She Said

So we walk into the Principal's office and he invites us to sit down and asks how he can help. Then Hubby did something totally frustrating. He started at the beginning.

He started talking about how we came to adopt the kids almost 5 years ago. I don't think the principal knew much about us, but at one point he'd either randomly decided that we were trying to get the school to pay for residential treatment (not that we'd be adverse to it) or he really did know more about us than he'd/we'd thought, and let us know the school district hadn't paid for residential treatment in over 25 years.

Hubby and I have had many discussions about me interrupting him, talking over him, and taking over conversations. I'm always exhausted and therefore I apparently do this often. I do know that my short-term memory is shot so I tend to speak my mind before I forget it!

So I was nervous about taking over the conversation, but I felt we were headed down a rat hole with this particular conversation, so I jumped in anyway. I explained that our primary concern was the safety of Kitty, particularly during unstructured times like in the hallways and a lunch. The principal assured me he'd look into it. Not holding my breath that anything will come of it. (Ironically Hubby describes this conversation differently and felt it went well. He told Grandma the main reason he'd initiated the conversation was because he felt I was overwhelmed and he wanted to "fix it."

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TEXAS MEDICAID/ NEBRASKA MEDICAID

We've always known that TX Medicaid stinks when it comes to providing mental health services (there's a reason we're like 48th in the country when it comes to mental health services). So we delayed the kids' adoptions for months to have residential treatment written into the kids' adoption subsidies. Many months ago we tried to get Nebraska Medicaid to pay for intensive outpatient/partial day hospitalization (not covered by TX Medicaid) and they absolutely refused because our agreement was for residential treatment (RTC) only.

Now we had two psychiatrists stating she needs RTC, no private insurance to confuse the matter, and every RTC I had approached (given tons of numbers by TX Medicaid - none of which actually accepted TX Medicaid and most of which weren't actually RTCs) looking for someone who took TX Medicaid, had stated that no one took the type of TX Medicaid we had... so I figured we had NE Medicaid in the bag!

I called them and discovered that they'd had a major revamping of their system. I was told that NE wouldn't even look at whether or not she qualified for RTC unless she already had NE Medicaid. The only way she could get NE Medicaid was if she was physically in Nebraska and no longer had TX Medicaid (earliest that could happen was November 1st. Then she had to show that she was severe enough to need RTC, but capable of responding to treatment in 90 days... and we decided that the price was too high to pay.

In the meantime I was still trying to get Texas Medicaid to put in writing that they wouldn't provide RT. We managed to get a case manager and I met with her today. She seems to think she can find an RTC. Now I'm worried that she will! Then we'll be stuck with whatever program they scrounge up.

My friends have only recommended 3 places in Texas as being semi-decent. One, we've already sent the kids to, and it's great for diagnosing and proper medication, but stinks for therapy - which is what Kitty needs. One has a mixed review, basically it depends on which therapist you get. Both of these accept NE Medicaid. The third was the most recommended, and I've been playing phone tag with them for over a week. No way TX Medicaid would pay for the the first and last, and probably not the second.

Just to make things more complicated. Nebraska called last night. They've decided to eschew NE Medicaid and provide funding from another source. Which means we'd keep TX Medicaid for any medical health issues that crop up, and can choose (within reason) the treatment center.

Now I have to wait and see what RTC options the new TX Medicaid case manager comes up with tomorrow (assuming that she does), and then call all of them to see if they're valid options. If not, then maybe we can see if Nebraska will step up and we can go straight to the RTC we prefer.

Have been talking to Pre-pa*d Leg*l so that when we're ready we can charge forward when/if we need them.


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TO MED OR NOT TO MED

Met with Kitty's psychiatrist today. We talked about changing Kitty's meds. I want to try Lamict*l because I've heard it's often a "miracle" drug for kids with bipolar (it certainly was for Bear), and I've also heard it's beneficial for people with brain injuries (which both my kids have). We tried Kitty on it many years ago, but she's prone to hives and Lamict*l is associated with a fatal rash, so every time Kitty got hives they'd yank her off the Lamict*l until they subsided. It takes forever to work up to a therapeutic dose, so I got tired of putting her on and pulling her off.

The new pdoc doesn't like Lamict*l, and feels that Kitty's issues are not med based so doesn't want to make any changes. I keep hoping that since Kitty was stable for over a year, that maybe there is a med out there that would help. The pdoc said that while she doesn't know Kitty very well yet and Kitty's not old enough, that she's seeing a lot of traits of borderline personality disorder. This is not a surprise to me. Believe me, we see it too!


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SCHOOL KITTY / HOME KITTY

Behavior testing is finally done (supposedly), and now the school psych has to write it up and have it ready for presentation at the IEP Meeting in a week and a half. As far as I can tell she didn't talk to the guidance counselor yet.

After complimenting me on the level sheet and chore charts, The TX Medicaid case manager did suggest that I apply myself to a thorough list of all the reasons Kitty should be in the special school for emotionally disturbed kids that we've been trying to get her into (the one that Bear is in part-time). Yes, Beemommy this is the small campus for kids like Kitty! So now I need to find the time to sit down and do this. I have it in places, but need to make sure it says what I need to say clearly and logically.

I got the letter from the psychiatrist at the hospital, which I think will definitely help us with getting Kitty in the special school.

“Due to three separate inpatient psychiatric hospitalization at the Hospital in 2011, it is recommended that Kitty be considered for admission into an alternative education environment. Consistent with her behavior at the hospital, Kitty may present with little psychological distress while at school. Nevertheless, providing an educational setting that minimizes interpersonal and environmental stress may help Kitty regulate her mood and behavior in all phases of her life, at home and at school. Please accommodate Kitty’s academic and social needs per the family’s request.”