“Professional inpatient detoxification users” are one reason why Medicaid costs are out of control in New York.
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This is a huge problem in my state also. What the article doesn’t address, is where are the doctors in this? Are they taking any responsibility for making sure that the patients are getting the right treatment, not just the most treatment or most profitable treatment?
What I see in my state is that many psychiatrists try to be responsible and say “No” to people asking for inpateint detox who are low risk because the just went through a detox or who never follow up with outpatient and are therefore better served left alone to use rather than the risk of another pointless withdrawel episode.
Others admit all comers with virtually no questions asked before admission, little history, virtually no attention to breaking the revolving door with more agressive outpatient plans, and standard rubber stamp detox protocals for all, which end up being inadequate to prevent complications for the severe addicts.
Why should the taxpayer keep paying these hacks? I think that patients should no longer be detoxed after a certain number of detox episodes, say a maximum of 3 detox episodes in a 5 years period. They are not entitled to state paid care, it is not a constitutional right and is an optional program that the American people have generously decided to fund. Those who abuse should be booted off–doctors and patients alike.
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