Squeezing The Taxpayer

An emergency evaluation with no treatment? No wonder it was difficult to get an appointment. If it is not an emergency what is the hurry? Depressed people can read a funny book, eat ice cream, cake, and candy, and see a funny movie while they wait. By that time they may no longer be depressed. Having an emotion is not a mental illness as psychiatrists believe. This is one more effort to squeeze more taxpayer money for the psychiatric industry and the human services industry.

[From article]
"Researchers at Cambridge Health Alliance and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center called 64 mental health facilities within a 10-mile radius of downtown Boston. They posed as patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance who were evaluated for depression at emergency departments and discharged with instructions to get a psychiatric appointment within two weeks.
The researchers say just four facilities could accommodate an appointment that soon."

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20110721survey_psychiatric_care_hard_to_find_in_mass/

Survey: Psychiatric care hard to find in Mass
By Associated Press
Boston Herald
Thursday, July 21, 2011