Goodbye to my ASO

[Oceanbeach]

Today, I faxed my ASO to tell them I am now my own case manager, their services are not required and the  local HIV organizations which were on the list to share my files if needed, no longer have access to my files.  I closed access of information through my medical records to the same organizations 7 months ago when our HIV clinic was closed.

They have Community reconnect, a task force which I was a founding member but... They have never involved any thought or found any paid employment for any person living with HIV, which was the focus of the task force. 

They have volunteer attorneys and that is nice but with a 16 year period of time being case managed, the ones I was assigned to never had any experience in the practice area I needed.  My attorney network sparkles and shines as he picks me up at the HIV clinic and takes me on a date.

They have 1 computer which a client can use to search HIV sites.  Now, I have been on the Forums for about 5 years and I have a computer.  They have no services to offer, I am tired of them and will make my own way     Have the best day
Michael

[Billy B]

Today, I faxed my ASO to tell them I am now my own case manager, their services are not required and the  local HIV organizations which were on the list to share my files if needed, no longer have access to my files.  I closed access of information through my medical records to the same organizations 7 months ago when our HIV clinic was closed.

They have Community reconnect, a task force which I was a founding member but... They have never involved any thought or found any paid employment for any person living with HIV, which was the focus of the task force. 

They have volunteer attorneys and that is nice but with a 16 year period of time being case managed, the ones I was assigned to never had any experience in the practice area I needed.  My attorney network sparkles and shines as he picks me up at the HIV clinic and takes me on a date.

They have 1 computer which a client can use to search HIV sites.  Now, I have been on the Forums for about 5 years and I have a computer.  They have no services to offer, I am tired of them and will make my own way     Have the best day
Michael

Michael- I have never used my local ASO because I have continued to work and have great insurance. However my friends that do use it have to do much of the work themselves. The case workers could just be overwhelmed but I have never thought that they did a good job with helping my friends.
Billy

[thunter34]

I don't even know if I supposedly have a case manager or not.  I gave up trying years ago.  To this day, I don't know what it is they are supposed to have done for me.  I never experienced anything even close to resembling "service" from them.

Good for you.

[BT65]

Michael, I was a client at the local ASO here, now I'm employed by them.  When my clients are having a hard time, if there's anything I can do to help them (as far as like benefits, health care etc.), I do.  I know there are bad case managers, though, and not just at ASO's.  My Medicaid caseworker doesn't know much about the different types of Medicaid in Hoosierville (there's 7).  When I transitioned back to work, I ended up having to use the main Medicaid office in Indianapolis to get things fixed with my Medicaid.  The caseworker here told me a few different things, and the bottom line was, she didn't know anything about it.  Which is sad, and a little understandable at the same time.  With 7 different kinds of Medicaid, it's hard to keep track of them all.  But, bottom line is, if she doesn't know what to do, then she should fucking ask. 

Anyway, sorry to rant, but congrats!  What will you be up to now?

[Oceanbeach]

I was a client in Los Angeles (Title I) for years without knowing about funding or even the difference in the level of services between Title I and Title II.  Then I moved to the country, a lakeside community (Title II) with a small non-profit healthcare provider and an even smaller ASO.  About a year later they found some people who made a difference in the utilization of resources and fund raising activities.

When I moved here, (Title I) now (Title II) and coupled with the loss of Medi-Cal (our medicade), they have lost the ability to serve their HIV community of client/patients.  As a Level 1 client, I have not needed many services, never had an in- home visit and would call if I needed anything they might help with.

Having been case managed for so long, I know what to do.  One of our many loses was our HIV clinic and I moved my care to San Francisco last September.  With PN and Osteopenia so in my life, I ran out of physical therapy services a few years ago and am still having mobility problems.  Alternative medications, dental, vision, chiropractic, transportation to and from medical appointments were also lost and if I ever needed a in- home nursing services, that service has left the county.

In the 1970's a B movie actor ran for and was elected Governor of California.  Services for the poor and the disabled were cut and that actor became President of the United States!  The youngest Governor ever elected in California cleaned up the mess.

In the last decade another B movie actor had visions of the Presidency was elected Governor and he fucked up everything again.  Fortunately, the oldest Governor ever elected in California will clean up the mess.

What am I going to do next?  Getting medical, dental, vision, physical therapy, all in San Francisco, I will be moving there after the spring rains. 

That nice fellow all of you supported and advised me over disclosure like almost 3 years ago...  I had to disclose AIDS while he had to disclose lawyer (on the first date).  On December 6th, there is a full moon with a total eclipse.  We will be on a California beach with a roaring fire, a bottle of red wine, a silver goblet and red candles.  I am going to ask him to marry me.

Meanwhile at the mountain top cabin in the redwoods, I am putting together a small business plan to open a pr agency in the city specializing in law firm advertising.  We plan on opening in a couple months after we get me moved.     Have the best day
Michael 

[BT65]

Congrats, Michael, on the upcoming proposal and move!

[Miss Philicia]

I have this totally rockin' lesbian case worker who really works wonders and knows absolutely everything -- she's the first case manager I've ever had where I don't leave the office wondering if I was given incorrect information.  She even has a fierce name -- Mimi.  I like her so much I want to be a lesbian too.  Oh, it helps that she's the "director" of the case management section at my HIV clinic, so she supervises all the other staff.  I think there must be about five case managers there on site.

Oh, and I have a new therapist too -- a 29 year old straight girl who is also just the coolest of cool.  I'd totally hang out with her in real life.

I also love my doctor, so I guess I'm pretty well set for all my HIV stuff here in Filthydelphia.  I just thought I'd provide all of this as a counterpoint to the doom and gloom -- sometimes things actually do work out, but I know often they don't -- I've had some very sucky experiences over the past years, that's for sure.

[thunter34]

  I just thought I'd provide all of this as a counterpoint to the doom and gloom -- sometimes things actually do work out.

Actually, I am glad you decided to post this.  I've dealt with and heard tales of so much dissatifaction that I had almost assumed it to be a given.

[RapidRod]

I only used my case manager for the ASO for about a month. The clinic I go to has an IDRN that does your case management and the ASO has an office on the same floor, next to the clinic. Never have figured that out.  I have a different case manager for medicaid.

[skeebo1969]

   I had a pretty rough experience with my ASO.  Mind you, the doctor was great as many of you have heard me attest to Dr. Miriam Castro's entrancing hips in the past.... but the other side of the building left a lot to be desired.   My caseworker was 19 and lacked any street savviness, causing me to doubt her claims of graduating from Miami Edison .

   The therapist reminded me of Ava Braun, such a nice thick, sexy accent.....  I admit, I looked for tattoos.  She constantly yawned and nodded off during our sessions.  Sometimes I even listened to her problems and gave her advice.  Bitch repaid me by getting my ass Baker Acted into a psyche ward because I....  probably needed it.  The seed up my ass doesn't come from her calling, it comes from no one explaining that YOU foot the bill if you go willingly, which I did.  I didn't know this, but I did know if you didn't have insurance it wouldn't pay the bill;  $13,900 plus another $958 for the ambulance ride.  SWEET!   I had just finished paying for the divorce, paying off all my credit cards and fully thought I was in the position to get sick without a collection call......  Let's just say my called ID comes in handy to this day.

    They also didn't explain that I didn't qualify for "their" services till the day my numbers dipped low enough for an AIDS diagnosis.  Case worker just never realised it, but  she did apologize for the overlook.  I could hardly expect her to notice my address within the year of working with me.

   Looking back, this part makes me chuckle...... it took me 4 months to get my first meds while fully aware my last labs indicated Cd4's at 103.  Luckily a ferret came to my rescue with 3 bottles of Atripla, mailed in a frantic rush free of charge.

    I guess it wasn't too bad..  I'm still alive.  The problem was you couldn't tell me that at the time, some here may remember I was the guy who posted about every knee ache, eye twitch, hemorrhoid, etc, etc, etc.. because of this, I take great pride in knowing I put all of today's noobs to shame.

    My second case worker may have been much better but I can't say for sure because we only met once and he never returned my calls.  So there was a chance he may have been good, right?

[laslopaka]

WOW I thought I was the only one with problems with my case manager at my ASO.
She screwed up my holidays by promising that they would take care of my utility bills and co payments for me. But after numerous unreturned phone calls and shut off notices from my utility company's, she calls me up and kind of snickers on the phone and asks me if my power and gas was shut off yet. HA HA HA I had to use all of my state aid check to catch up on my bills and have no money for gifts for my family.
I thought I was going to be taken care of when I was diagnosed and no where to turn to. But it was not meant to be. I had to find every thing on my own and get a lawyer to help me with my SSDI after being told that I could get one after I got denied again. HA HA HA When I got the lawyer I got approved within a couple of months.  The list can go on and on with the failed promises and inaccurate information I was given.
And all they do is send me a monthly newsletter asking me for donations. PLEASE.
Sorry just had to vent. Aloha

[jkinatl2]

This is why sites like this remain so important. You can get better, more accurate, and faster information from the veterans here than in most ASOs.

I got tired of the wretched experiences in Atlanta's biggest ASO, and realized that I really was in this more or less on my own.  Then I joined AIDSMeds, and realized that I was most assuredly not.

[thunter34]

This is why sites like this remain so important. You can get better, more accurate, and faster information from the veterans here than in most ASOs.

I got tired of the wretched experiences in Atlanta's biggest ASO, and realized that I really was in this more or less on my own.  Then I joined AIDSMeds, and realized that I was most assuredly not.

Quoted for truth.

[Oceanbeach]

WOW I thought I was the only one with problems with my case manager at my ASO.
She screwed up my holidays by promising that they would take care of my utility bills and co payments for me. But after numerous unreturned phone calls and shut off notices from my utility company's, she calls me up and kind of snickers on the phone and asks me if my power and gas was shut off yet. HA HA HA I had to use all of my state aid check to catch up on my bills and have no money for gifts for my family.
I thought I was going to be taken care of when I was diagnosed and no where to turn to. But it was not meant to be. I had to find every thing on my own and get a lawyer to help me with my SSDI after being told that I could get one after I got denied again. HA HA HA When I got the lawyer I got approved within a couple of months.  The list can go on and on with the failed promises and inaccurate information I was given.
And all they do is send me a monthly newsletter asking me for donations. PLEASE.
Sorry just had to vent. Aloha

When I was diagnosed, we had a housing specialist who lived in a triple wide in Rancho Dominguez and before I can say, "you can take the girl out of the trailer park but you can't take the trailer park out of the girl."  She was Miss P's Left Coast Twin and she got things done.  She always said, the government may terminate the HOPWA program any year so you can't depend upon it past this year.


Your utility bill catch up plan sounds like a HOPWA grant.  Federal money, which 5 years ago could cover a 1 month rent payment, each year of about $750 per household.  They also pay move in costs like security deposit and if the landlord does not return the entire deposit (HOPWA grant funds), the renter is responsible for payment in full before another move in grant is established.

If a client lives in a Title I EMA such as San Francisco or Loz Angeles the HOPWA funds are immediately accessible by the ASO in July.  If the client lives in a Title II EMA, such as "Small Town USA", HOPWA funds are paid to the state which can issue the funds to the ASO when the state budget is signed.  If you happen to live in a small town in California after a term of Arnold Schwartzenegger, we are in trouble.  The $750 annual grant amount of 5 years ago has been reduced to $200 per year.  I live in resort mountains where everybody uses wood heat and $200 doesn't cover the cost of a cord of firewood.

One thing I have learned about living with AIDS is how to survive.  Does the county of residence have a Heap program?  They offer around $200 per year in utility assistance, weatherize homes and they replace older appliances such as refrigerators with new energy star efficient models.  Each and every PG&E bill includes a charge to this fund while a third party serves as administrator.  Catholic Charities helps people everywhere so we learn to be a Dicken's orphan and say, "please sir, may I have more?"    Have the best day
Michael