The Latest Attack on Disabled People: Delegitimizing Telehealth

So the Biden administration, which recently came out with the terrible decision to end the COVID public health emergency in May, has now announced that they want to force people back into their doctors’ offices to fill certain prescriptions for ADHD meds and painkillers instead of allowing us to continue “seeing” our medical providers in telehealth sessions.

I haven’t seen my psychiatrist in person since the pandemic started. I’m immunocompromised and mostly bedbound, and he’s kept his practice telephone-only because it’s more accessible for everyone. If I had to make myself drive to my appointments every other week like I did pre-pandemic, not only would that risk my health and take its energy toll on my body, but I wouldn’t be able to make it to my physical therapy appointments (where masks are still required to enter the building) when they’re scheduled for the afternoon after a morning phone session with my psychiatrist.

He diagnosed me with ADHD in 2021 and didn’t need to see me in person to do so because he’s known me for years and, you know, listened to me and trusted me. And well, with the inattentive type of ADHD, I don’t often remember to take my second dose of Ritalin for the day. Maybe I should take both pills first thing when I wake up.