Whelp.
Today was our check in with the psych for both boys to see how their meds are working and what tweaks we might need, etc. Making some adjustments here and there, all good. But then, she trots out that she things both boys could benefit from OT.
Any manner of things for the younger. Executive Function coaching for the elder.
Y'all. I've done the OT dance so many times before when they were little. I just don't want to start it again. But okay, fine. I called a couple of places nearish (because of course the one the psych recommends is in freaking Arlington. Not surprising given that we drive to McLean to see her, but I am not driving to Arlington 2+ times a week from out here. I don't care if the OTs are gold plated.)
The last one though made me want to beat my head against the wall. The conversation went something like this:
Her: Good afternoon thank you for calling OT Land.
Me: Hi, I'm wondering you're accepting new patients for OT.
Her: That would depend on your insurance.
Me: We have HappyFun Insurance. It looked like you listed them on your website.
Her: Yes, we're in network with them.
Me: Great. So...<insert short explanation of what the boys need.>
Her: We can absolutely do that, but with OT we are looking at a 4 - 5 month wait list for an initial evaluation.
Me, to myself, in my head, at maximum volume -- do you think that might be why I asked about new patients before we started this dance?? Because you could have just said, "Yes, but we have a very long wait list" and I would have hung up.
Yarg.
Anyway, I'll call around a little more, but I suspect that it's going to be the same everywhere we look. I might consider seeing if there's something to the south rather than the north because that would probably be less horrible of a drive. But also grrrr.
We had a BCBA we were working with at the tail end of last year for the youngest. She was amazing. But we were paying out of pocket and yeah, not made of money. I'm in hell with the insurance company trying to get it authorized (it would be funny if it wasn't so awful - one person says call this number, they say call this other number, who then refers back to the first number. No one wants you to actually get information. And that's all only after spending 30 minutes yelling OPERATOR into the phone to try to get past the ridiculous automated system.)
I've been contemplating a part-time job, honestly, just to cover the out of pocket costs so we could just go back to the BCBA, because she was fantastic. But I am not honestly sure I'd make enough to actually cover it.
The executive functioning thing...if eldest would freaking listen to me and be willing to learn from me, we wouldn't need it. I 100% guarantee that they will give him the same tools I am trying to give him, but our "relationship" at this point means he'll take advice from literally anyone who is not me. (Case in point, the psych was going over some of the things I have been trying to work with him on. I'm sitting there biting my tongue because the urge to say SEE??? SEEEEEEE??????? was very strong. He's all, "Oh, interesting. What a good idea." I lament to hubby that he's going to be the kid who cuts all contact with us as soon as he doesn't need us for money. I'm not even kidding. But I guess it is what it is.)
No comments:
Post a Comment