President’s Update
by Terry Zenner LCSW (Laf)

Your Board met on August 8th with 17 LCSW’s investing their Friday afternoon in your behalf. Two new Board members attended: Beth Porter, Shreveport, and Donna Lewis, New Orleans.

Thanks to a day’s donation of presentation (and more in preparation) by our Treasurer, Charlene speakers, our bank account is in the black. We will need another $4000 in income to meet our planned expenses before next June. So please continue to encourage/urge peer to join. Membership applications and more are available on our must-see website. You’ll be proud of it, and again we have Charlene to thank. Your entry means into members-only areas: name lacsw; password strength.

While on the subject, the Board decided to allow notation of your website or other means of contacting you on the LACSW website if you author a professional article to be posted. That’s free publicity for your practice, folks! Please limit that to less than a page, as it costs us to add it our website.

By the time you receive this we’ll have behind us our own workshop at River Oaks in New Orleans on Sept. 12th. Thanks to Skip Morlier and the rest of the Education Committee for arranging it. We hope to gain some net income, because again your fellow social workers are donating their time as presenters. If you see them or work with them, give these dedicated professionals a big thank-you. Here’s to Bill Knight, Barry Pilson, Deb Henson, William Janzen, Andre Stern, Carol Miles, Maria Kette-Ketchum, Joe Wegmann, and Eileen Palace. Obviously, this workshop offered a buffet of classes.

LACSW Membership cards should be in your possession by now. If you didn’t get one, call Maria Kette-Ketchum at 985-646-2831.

LACSW email: lacsw2@hotmail.com

LACSW website: http://www.LACSW.org

CSWF Update—Terry Zenner (LCSW)

LACSW is affiliated with the Clinical Social Work Federation, a conglomerate of various state clinical chapters. Its executive committee is considering forming a national organization (such as NASW) as opposed to the federation, which has states operating independently.

“I Have A Dream—#3”—Terry Zenner, LCSW (Laf)

“Dream big. There is little power in little plans.” H. Jackson Brown

As with any other goal that’s eventually accomplished, verbalizing it, writing it down, or declaring it to someone helps make it happen. In regard to reclaiming management over your practice, make an expressed commitment to begin weaning from managed care. Start with the easiest, lowest risk baby step: talk to peers about out dropping your least productive contact; then do it: resign!

More ideas on alternatives to life under managed-care:

Start a private practice in one of these parishes that has no LCSW’s:

Cameron, East Carroll, LaSalle, Natchitoches, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, Tensas.

Become certified as one of the practitioners of any of these programs:

Condolences

Treasurer’s Report
 Charlene Spears, LCSW (Laf)

ASSETS

Cash & Bank Accts

Cert. of Deposit                         $5,712.69
Checking                                       15,558.33
Savings Acct.                                    695.95
Cash Acct.                                              0.00

TOTAL ASSETS:                      $21,966.97

LIABILITIES                                                      0.00

EQUITY                                                   $21,966.97

TOTAL                                                 $21,966.97

There is no change in the Treasurer’s Report this issue.

Managed and Unmanaged Care  — Terry Zenner, LCSW (Laf)

Your Managed and Unmanaged Care Committee (latter—functioning without MCO’s...see “I Have A Dream” column) Chairpersons are Stanley Masinter, 225-927-0252 and Leesa Sitter, 318-226-8753. If you are struggling with any such issues, call them for feedback as to who else may be, and how they recommend addressing the problem.

Magellan Update —Mim Aretsky, LCSW (BR)

At this point all claims for state group mental health services provided after 8/31/03 should go through United Behavioral Health. I have been informed by Wayne Feest (executive VP of Magellan) and Deb Happ (director of the Dallas Service Center for Magellan) that all clean claims for services prior to Augsut 31 qill be paid by Magellan. All authorizations issues by Magellan will be honored by UBH, even if the authorization period is after Sept. 1. If you are having trouble getting clean claims paid, please call Magellan at 1-800-224-0012 and speak to someone in the claims resolution unit.

I am presently trying to get Magellan to preprocess the claims without the providers having to rebill. I have not gotten this agreement set in stone yet but it is in the works.

Our Corporate Sponsor, Synergy, Offers Regional Services

Synergy Healthcare Group offers Inpatinet Psychiatric Services in Baton Rouge and Lutcher, as well as Community Mental Health Centers in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Slidell.

Transitional Living services are offered in Baton Rouge and new Orleans, and Home Healthcare Services are located in Baton Rouge, Hammond, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Kenner.

Referral Lines:

Transitional Living:

LACSW wishes to thank SYNERGY HOSPITAL

(4040 North Blvd, BR, 225-343-1994) for donating help and space for our Board meetings.

Office Space for Rent in Lafayette

Office Space shared with two experienced LCSWs— Numerous amenities. $420, plus utilities.