BILLING AND PAYMENTS
My hourly fee is $220. In addition to regular appointments, I charge this same fee for other professional services you may need, although the hourly fee is prorated if the service provided is less than one hour. Such services include report writing, telephone conversations lasting longer than 15 minutes, attendance at meetings you have authorized with other professionals, preparation of records or treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other service you may request of me. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for my professional time, even if I am called to testify by another party. I charge $350 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding.
Payment can be by check or cash or credit card. You will be expected to pay for each session at the time it is held, unless we agree otherwise. In circumstances of unusual financial hardship, I may be willing to negotiate a fee adjustment or payment installment plan. I have a number of dedicated sliding-scale client slots, my sliding scale begins at $110 per hour and is based on need. If your account has not been paid for more than 60 days, and arrangements for payment have not been agreed upon, I have the option of using legal means to secure payment. This may involve hiring a collection agency or going through small claims court.
I will usually schedule one 50 minute session at a time and at a frequency that we agree upon. Once an appointment is scheduled, you will be expected to pay for it unless you provide 24 hours advance notice, or unless we both agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control. Such circumstances might include sudden illness or a family emergency, but would not include, for example, a work conflict. Monday appointments must be cancelled by noon on the preceding Saturday.
INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
Health insurance policies usually provide some coverage for mental health outpatient treatment. I will provide you with whatever assistance I can in helping you receive the benefits to which you are entitled; however, you are responsible for full payment of my fees. It is very important that you find out exactly what mental health services your insurance policy covers.
Due to the rising costs of health care, insurance benefits have become increasingly complex. It is sometimes difficult to determine exactly how much mental health coverage is available. “Managed Health Care” plans, such as HMOs and PPOs often require authorization before they provide reimbursement for mental health services. These plans are often limited to short-term treatment approaches designed to work out specific problems that interfere with one’s usual level of functioning. It may be necessary to seek approval for more therapy after a certain number of sessions. While a lot can be accomplished in short-term therapy, some patients feel they need more services after insurance benefits end.
You should also be aware that most insurance companies require that you authorize me to provide them with a clinical diagnosis. Sometimes I have to provide additional clinical information such as treatment plans or summaries, or, in rare cases, copies of the entire record. This information will become part of the insurance company files and will probably be stored in a computer. Though all insurance companies claim to keep such information confidential, I have no control over what they do with the information once it is in their hands. In some cases, they may share the information with a national medical information databank. I will provide you with a copy of any report I submit if you request it.
