The problem is that the reimbursement rates for certain specialties are low relative to procedures heavy ones. I don't blame for psychologists or psychiatrists not taking insurance.
We should instead straighten out the reimbursement schedule so that mental health can finally achieve parity with physical health.

Anonymous wrote:I would never go to a doctor who doesn't take insurance...soooo obvious they do it for the money only and not for the patient. A really good doctor would not only try to help his patients, try to keep them OUT OF his office as much as possible, but would also try to not rip them off and instead let them use the insurance they pay for every month for exactly this very reason. Funny that people don't get that

You are the one who is out of touch with reality, sweetheart.

I would never go to a doctor who doesn't take insurance...soooo obvious they do it for the money only and not for the patient. A really good doctor would not only try to help his patients, try to keep them OUT OF his office as much as possible, but would also try to not rip them off and instead let them use the insurance they pay for every month for exactly this very reason. Funny that people don't get that

OP here, thanks for the recs. This is for a child/teen who was prescribed meds only by our pediatrician. I really want someone who can think through each med and has a lot of experience. That was the "expert" request.

I have heard very good things about Dr. CT Gordon in Rockville, particularly regarding medication management.

Someone named hector Parrada was recommended to me by my ped to address concerns about ADHD meds and weight loss/growth in a skinny kid.

19:17, I appreciate the info. Sounds like there is a lot of subtlety involved, more than I know. And that does sound like a decent coverage for out of network !

@19:17, prescribing ADHD medication is a bit of an art. Different people react very differently to the same medication. I have one child whose meds are prescribed by a ped and one whose meds are prescribed by a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is much more familiar with all the meds, the various options and dosages, is much more familiar in general with the various possibilities, and is more willing to experiment with different dosages and options.

Our psychiatrist does not take insurance, but I submit the claims out of network and I get decent reimbursement, generally $80 for a $130 visit.

Anonymous wrote:We see Naomi Schnittman in Bethesda and she has been wonderful for meds management. The no insurance is a bummer but I like that she is so in tune with meds, current research, and really understanding my child.

I second the rec for Dr. Schnittman. She's awesome.

19:17 for some reason in my anecdotal experience the best ones do private pay. I think its because the $$ differential for them is significant and the need is great. Combine those two things together and you have a lot of doctors doing this.

I finally found one in-network and she refused to agree that DD needed to be medicated outside the school year when her issues were impulse driven - schoolwork was the least of our issues (though it was one) but dr didn't want to up her ADHD meds.

Went private, doctor was willing to be more aggressive about upping med dose, risk taking behavior stopped. That is HUGE in a teen who was prone to making some very dangerous decisions. So to keep DD safe, we pay a premium to see this doctor.

Np here looking at possible meds for our impulsive ADHD child...why do you need an expert psychiatrist for this esp if they don't take insurance. This is a sincere q...I don't get it.

Rick Silver at Thrive in Columbia is excellent - I'm not sure if he himself is taking new patients.

We see Naomi Schnittman in Bethesda and she has been wonderful for meds management. The no insurance is a bummer but I like that she is so in tune with meds, current research, and really understanding my child.

Anonymous wrote:ISO a really good psychiatrist in MD (Silver Spring area preferred) who is really good with adolescents and ADHD meds. If they are great with adolescents themselves that's good too but not as critical...

There are some really great ones in the area but be prepared for a long wait before you can get an appointment, and a lot of $$$. they don't accept insurance.

Will find my list and repost in a bit.

In the meantime, can you tell us why you're searching? in other words, is he already on meds but nothing seems to be working? or he's having strange side-effects? What kind of ADHD is it? inattentive?

ISO a really good psychiatrist in MD (Silver Spring area preferred) who is really good with adolescents and ADHD meds. If they are great with adolescents themselves that's good too but not as critical...