First, I’d like to start with just some good ol’ gay repressed catholic boy advice. If you let your black little chihuahua sleep with you in the bed and you get up to go pee at night, make sure when you get back in bed and stretch over to give her a kiss on her nose, make sure you have the right end.
Also, I realize that I have my own reactive Britnay Spear that I use from time to time. Like yesterday when I laid my brown little face down to go meemees I thought about how I was talking shit about Down the Drain Jane or Plain Jane in a post yesterday. Although she is wicked like a viper – ready to bite anyone and everyone, it doesn’t mean that I should bully the bully. I thought to myself, “That was way harsh, Tai.” I realize I don’t need to join the viper in the snake pit.
I think at this point I’m just over mean bitches. The world is full of them and they don’t have to turn us into one, but I’ll hold on to my Britnay Spear should I need it. Hurt people hurt people and I’m on a healing journey myself and loving it. No need to use that Spear just yet. But I do hate fuckin bullies.
Moving on, you know how we are having a mental health crisis here in America, Am Erica? Well bitches like me get to be on the front lines for it. I’m honored to serve our community in that capacity and hope to always do so, but bitches be trying to push people’s buttons out here sometimes. The old me sure wants to come out to play with those bitches, but I’d rather keep my inner bitch on lock until I really need her. This work has proven to be too fulfilling and rewarding to let these hoes try and fuck it up for me.
Regardless of if you agree with me or not, we are in mental health crisis right now. Wars, racism, the evil oppressive spirit of white supremacy and the KKK reimagined, insurrectionist and his lies, a rigged Supreme Court with a couple of corrupt judges (allegedly), oh and it costs a lot to survive these days and even more to live a decent life, and opportunities aren’t abundant for people like you and me. (At least not the brown happy homos- so we carve our own path.)
Recently I fearfully and excitedly started my own business. I never thought that I could do it, but I am, so far it’s motha tuckin workin. And for the haters out there (cause I have my own) I say to you fuck you (so very far away from me). I’m doing it now, my way, without harassment, shitty bosses, or being paid less than my white counterparts. I hope to keep doing it too. One of the hardest things starting my practice was doing the credentialing process for the various contracts. Ugh, sigh, and double ick. They don’t make it easy, but I did it, am doing it, because I too need to survive (and hopefully thrive).
People out there are struggling right now, then throw in the pain and suffering from being oppressed because you’re a member of the queer community, it just magnifies it. Our trans brothers and sisters (and non-gender conforming community members) got it the worst, I don’t care what you feel about trans rights, they are human beings and deserve to be treated with just as much dignity and respect as anyone else. JUST AS MUCH AS YOU!
Regardless of how you feel, people need help and a good/decent therapist. I’m neither, cause I think I’m a great one. Well, I give myself like an A-. Not perfect, sometimes a little late, but hey I’m still tits. And these tits are having a problem with how much two different insurance companies are reimbursing the bills I submit for.
The worst of the two is Cigna, they pay even less than half of what the Medi-Cal and Medicare reimbursement rates are. How is that possible? I don’t know how they feel comfortable with that. In addition, Blue Cross of CA only pays $10-15 more than Cigna and both of these rates are for contracted workers.
So, I guess, at the time, I didn’t understand that I was agreeing to put my own needs aside and accept less than half of what the federal government’s reimbursement rates are, just to participate in their networks. Do social workers talk about this kinda shit? Am I late to the party? Where is the social work union? I know we have NASW but how do they even sit idle and accept such low reimbursement rates? Has the party where we demand more not even started? Heller? Do social workers not advocate for themselves? WTF is wrong with that picture. Set an example baaaatches.
If these insurance companies want quality clinicians to jump through those tough hoops to serve their clients and then accept the smallest wages reimbursed, it might just be too much for my little brown self; and I’m clearly not talking about the payment.
How does our state and federal legislatures scream that we need mental health services and then expect us to get paid nothing after racking up so much student loan debt??? Be poor for 10 years and you’ll forgive that student loan debt, eh? Well guess what…that’s a rough 10 years to work for a city/state/fed gov job that pays you shitty. What if we die of the stress from having to work 2 jobs just to survive those 10 years, much less setting our own mental health issues aside from the struggle. How come no one is taking care of us?
Shame on all parties, insurance companies, social workers (for not demanding better sooner), and the state and federal law makers for not making it illegal or insurance companies to pay less than freakin Medicare to their contracted providers. No wonder there are so few providers in these networks accepting new patients, and that directly has an impact on the lives of those insured by these corporations. Shame! Catholic repressed gay boy wagging his finger at you- shame on you! You expect me to prioritize your insured by extending my poverty? Well no. I don’t want to anymore. My basic needs are important too.
Likely this time next year I won’t be taking those insurances unless something changes. I say that with a bit of sadness cause I love my clients with this insurance. I personally have Cigna and when I was looking for mental health, I couldn’t find anyone close that was accepting clients. And don’t give me shit about wanting therapy, cause EVERYBODY needs to talk to someone, including me. Sometimes trauma finds us when we aren’t even looking for it. In those cases, we need to talk to someone and get help. Even me.
I hope this letter reaches the ears of some law maker, maybe the future Congressman Will Rollins can address better pay for social workers in the future. 😊 Good luck to you. We are all rootin for you. We should also be rooting for ourselves social workers, advocate for YO’self! It’s okay to express your needs too. We need to know our own worth. Just because we are known historically to wear our hearts on our sleeves, doesn’t mean that those sleeves have to be second hand sleeves. I want my own motha fuckin sleeves, where I owned it first!
Pay me what I’m worth!
Pay Social Workers what they are worth!
On the Verge of Thriving (I can feel it),
The Happy Homo
PS VOTE VOTE VOTE – it’s not too late to register https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voting-california/registering-vote?ref=voteusa_ar
PSS Yes, I sure do love the JLo er’thang. Hummingbird realness – fuck yes! Healing right along to every song, video, and can’t wait to see HER in person. EEEEEEEE! Gay happy homo squeal. This was me dancing in the rain with the hummingbirds, during the last storm. They danced for their food, like many of us do.
PSSS Bully the bully? Sometimes bullies only understand one language, but I don’t want to speak that tongue anymore, unless I have to.
PSSSS Bob the Drag Queen get dat bitch – do not let her pass go. LOL
PSX5 I have been having the best results with the Accelerated Resolution Therapy for my clients. I’ve done it with 6 people so far, well 7 but the 7th didn’t get past the first sentence in the script. The 6 that I have done it with, that gave it a chance had fucking spectacular results. Like I’m amazed to the point where I almost cried a couple times to see these people without their trauma. It’s the most beautiful and humbling thing to witness. I can’t trade that for snatching up a bitch who needs it, unless I have to. It’s just too fucking amazing to experience. I love it, love them, and love you (most of you).
PSX6 Taken from a google search, “By comparison, Cigna earned $1.2 billion in profit in the prior-year quarter, as well as $45.8 billion in revenue. At the end of the year, the company posted $5.2 billion in profit and $195.3 billion in revenue. In 2022, it reported $6.7 billion in profit and $180.5 billion in revenue, according to the report.”
PSX7 Blue Shield of CA, FINANCIALS https://www.blueshieldca.com/es/home/about-blue-shield/corporate-information/financials
Financial summary
Blue Shield of California reported a net income of $237 million in 2021, against revenues from premiums and other sources of more than $22.9 billion. Of the company’s total revenue, $20 billion, or 87.7 percent, was spent on medical care in claims paid to healthcare facilities and providers.
Our 2% Pledge: We are the only major health plan to voluntarily cap our income at two percent of revenue, returning the difference back to our customers and the communities we serve. Since establishing this pledge in 2011, Blue Shield has returned $817 million to our members and California communities, with approval from our Board of Directors.
In 2021, Blue Shield of California made a $40-million contribution to Blue Shield of California Foundation, whose mission is to build lasting and equitable solutions that make California the healthiest state and to end domestic violence.
(They expect therapists to be there for victims of DV, how about you pay LCSWs at least as much as Medi-Cal or Medicare do.)
