uh oh I got a letter today...

[ExMarlboroMan]

From the start: I went voluntarily went to rehab on sept. 13, 2001. The events of sept 11, made me decide to change my life, I was 18 and down and out. I went through a 30 day inpatient treatment, and i have been clean ever since. In fact I went back to the rehab two years later and worked there as a PT PRN in the inpatient adolescent program.

When filling out my paperwork for the CHL it asks if you have been in a drug rehab within the last 5 years. Well it has been 8 years so I asked the instructor if I should even list it. The instructor said yes, so I did. I wrote on the application that I attended xxx rehab in 2001 and gave them the phone number, name, and address of the place.

Now today i got a letter from the Texas department of state health services, saying that the medical advisory board has been requested by txDPS to assist in the evaluation of my case as it pertains to my app for CHL.

They are asking me to take a few papers to my physician of choice, personally one most familiar with my psychiatric background. Well i don't have any physician, I barely even have a regular doctor that i see only when i'm deathly ill lol.


Where do i go from here?

[killerfly128]

I don't have any pertinent information on this but I do want to say congrats on staying clean!!

[seamusTX]

Can you get in touch with the physician that supervised your rehab, or the current medical director of the facility?

They will have your records available without a bunch of waivers and back-and-forth.

- Jim

[ExMarlboroMan]

I think I'll go by the facility tommorow and see who I can talk to there, hopefully some of the same people still work there.

But should I first call the DPS and see if they can be of any help in the matter?

I have no clue who the "physician" would have been for me, but i can try to find out. It's not a stick you in a cell and watch you, and have meetings with your physician everyday kinda place like you might see in the movies. Though i do think i remember there being some person who did some formal paper work for my release.


After reading this paperwork a little closer, I'm not so sure that any doctor couldn't just fill it out after a "sound judgement evaluation".

[seamusTX]

But should I first call the DPS and see if they can be of any help in the matter?

I'm sorry, but I don't know one way or the other.

I have no clue who the "physician" would have been for me, but i can try to find out.

Every treatment center has a licensed MD somewhere up the chain of command. You may never have met him.

- Jim

[ExMarlboroMan]

But should I first call the DPS and see if they can be of any help in the matter?

I'm sorry, but I don't know one way or the other.

I have no clue who the "physician" would have been for me, but i can try to find out.

Every treatment center has a licensed MD somewhere up the chain of command. You may never have met him.

- Jim

Thanks, Jim

I may have to try and find that MD, then again the wording in this letter is IMO unclear.


From the handbook:
GC 411.172. (E) (3) Inpatient or residential substance abuse treatment in the preceding five year period.

[USA1]

Certainly I'm no expert , but it seems that the issue was resolved more than 5 years ago .
My thinking is that it shouldn't be a determining factor . However , it is just more bureaucratic
red tape that will require you to provide more documentation.

[ExMarlboroMan]

Certainly I'm no expert , but it seems that the issue was resolved more than 5 years ago .
My thinking is that it shouldn't be a determining factor . However , it is just more bureaucratic
red tape that will require you to provide more documentation.

Exactly!

[ExMarlboroMan]

I have asked for help from a couple of "in the know" people and will wait for their responses to come. In the mean time I'm going to bed,!, and tomorrow I will call my CHL instructor and ask his advice first thing as well.

[LostInAustin]

The Rehab Center should have med records and they have an MD that can sign off on them. That may be easiest since they know you and what your situation was. You would probably have to start from scratch with any doc you picked to go see. IMO.

Those limitations that DPS puts on booboos.....don't seem to matter IME and IMO. They are going to investigate if they have something to go on!

Good Luck and Be Persistent!

[chabouk]

Certainly I'm no expert , but it seems that the issue was resolved more than 5 years ago .
My thinking is that it shouldn't be a determining factor . However , it is just more bureaucratic
red tape that will require you to provide more documentation.

Agreed, it was bad advice by the CHL instructor. ExMM should have followed the instructions, and said "no".

Spilled milk under the bridge, though. The documentation should be easy to get, but it might mean a delay. Contacting DPS won't hurt, but it might not help either. That's the nature of bureaucracy.

[USA1]

Agreed, it was bad advice by the CHL instructor. ExMM should have followed the instructions, and said "no".

But don't worry ExMarlboroMan, we're all pullin for you .

[mctowalot]

Could someone verify I'm reading the revisions in the "rules" that pertain to mental health/rehab and CHL?
It appears (to me anyway) that as of Sept. 1st of this year a person who has been COMMITED (against their will) to a mental institution in the prior 2 years of applying for a CHL need not provide a "clearance letter" with their application but someone who ON THEIR OWN ACCORD sought help with an alcohol or"chemical dependance" issue has to go through the hoops as it appears our friend exmarlboro man is now?
(even though in this case it's been over 5 years)
Edited after re-reading - re: involuntary commitment - they removed the prior 2 yr. part, so now it's involuntary commitment - ever. Gotta watch that fine print. Either way, it looks like you'll be alright once u find the right Dr.

[arnoldstrong]

Sorry to hear about the minor setback...I'm sure you will get it all taken care of though

[ExMarlboroMan]

Well I talked to the medical records guy at the rehab facility today, turns out they destroyed all my records after 6 years, or so he said. I'm thinking of going up there next Wednesday (when i get back from hunting) and asking him in person, if he says the same then i will ask for it in writing that they have NO records on me going back at least 6 years.

They do have a doctor who can see me for 165 bucks but he may want to do more testing (more money) or may sign off for me. I didn't specify that i needed this for a chl, only that i needed a " sound judgement evaluation " for the texas state health services.


Talked to my regular "sick" doctor (actually i went in to see him, as i have a cold, and wanted to make sure no flu), I gave them copies of the paper work and he had his secratary say that i should see a psych and recommended one for me. I have a good repor with the secretary , as i took care of her mothers A/C for her at no charge. She said it would be hard to get someone to sign these papers for me, and if the DR. she recommended wouldn't be of help that i could call her back for help.


I Also called the TXDPS and spoke with the first lady to answer,I told her i was calling about a letter i received, when she asked if it was about the pin number i said no and she said hold while i transfer you to the person handling your case. Well the person handling my case was a recording, so I left a message. But no call back. I will call them tomorrow.

I haven't had a response from those in the KNOW yet, hopefully it will come.


I also noticed a number at the bottom of the letter from TX DHS , it said to call if you have questions. So I called the long distance number but again got a recording and no call back.




OH, Called my CHL instructor, to see if he had any experience with this, but he's out of town till next Wednesday .