Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
5 August 2001

CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support

===== In This Issue =====

About the Newsletter
Feature Article: Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland Denies
Services to Individuals with AD/HD
This Week: Thirteenth Annual Conference on
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Please Tell Us
Calendar of Events

===== About the Newsletter =====

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.
It's a new step toward bringing the members closer together.

===== Feature Article ======

The following article was published in Hypertalk, CHADD of Greater
Baltimore magazine. It brings attention to fine print related to
healthcare insurance. We are publishing the article with kind
permission from Patricia Michel and Dr. Carol Watkins. Patricia
Michel is on the National CHADD Board of Directors. Dr. Watkins is a
member of Northern County Psychiatric Associates: Psychiatric
Services For Children, Adolescents, Adults and Families, Baltimore,
Maryland.

Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland Denies Services to
Individuals with AD/HD - Carol E. Watkins, M.D.

When you sign up for health insurance your company may have
restrictions that do not show up on your contract. You may not find
out about these restrictions until you get a denial notice. Then it
is too late. Many of you are probably insured by Care First Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Maryland. (BCBS) Did you realize that BCBS does
not feel that psychotherapy is a useful treatment for AD/HD? If you
look at your policy, you may not see this statement. I obtained a
copy of the relevant section of the BCBS Medical Reference Policy
Manual. This Manual is not routinely distributed to beneficiaries.

"Medical treatment (e.g. methylphenidate/Ritalin drug therapy) of
attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity is
considered medically necessary. Psychological/neuropsychological
testing required to make a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder is
considered medically necessary. Traditional psychotherapy is not
considered medically necessary for attention deficit disorder itself,
as no mental health treatments have been proven effective for the
primary diagnosis of ADD/AD/HD, but may be for secondary diagnosis,
such as depression or anxiety."

A nurse from BCBS who dealt with medical policy said that a team of
expert clinicians had reviewed and approved their policy on AD/HD.
When I asked for the names of the experts, she said that this was
confidential. I have serious doubts about any "expert" clinician
would need to keep his or her identity secret. If a psychiatrist or
psychologist really believes that medication is the only effective
treatment for AD/HD why not say so publicly? Are they afraid to
defend their scientific opinions when they see their peers at medical
meetings?

I called the company for clarification of the term "traditional
psychotherapy." It took me a couple of weeks to get clarification. If
I had not asked my congressman intervene, I might still be waiting
for an answer. When I asked about the long delay, they said that they
had referred my request to someone who was on vacation. The
representative from provider relations said that BCBS would not cover
any form of psychotherapy-even behavioral therapy for AD/HD. She
described AD/HD as "incurable." She said that I should code for
something that was treatable, such as "impulsive behavior." When I
asked for a specific separate code for "impulsive behavior" she said
that she was not an expert in mental health.

Clarke Ross the CEO of CHADD National is actively involved in this
issue. I have been very impressed with how rapidly he responded when
I contacted him. He is coordinating with members of the CHADD
Professional Advisory Committee. He has also made contact with
representatives from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The American
Psychiatric Association Managed Care Advocacy Division has also
expressed interest in the issue.

Blue Cross was originally founded by physicians who wanted to make
sure that their patients had access to affordable health care. It was
an idealistic venture. Unfortunately, health care and the insurance
field has become big business. BCBS of Maryland, long a non-profit
company, is currently seeking permission to become a profit-making
company. I am concerned that once it is beholden to stockholders, it
will become even less responsive to the needs of patients.
Stockholders are often after short-term profits. They may be less
concerned about long-term cost savings related to preventative care.

Call your state representatives. Let them know how you feel about
BCBS's position on AD/HD. Call the office of the Maryland Insurance
Commissioner. Medication is important in the treatment of AD/HD, but
we need to have the option of multimodal interventions.

======== This Week: In the News ==========

Thirteenth Annual Conference on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Communicating the Science of AD/HD: From Fiction to Fact

When: October 18-20, 2001
Where: Anaheim, California

There are 60+ Sessions Addressing Specific Audiences. You will select
sessions of interest to you:
* Healthcare,
* Parents: Managing the Anger of Your Child with AD/HD; Home as Refuge,
* Adult: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,
* Educators: What They Need to Succeed: Behavioral, Instructional &
Organizational Strategies/Supports for AD/HD Students in the
Classroom (K-8),
* College Students/Young Adults: Documenting AD/HD for College
Disability Services; How to Manage Time and Organize Your Life; Risk
and Resiliency in Childhood and Adolescence - Impact on Interventions
* Legal Professionals/Advocates Legal Issues of Behavior Management
Plans and Discipline

And Much More!

Leading experts on AD/HD will share invaluable insight into the
latest treatments and the most recent findings in the field of
medicine, psychiatry and education. For more details please see our
website at www.chaddnorcal.org.

===== Please Tell Us! =====

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. We would also
like to invite readers to share their experiences with us. You can
e-mail your comments to us at CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the right place.


======== Calendar ==========
8/14/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Anxiety - PJ Freeman, MFT, Come learn about powerful techniques to
stop fear, dread, panic and avoidance. PJ Freeman, MFT specializes in
helping people with generalized anxiety or acute intense
anxiety/panic episodes, obsessive thinking, compulsive behaviors,
post-traumatic stress or phobias. She conducts groups at the Family
Services Agency of Marin in San Rafael and maintains a private
practice in Corte Madera.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
8/15/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting, Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
8/20/2001, Mon. 7:30 - 9pm - San Francisco
Adult Drop-In Support Group, If you have questions about AD/HD, then
this is where you should to start.
CPMC California Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco
Warmline: 415-442-1944
============================
8/21/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
8/22/2001, Wed. 9-10:30am - Marin
Support Group for Parents of Children / Teens with ADHD, Share your
concerns with a parent who really understands.
10 Glen Drive, Mill Valley - Contact: Mary Jo Sorensen: 415-388-8817
============================
8/28/2001, Tues. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Tom Quinn - Dads and ADHD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
9/5/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting, Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
10/18/2001, through 10/20/01 - ****
CHADD Thirteenth Annual Conference on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder, Communicating the Science of AD/HD: From Fiction to Fact
Anaheim Marriot, Anaheim, CA - See Website: www.chadd.org/conference.htm