Residential Long Term Psychiatric Hospitals

[Candace8888]

Hi,

My daughter is in need of a long-term residential psychiatric treatment program. Our doctors, therapist and insurance company all agree but the problem is that none of the facilities want to take her because of her Spina Bifida, intermittent cathing and MACE. Does anyone know of any facilities that accept children with disabilities? We are in California but anything in the West would probably be realistic, and maybe anywhere in the U.S. Thanks, Candace

[LisaJoy]

Seriously - they can turn her down because of her disability? Check to see if any of those facilities receives federal funds (such as Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement). If they do, they can't refuse your daughter treatment on the grounds of disability (at least, I don't think they can). You might have to get a lawyer involved.

Another possibility is to contact a disability advocacy organization and ask for help finding an appropriate facility. Try http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/.

Oh -- and are there any facilities affiliated with hospitals? For example, here in my town, there is an inpatient psychiatric facility affiliated with Vanderbilt.

[Candace8888]

Thanks for your input, they do receive medicare funds. We had to have her in a crisis psychiatric hospital in February. She waited in the ER of our local hospital for 36 hours while facility after facility refused to take her. They finally found an out of network hospital that would take her. The bills still aren't getting paid by our insurance and it's very frustrating. I think that is a good idea about contacting a disability advocate, thank you!

[Candace8888]

Hey, I just looked at that website you referenced. That looks great! I am going to call the Sacramento office on Monday. Thanks again!!!

[LisaJoy]

Please let us know what you learn. I really think they cannot deny your daughter care because of her disability.

[Candace8888]

Hello,

So, it's taken three weeks but we found a hospital willing to accept our daughter. They do not discriminate against disabilities, they say that they cannot accommodate serious medical conditions or needs for the patients safety/welfare. Since she needs catheters, etc and has medical equipment that has tubing which could be used as a means to hang herself or someone else (the mace bag tubing) she has to be supervised during the first part of the procedure and if they are not staffed heavily enough, this is not possible. We will be admitting her on Tuesday to a place that agreed to take her. I had to consult with the head nurse and explain in detail how it all works and BEG her to take her before it happened. We are very thankful that someone was willing to help her.