Mental Health Issues of Iraq Vets

Up to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans may have mental health issues, according to a Rand study. The article on the U.S. News blog reports that some 300,000 troops report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. Slightly more than half have sought treatment, according to the study by Rand.

Rand researchers estimate that PTSD and depression among returning U.S. troops will cost America some $5.2 billion in the first two years after their return. Since 2001, about 1.6 million U.S. troops have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Researchers surveyed 1,965 U.S. troops across the country. Half said they had a friend who was seriously wounded or killed, 45 percent said they saw dead or seriously injured civilians, and more than 10 percent said they were personally injured and required hospitalization.

Neurofeedback/Biofeedback Presentation-February 2008

Mary Glassman, RN, LCSW and Dr. Lisa L. Merrifield presented a mini-series workshop on Feb. 4 on biofeedback and neurofeedback.

Biofeedback and neurofeedback are tools that assist individuals with improving functioning in areas such as education, performance, and disease management.

Mary Glassman graduated with a R.N. degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and she has a Masters degree in Social Work from UNO. She has been certified in biofeedback for over 25 years. Mary has a private practice in Omaha in which she specializes in chronic pain and anxiety, utilizing biofeedback and neurofeedback.

Contact information for the two presenters:

Mary Glassman, RN, LCSW
702 N. 129th Street, Suite 105
Omaha, NE 68154
Phone: 402.898.3141
Fax 402.431.1535

Dr. Lisa L. Merrifield
1941 S. 42nd Street, Suite 539
Omaha, NE 68105
402.345.2374

How to Write a Letter to the Editor

One way to increase your visibility and credibility as a mental health therapist is to write a letter to the editor for your local newspaper.

A letter to the editor is your chance to inform the public about an issue that is of concern to you. Letters to the editor are one of the most frequently read sections of the newspaper, and your contribution can help increase public support for mental health care issues.

Here are some tips to help you with the letter writing process:

• Always address your letter to "Dear Editor"
• Letters to the editor should be short -- a maximum of three to four paragraphs (100-200 words)
• Keep your sentences short and to the point.
• Stick to only one theme per letter (for example, "confidentiality" or "reimbursement")
• Use your letterhead, and make sure to include your full name, credentials, and a contact phone number
  

Format:

• If your letter is about a controversial issue, start your letter with your credentials. If you're responding to an article or another Letter to the Editor, be sure to reference it in the opening paragraph.
  
• The next paragraph should convey some brief background material. Use the APPT handouts for statistics, facts, and figures regarding the issue (when applicable).
• State your opinion (pro or con)
• Tell the reader what you want him/her to do.
  

Sample Letter:

Dear Editor:

As a licensed mental health practitioner in private practice, I am writing to express my concern about the lack of confidentiality for clients who seek medical and mental health services.

Most people don't know that when they visit their health care provider that a lot of sensitive material is provided to their insurance company as part of the claim filing and reimbursement process. More than just the date of service and a description of the procedure is often required before payment is made. Many times, insurance companies want more -- much more -- like treatment reports, x-rays, chart notes, even copies of your entire file, before they'll pay on even the simplest claim.

I believe that an individual has a basic right to privacy. Insurance companies have not been able to guarantee that they can keep the information that is provided to them safe and secure. I support LB xxx, the healthcare patient protection act, to keep your personal information personal. It's a basic patient/physician privilege, and it doesn't exist right now.

Sincerely,

John Doe, LMHP
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
Public Counseling Center
Lincoln, Nebraska
402.555.9202

Quench Your Thirst for Knowledge with Paperspine

Like to read books, but don't want to invest in creating a permanent library? There's a new service, Paperspine, that is like a Netflix for books.

For as little as $9.95 per month, you can "rent" books like: The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients, War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Minding the Body, Mending the Mind.

There are older books, as well as many new books (published in 2007). The categories of Psychotherapy and Psychology are particularly relevant for therapists.

The subscription may also be tax-deductible if you use it for business books.

Your 2008 Business Plan

December is traditionally the time for private practice therapists to put together their 2008 business plan.

The first step is anticipating revenues. Calculate your hourly rate (not how much you bill, but how much you expect to collect), how many clients you will see, and how many days you will work per year and multiply these amounts. This is your projected revenue per year

From that, you'll need to calculate your expenses--malpractice insurance, rent, electricity, materials, association dues, and marketing. Your overhead will likely equal 30% of your income. Also calculate projected taxes and set aside funds for retirement and capital improvements (new office equipment or furniture, etc.).

Using Fact Sheets to Market Your Practice

Don't want to commit to a newsletter to market your practice? Consider using psychoeducational fact sheets to help clients and referral sources understand the scope of services you provide.

Once you have a relationship with a referral source, you need to keep in touch with them. One of the ways to stay in touch is by supplying them with useful and timely information.

Topics can include general interest items such as Depression, Manging Holiday Stress, Parenting Tips, or Overcoming Your Fears. Or you can target specific populations, such as "Coping with Infertility" or "Helping Teenagers Handle a Divorce."

Identify key audiences for your fact sheets -- for example, pediatricians, OB-GYNs, guidance counselors, family law attorneys, etc. (dpending on the topic). Pick a niche and then plan 4-6 fact sheets for that audience. A quarterly fact sheet is a good frequency to send materials. Less often, and your referral sources might forget you!

Here's some tips to get you started:

• Identify a potential audience of referral sources. Then brainstorm topics that would be most useful to that audience.
• Collect necessary research.
• Create a template for the fact sheet. Make it simple, straightforward, and easy-to-read. Use bullet points for emphasis, and avoid using too much jargon.
• Include lots of helpful tips -- your audience isn't just the referral sources -- you want them to pass the information along to their clients.
• Make sure to have someone edit the fact sheet before you send it out!
  

Tax Strategies Workshop

Thanks to Hugh Hermanek and Janet Osborn of Hancock & Dana, PC for speaking to our APPT members at the Dec. 4 Mini-Series Workshop on "Tax Strategies."

Your choice of business entity can have a big impact on your taxes.

• A sole proprietorship is the easiest to setup. You'll file a regular tax return with a separate Schedule C.
• The Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) offers some limited protection for your personal assets. It's the ideal business structure if you have partners -- it's easy to get into and easy to get out of.
• A S Corporation can also be a good choice for a sole proprietor. If you've been a sole proprietor for a period of time, there can be some tax advantages to evolving into a S Corp. Attorneys will often recommend LLCs, but the S Corp has an advantage from a tax standpoint because you can control the amount of money you pay self-employment tax on. You can elect to pay yourself "a reasonable salary" (which you will pay taxes on), and then receive additional "compensation" in the form of "dividends" as a shareholder of the corporation (not subjec to self-employment tax).

Is record-keeping the bane of your existence?

• Check out this link for a free "Simple Start" version of QuickBooks (Windows only). It's a good way to get into a computerized accounting system (if you've been keeping those records by hand or the "shoebox" method."
• If you'd like the flexibility to access your accounting information from anywhere, QuickBooks also offers an online version, for about $20/month. It can even import your online banking records and allow you to accept credit cards online.
• Compare QuickBooks 2008 Editions
  

Vehicle and Business Mileage Tax Deductions

• If you buy a vehicle for your business, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. But make a good economic and personal decision (not just based on the tax deduction) -- get the vehicle that works for you. If you are considering buying a new vehicle, consult your tax advisor BEFORE you go shopping.
• Do you track your mileage when you drive from your home-based office to the office supply store, the bank, and the post office? How about when you run these errands from work? You should be! The deduction is 48.5 cents for 2007, and 50.5 cents for 2008. It's an 8-mile round trip for me to go to the post office -- so I am able to deduct a little less than $4 per trip using the "Standard Mileage Rate" deduction.
• If you use your car more than 50% exclusively for business, you may wish to use the "Actual Expense" method. Consult your tax advisor for details.

Do you pay for your own health insurance?

• Did you know it may be 100% tax deductible? Have you considered a Health Savings Account (HSA)? I got mine through eHealthInsurance, but shop around for rates. Get a Health Insurance Quote!
  
• Your pretax contributions to an HSA will save you money, and you can roll over your account from year to year. Also, when you turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare, you can convert your HSA account to a retirement account, and not pay tax on distributions.