Psychologist?

I am wondering if your psych assessment must be done by a PhD in the state of FL or can a social worker do it... Anyone know the law or where to find it? Susan

I would think it depends on what your insurance co. requires. Mine required a PhD. If you're a self-pay, I would think it depends on IF your surgeon requires a psych eval and if so, what type of eval. he/she requires. Vickie J.

Short answer I do not think it is necessarily a matter of the law I think it is a matter of the surgeon's preference. Now if you are asking what kind of services social workers can provide in the State of Florida, you can go to the state office of Licenses and Professional Regulation. It is all up to the surgeon. Many psych evals are simply something like a mini psycho/social history with a mental status type assessment while others require extensive psychometric testing and a complete psycho/social history. The first part of mine was seven pages long and I had not even started the testing. Then I ran into insurance problems so I did not see any purpose in finishing. But had I gone on I would have had to taken an intelligence test, MMPI II, and a couple of other tests. In some cases the surgeon may even require the evaluation (or part of it) to be completed by psychiatrist. It is best to check with the surgeon before getting one on your own, you do not want to have to go through it twice nor pay for it twice. Red

Susan I had to go with who my surgeron referred me too. He was a psych licensed in the state of FL. Did your surgeron tell you who to go too? Priscilla

Check with your insurance company or psych care. Mine (Vista Healthplan) had someone they use just for this surgery. I only payed my co-payment whereas if I used my surgeons recommendation or my own I would have paid full price. TOTAL LOSS 87 lbs GONE FOREVER AND 39 1/4 total inches starting 310 date of surgery 290 present 223 dr. goal 190 my goal 160

well i had to have an MMPI done by a PhD... but then it REALLY depends on your dr and the insurance