Columnist: Efforts to get help lead family down a ‘rabbit hole’
May 4th, 2008Son qualifies, but Missouri has no money for services
St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan writes again about Richard and Donna Schnurman, who are trying to get adult services for their son Brent. Despite the assistance of a state representative, the Schnurmans are caught on a “journey into the rabbit hole of the Missouri mental health system where nothing is quite as it seems.”
After many phone calls, the Schnurmans get some good news: Brent qualifies for “crisis” services under Medicaid waivers. But there is also bad news: he won’t receive the services because funds are not available.
Another parent tells McClellan he was in a similar situation and successfully sued for the Medicaid services. “I’ve been lied to so many times I don’t trust anybody in state government. The Department of Mental Health should be my son’s advocate, not his adversary,” he says.
Meanwhile, the Schnurmans are tired, and desperate for help. “It does not speak well of Missouri that we have no help to give,” McClellan writes.
Earlier column here.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, May 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm and is filed under Medicaid, NOT2BEMISSED, autism, young adults.
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