President’s Report
By Terry Zenner

The LACSW Board met on August 13, 2004. Sixteen LCSW’s traveled to Baton Rouge to attend the annual planning meeting. This included three new board members, Dr. Susan Mittendorf of Baton Rouge, Marjorie Roniger of New Orleans and Connie Konikoff of Lafayette. We welcome them and look forward to their participation on the Managed Care and Membership Committees.

The treasury status is “O.K.”. A recent workshop boosted the balance sheet (see elsewhere) by $5000.00. Though membership renewals are lagging, the nice, wonderful, oh yeah I forgot, generous, delayed payers usually come through. Additionally there are plans in the making for our sponsoring workshops in October, and two more before our budget year ends July 1, 2005. So thanks to our terrific treasurer, Charlene Spears, who Quickens our understanding of the future; also to Skip Morlier and his Education Committee crew, on whom we strongly depend for income. Well done!

Big kudos go to Debbie Fernandez, Legislative Chair, and our royal purple cape-able lobbyist, Maxine Cormier. See related stories for their past achievements and future goals. Maxine reminds us that now, when the legislature is not in session, is a good time to offer our legislator a get to know you/him/her breakfast or lunch. “Let” them steal the conversation. It’s about them!

Know that a new blossom is budding in the Mentoring Committee, headed in New Orleans by Donna Lewis (504-837-3241) and at LSU-BR by Anita Evans (225-925-9040). About a dozen LACSW members have thus far volunteered, half in each territory. Call Donna or Anita to sign on as a mentor, an experienced professional/friend to an inexperienced professional/friend. It can take many forms, but has none of the liabilities of being their therapist or supervisor. You too can be a friend to a “yute”. (Joe Pesci’s pronunciation of youth).

Maria Klette-Ketchum and Larry Gooch are continually brainstorming on the Membership Committee. Maria and Laura Myers are also doubling on the Media Committee, which has created the LACSW brochures, and will plan a membership directory for next year.

LACSW can be proud to say we were responsible for this letter being sent.

August 18, 2004

Dear Licensed Clinical Social Worker:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) is dedicated to maintaining complience with all state and federal laws as they become effective.

In accordance with Louisiana HB711, BCBSLA will no longer require licensed clinical social workers to submit a Social Work Attestation Form for claims processed on or after August 15, 2004.

If you have any questions about BCBSLA's policies regarding the Social Worker Attestation Form or any other issues, please call Blueline at (800) 392-4067.

Sincerely,

Dawn E. Cantrell
Vice President

Clinical Social Work Federation Update
By Terry Zenner

On, August 16, 2004, Abigail Grant, President of CSWF sent a letter including the following:

“At the May Board meeting, the Finance Chair presented a budget with a deficit of $54,000.00, with recommendations for decreasing this deficit. In addition to the decision to put the FTPA on inactive status, the Board also voted on proposed cuts to the budget from all areas, including discontinuing the yearly per diem to the President, the daily per diem to the Executive Committee for meals during Board meetings, the funding of only three committees for the next year, and the decision to have only one Board meeting in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. This reduced the budget’s deficit to $32,000.00. All these decisions were very difficult as evidenced by the length of the discussion which took the entire morning and part of the afternoon.”

At the above mentioned one CSWF Board meeting in mid-October, 2004, the state Presidents/Representatives will be asked to endorse a presently unknown dues increment increase per member from the state “societies” to CSFW. The LACSW Board, with some dissenting , agreed to vote in favor of such an increase, (up to $5.00 per member more). In the event of this passing at CSWF, LACSW will absorb the increased cost. There is NO discussion within LACSW of increasing our dues. The primary reason to support CSWF is that they remain the sole national voice for clinical social work practice. NASW and most graduate schools do not support clinical social work with focused energy. They both obviously have other areas to legitimately support. What saves clinical education in this state is our licensing law, which stipulates that we are trained to diagnose and treat. That is a thin thread on which to hang, not to be taken casually, lest we lose our right to practice.

Did You Know?

I thought I’d scrutinized our website thoroughly, and was surprised to be informed of a deeply hidden little jewel at www.lacsw.org. Leesa Sitter, our Managed/Unmanaged Care Chairperson, pointed me to an easy means to submit a complaint to the Insurance Commission. Maybe “straight forward” would be a better adjective than “easy”, but check this out: Go to the Members Only section. The user name may by default already be there. If not, type in LACSW, with the password being strength. Go to Tips/Managed Care. Click on complaint form at the bottom of a paragraph. You must have “Adobe Reader”, which is a free download at www.adobe.com. With that installed, you will come upon a complaint form with return address to the Insurance Commissioner. The wheel that squeaks gets oiled. Squeak a little when you get the Managed Care blues.

Welcome to a new LACSW member who joined since the June Newsletter:

Emilia Bellone

Carolyn Fabre

Johnie Gachassin

Angel Huval

Marjorie Roniger

Carolyn Wanek

Schedule of the LACSW Board Meetings:

Fridays, 10:00A.M.- ~ 2:00P.M.
Synergy Hospital, Baton Rouge

October 22, 2004

December 10, 2004

February 4, 2005

April 1, 2005

June 17, 2005

August 11, 2005

Any member is welcome to attend. The meetings always expand knowledge of what’s happening in many domains of social work. It’s a good way to taste whether you might want to commit to being a board member.

If interested, call for directions:
337-989-9350 (Terry Zenner)

Treasurer’s Report

Upcoming Workshops

ZENNER HAD A DREAM, OWEN HAD A NIGHTMARE

(the following is offered with the author’s permission, in lieu of the usual I Have A Dream Column)

MANAGED CARE IN 2050: Touchstone Healthcare Corporation
By Michael B. Owen

Customer Service Representative (CSR): Hello. My name is Susan. I am your Touchstone Health Care Customer Service Representative. This call may be recorded to ensure quality and compliance with federal regulations. How may I help you?

Ralph: My name is Ralph and I am calling to get an authorization for a medical procedure.

CSR: Ralph, are you a patient or a medical professional?

Ralph: Patient

CSR: Well, I am sorry, Ralph, but Touchstone only authorizes procedures that are requested by a

licensed physician or physician assistant.

Ralph: But I was told by my doctor that I could directly request an assisted suicide from Touchstone.

CSR: Yes, sir that is correct. Assisted suicide is an exempt procedure. We need only an automated order from your physician and your verbal statement requesting the procedure. Please give me your account number, and I can verify your doctor’s automated request.

Ralph: 217-502-4569

CSR: Thank you. The verification will only take a second.

Ralph: While I am waiting, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

CSR: Of course not. I am you Touchstone customer service representative and happy to help in anyway I can.

Ralph: Why is assisted suicide an exempt procedure?

CSR: Assisted suicide is exempt because it does not require medical intervention from a health care provider. It is an in-home procedure that patients may administer themselves.

Ralph: You mean there is no medical supervision at all. What part is “assisted”?

CSR: The term “assisted suicide” was first used around the turn of the century when physicians administered and monitored high-cost, inpatient, suicide procedures. Since that time research has proven that self-administered suicide procedures have identical outcomes to physician-assisted suicide and can be provided at a much lower cost. Although the physician-assisted concept has been obsolete for many years, we still refer to the procedure as assisted suicide.

Ralph: If I administer the suicide myself, why do I even need to use my health care plan?

CSR: It is the law, Ralph. Assisted suicide procedures and methods are regulated by both federal and state governments. It is administered under END-A, the Early Need for Death Act that was passed by Congress in 2020. Since that time, unapproved suicides are illegal and punishable by fine and imprisonment.

Ralph: What’s the reason for that?

CSR: Unapproved suicides can be highly ineffective and often result in incomplete suicides. One incomplete suicide can leave a patient and his or her family with extremely high, long-term, health care costs. Ten years ago, Unregulated Incomplete Suicides (UIS) were threatening the viability of the entire Universal Health Care System. On the other hand, Approved Assisted Suicide is the most cost-effective medical procedure in the history of health care. The Administration of END-A has now established best-practice guidelines and inexpensive toolkits that ensure an effective, safe suicide experience of about 98% of patients who are eligible for the procedure.

Ralph: Well, I have always tried to follow the advice of my personal physician.

CSR: Very wise, Ralph. Touchstone Healthcare encourages all eligible patients to use Approved Assisted Suicide. Most patients are highly satisfied with the outcome and benefit package. Oh good, I see your doctor’s order is on my screen. Okay, I can move to the authorization process.

Ralph: How does that work?

CSR: I will ask you a series of questions. I will record your answers for privacy and compliance requirements. Ready?

Ralph: I guess so.

CSR: Okay, Ralph, state your name, date of birth, and patient account number.

Ralph: Ralph Craven. Date of Birth was 06/27/20. My account number is

217-502-4569.

CSR: Ralph, what is your physician-approved END?

Ralph: What?

CSR: What is your Early Need for Death?

Ralph: I have Predicted Genetic Terminal Illness.

CSR: Has your physician explained what that means?

Ralph: Yes. It means that DNA tests have determined that I definitely will die from something within three to five years. It is not possible to predict what disease will cause my death, but the DNA predictive test results were conclusive. My doctor said the three to five year prognosis makes me eligible for Approved Assisted Suicide.

CSR: Ralph, did your physician explain the Suicide Benefit Package?

Ralph: Yes. In fact, the benefit package is what helped me make the decision to go with assisted suicide. The package is jut too good to pass up. My family will receive a Suicide Choice Rebate from the Touchstone Healthcare, and they will still collect my life insurance.

CSR: Right, Ralph. For most people it is a real win-win situation. Well, let me go ahead and email you the Patient Suicide Handbook and Toolkit. The handbook describes the procedure and tells you how to prepare and what to expect from your assisted suicide. The Toolkit includes your choice of a lethal dose of Endal, or a reusable handgun. If you choose the handgun option, a family member must ship the gun back to Touchstone within thirty days or its cost will be deducted from your Suicide Choice

Rebate. The Patient Suicide Handbook also is loaded with other practical information about crematoria and other resources that you might be interested in. Shall I ship your Handbook and Toolkit today?

Ralph: Okay. And I will take the Endal option.

CSR: Excellent choice, Ralph. Your Handbook and complete Assisted Suicide Toolkit will arrive by UPS within 24 hours.

Ralph: Thanks.

CSR: Is there anything else I can help you with today, Ralph?

Ralph: No thank you Susan. You have been very helpful. I’m sure I will be quite satisfied.

AHHH...CHER BABIES

On August 30, 2004 it was announced that the nation’s HMOs nearly doubled their profits during 2003, earning $10.2 billion, an 86 percent increase over the $5.5 billion reported in 2002, according to Weiss Rating, Inc., the nation’s leading independent provider of ratings and analyses of financial services companies, mutual funds, and stocks.

In analyzing HMO’s earnings, Weiss found that one company, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, reported a $1.1 billion increase in net profit, which represents one-fifth of the industry’s net profit improvement. The increase is a result of regulatory changes that required the company to consolidate its year-end financial statements for all entities owned, including hospital and provider groups.

LACSW
P.O. Box 14153
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: 225-761-1668
Fax: 337-989-8458
Email: LACSW2@hotmail.com

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:

Synergy Home Health:

Moving? Missed an Issue?

Please contact us at:

LACSW P.O. Box 14153 Baton Rouge, LA 70808
or
lacsw2@hotmail.com

To Contact Your Licensing Board:

Send $5.00 to the board for a copy of “The Rules, Standards, and Procedures of the Louisiana Social Work Practice Act– amended Oct.24, 2003.

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners 18550 Highland Road—Suite B Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Phone: (225) 756-3470 or 800-521-1941 (LA only) email: socialwork@labswe.org Website: http://www.labswe.org

Contact Information:

LACSW Officers:

President– Terry Zenner 337-989-9350

President Elect— Judith Haspel 504-891-5807

Secretary— Leesa Sitter 318-226-8753

Treasurer— Charlene Spears 337-237-9150

Regional Board—Baton Rouge

Anita Evans, Deborah Fernandez, Judy Holland, Maureen Powell, Justin Schleis, Larry Gooch

New Orleans– Anne Heard, Mimi Jalenak, Donna Lewis, George Morlier, Laura Myers

Slidell— Maria Klette-Ketchum

Covington— Carol Miles

Shreveport— Beth Porter, Peggy Salley