Mental health patients in Milwaukee are facing an urgent crisis after Red Oak Counseling announced the permanent closure of its downtown Milwaukee and Elm Grove locations on February 25, giving patients less than a month to find alternative care.
For patients like Adriana Corbell who have been receiving specialized treatment, the abrupt closure presents immediate challenges. Corbell receives Spravato, a specialized depression treatment that requires consistent weekly scheduling. She explained that interrupting Spravato treatment suddenly could negatively affect outcomes, as “it’s important to have Spravato at the same times and days each week so that it’s consistent, it works better with your treatment.”
The closure reveals gaps in Milwaukee’s mental health infrastructure, where demand already far exceeds available supply. The closure letter provides no explanation for the decision and offers only generic referrals to patients, directing them to seek care through their health insurance, hospital referral services, and Psychology Today’s therapist directory. However, this guidance does not address patients receiving specialized psychiatric care at Red Oak.
The financial burden adds another layer of difficulty. Corbell noted that her current treatment at Red Oak is covered by insurance, but the same treatment at another facility would cost her $2,400 per month out of pocket. When Optum, Red Oak’s corporate owner, was contacted for comment, a spokesperson stated: “We remain deeply committed to delivering high-quality, affordable care to the patients and communities we serve. Our priority is to support patients through this transition and ensure they continue receiving the care they need. Certain clinical staff will remain on site through the end of March to allow ample time to transition care and manage prescriptions while an alternate provider is found.”
Other patients expressed frustration with the lack of consideration shown during the transition. Katie Bloom, a longtime Red Oak patient, described the closure notice as “a careless, generic letter with no thought of any treatment plan of care transfer, nothing.” Corbell felt compelled to speak to the media because she believed the closure was not receiving adequate attention, stating, “I feel like nobody is talking about it, there’s no news coverage about it, and the people at Red Oak can’t speak out about it.”
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/patients-left-scrambling-to-find-mental-health-care-as-downtown-milwaukee-elm-grove-clinics-close