Medi-Cal & ADD medication

I am looking for someone who is currently (or has previously been) enrolled in Medi-Cal who takes a peescribed controlled substance to tell me about their experience getting refills. I have some specific questions.

1) Are you in Medi-Cal or were you enrolled in it in the past? If you were enrolled in the past, is it since 2021? (Laws regarding refills of controlled substances have changed since then.)

2) How were you able to find a psychiatrist to continue prescribing your medication? Was it a long process, did you have to get on a waiting list, etc?

3) Are there other complications or things to be aware of when refilling a controlled substance through Medi-Cal? I was only on Medi-Cal briefly so I have no frame of reference.

If you have time to read more, here's some background. I'm neurodivergent and I take a daily prescription that is a controlled substance (like Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta… I won't write the specific one I take). In California, this must be prescribed by a psychiatrist, NOT a pcp. It took me months to find my psychiatrist so I don't want to switch to a new one.

Yes, I looked for psychiatrists on my insurance's website but unfortunately many of them don't update their phone numbers and addresses; none of them returned my phone calls; and the only one that ever scheduled me for an appointment would always reschedule me so I never saw them anyway. It took 5 months to finally find mine and I've stayed with her ever since.

I digress. My former jobs didn't offer insurance so I've always paid for my own insurance. My current job is a very small salary. For months, a friend has told me that I'm overpaying and I should be on Medi-Cal. He told me how great it is for him because there's no cost and doesn't take a month to get referrals to see specialists when necessary.

That sounds amazing but my psychiatrist doesn't accept Medi-Cal and she doesn't know any colleagues who take it either. I don't want to waste months searching for a psychiatrist and I really need my prescription.

Under my current job, I might be switched to Medi-Cal and I want to know what I'll face. If anyone can advise me and answer the 3 questions I have above, I'd be so grateful.

submitted by /u/EvanHasThisApp
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