FAQs

What insurance do you take?

We are in network with the following insurance companies:

Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
BCBS PPO for City of Chicago Telligen
Aetna
Cigna
Endeavor Health Care/Behavioral Care Partners
Medicare
UHC
Magellan

We take the following Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO’s:

Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Duly/DuPage/DMG Partners
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Silver Cross/Psych health
Some advocate HMO's

Please call Bo Steiner, Director of Operations, for questions at 630-909-9094 M-F 8-4 or email at robert.steiner@frwc.us

I do not see my HMO listed, what can I do?

You can call your insurance and ask for a Single Case Agreement (SCA). Legally, your insurance company should be able to provide the exact same service in network, and we know that the current HMO plans in Illinois do not provide the services FRWC does.

FRWC solely sees first responders and veterans (often other offices say they see first responders, but they also see civilians which means you could be sitting in the waiting room with someone you arrested, fought with, etc).
FRWC uses evidenced based therapy, which is best practices.
You can bring your weapon into the office and/or wear your uniform.
All clinicians are current or former first responders, military or worked in corrections, the court system or have a direct family member who is a first responders. This helps FRWC clinicians to be culturally competent in the police and public safety field. (Clinicians who do not specialize in police and public safety are often not competent in this culture.)
Unless the office you are going to can meet the above, you should be able to do a single case agreement.

You will have to call your insurance company and explain why you would like to go out of network and why HMO cannot produce the same services. Often, HMO will ask for a referral from your primary care (which you can ask them to send you a letter) but sometimes, they will generate a single case agreement on the phone. If you have questions please contact us, and we can help you. 630-909-9094

What should I look for in a mental health professional?

The clinician should be licensed in the state of Illinois, and you can check this by going to: eLicense Online. You should be seeing a Psy.D, PhD, LCPC, or LCSW. If you are seeing an LPC or LSW, they should be letting you know that they are under the supervision of a licensed clinician at the same agency. A doctor in psychology or education who is not licensed by the state should not identify themselves as a "licensed clinical psychologist" or a "clinical psychologist" as this violates ethics and Illinois law.
The clinician should be well versed in trauma and provide evidenced based treatment which includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy (PE or ERP), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). FRWC clinicians also use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Attachment Based Therapy, and Somatic Therapy. For couples therapy, the clinician could also use Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and/or Emotionally Focused therapy (EFT).
You should ask the clinician if they know when to call the state for FOID mandated reporting? If they do not know, I would be concerned that they may not use the reporting correctly and your FOID card may be at risk.
Ask if they see other first responders and have experience working with this culture and trauma. First responders have their own culture and multiple trauma exposures that most people do not, so you want to see a specialist. You would not go to a regular doctor for brain surgery.

If I go to therapy, will I lose my FOID card?

No. According to the FOID Act (430 ILCS 65) attending outpatient therapy does not require a therapist to report DHS FOID Mental Health Reporting System as this does not constitute “a clear and present danger”.

Pertaining to officers, the only time mental health professionals would ever be required to report to FOID is if they feel that an officer is a “clear and present danger” i.e., the officer has an active plan to kill themselves or someone else and/or is committed to an inpatient psychiatric unit. Being committed to inpatient psychiatric unit also requires an officer to be an immediate danger to themselves or others.

If I get a mental health diagnosis, will I be sent for a FFDE or lose my job?

No.

According to the Americans with Disability Act in 2000, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you simply because you have a mental health condition. This includes firing you, rejecting you for a job or promotion, or forcing you to take leave. The employer must have objective evidence that you cannot perform your job duties. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing these federal laws and may be contacted for violations.

A fitness for duty exam can only be requested when two requirements are met;

(1) objective evidence that the employee may be unable to safely or effectively perform a defined job; AND

(2) a reasonable basis for believing that the cause may be attributable to a psychological condition or impairment. The central purpose of an FFDE is to determine whether the employee is able to safely and effectively perform his or her essential job functions, not if an officer has a mental illness. Many officers (even officers who have completed a FFDE) can have a mental health diagnosis such as anxiety, depression, etc. and work full active duty without restrictions.

Will my department find out if I go to therapy?

No. The Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740ILCS 110/1-17) and HIPPA 1996 is highly specific that "confidential communication" means any communication made by the client or other persons to the client’s therapist providing mental health services including the patient’s identity. Further, any records cannot be disclosed unless written release by the client of such records. (However, if an officer is claiming a workmen’s compensation or disability due to mental illness, records may be subpoenaed.)

Will my therapy records get subpoenaed for court?

Remember personal records are protected by law so it is likely no as it is extremely rare for an officer’s therapy records to be requested. The only time we see subpoena or court orders for records is when a first responder has petitioned for disability due to a mental health reason.

Though most police fear that their records will be requested after police shootings, arrests, etc. as the judicial standard would be to prove “good cause” and “relevant” to the proceedings. The client and the therapist also have the right to refuse and prevent disclosure of their client’s records in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings. However, if an officer is claiming a mental health condition as a defense, then records may not be confidential. FRWC has never had a subpoena for a police shooting.

Will I be involuntarily committed if I have suicidal thoughts?

No, having thoughts of suicide but no plan, intent, or action made towards killing yourself will not affect an involuntary admission. Many therapists have clients who have suicidal thoughts and work with them solely on an outpatient basis.

Our clinicians try to work with all of our clients on an outpatient basis and provide wrap around services or additional treatment rather than jump to an inpatient treatment option.

What if I run into someone at the office I know?

The FRWC sees first responders for many reasons including annual wellness visits, critical incidents, pre-employment evaluations, and therapy, so other first responders could be here for any of those reasons so no one would know for what reason of why you are present.

FRWC clinicians and staff also find all first responders are mindful of confidentiality and respect others.

The Lombard and Chicago locations have one way in and one way out to ensure privacy.

FRWC staff will offer open rooms if you are uncomfortable sitting in the waiting room, just ask. We do try to space clients and get clients seen at their designated time as well to reduce waiting time. Also, we ask all clients to maintain confidentiality and everyone else wants the same thing as you.