Seeing A General Psychologist

[bentHnau]

I have been fighting a lot with my health insurance provider for someone who specializes in evaluating Asperger's Syndrome. They have given me an appointment with a psychologist (could be a psychiatrist, I can't remember) who has told me that she cannot provide such an evaluation. According to my insurance provider, I should get a psychiatric evaluation and then proceed based on the psychologist's findings. However, as AS is not a psychiatric condition, I don't see how anyone without expertise could either legitimately rule it out or decide that a referral for an AS evaluation is necessary based on a psychiatric evaluation. Come to think of it, I went for a psychiatric evaluation at a local clinic and was refused outright after the staff found out that I suspected Asperger's Syndrome. Furthermore, I am very hesitant to consent to be evaluated for a bunch of psychiatric disorders, as the doctor's lack of AS expertise (and desire for repeat business) could incline her to misdiagnose me with any number of unsuitable conditions. In the past I saw a general psychologist who agreed that an AS evaluation is suitable, but I have new insurance and they will not take the advice of this out-of-network provider.

So does going to this appointment seem like a good use of my time? There is a state law that autism-related care must be covered by all managed insurance providers, and I'm planning to make a complaint if I am not provided with specialist care. I'm thinking that evidence from this shrink could boost my case if she agrees with me, but it could hurt my case if she doesn't agree, and both cases are equally likely given her lack of expertise.

 

[Ereth]

Well, you won't know if it'll help if you don't go, so even if you have no other reason to attend, you'll at least get an answer to that question.

 

[mama_lotus]

It sounds like they are trying to rule out psychiatric conditions first and then will proceed to an autism diagnosis. Seeing as psychiatric disorders are currently "more prevalent" (not really, but for all intents and purposes, they statistically still *are* to insurance companies) that is where you are going to have to start.