Idaho Medicaid curbs payments for some disorders

Deseray Burtenshaw’s heart sank last month when she received a letter that could change the life of her 4-year-old son.

The letter from Optum Idaho, the state’s contracted administrator of Medicaid-reimbursed outpatient behavioral health services, said Burtenshaw no longer will be reimbursed for psycho-social rehabilitation to treat her son’s ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - and oppositional defiant disorder.

Psycho-social rehabilitation is a treatment that involves trained professionals taking patients out into society and teaching them the skills they need to cope with their disturbances.

Elijah has been receiving psycho-social rehabilitation services at the Reach Beyond mental health clinic twice a week for nearly a year after behavior problems led to the boy’s repeated dismissals from preschool. His last session is scheduled for July 17. Ali Tadayon, Idaho Falls Post Register Full story.

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