Confidentiality All professional contacts with me are safeguarded by confidentiality regulations. However, there are exceptions to confidentiality which include, but are not limited to, the following:
Instances involving the abuse to a child, elderly or disabled person.
Situations in which a client is judged to be threatening serious harm to him or herself or another person.
Judicial proceedings involving a court order to testify.
When collection agencies or other processes are required to collect unpaid fees.
In these circumstances, I am required to inform appropriate authorities to insure the safety of the client or others, or to comply with a court order.
Fee Schedule and Insurance Fees: Initial evaluation: 55-60 minutes, $205 Standard weekly psychotherapy: 45-50 minutes, $170 Sliding scale rates are available with demonstrable need. Payments are due at the time of appointment unless otherwise agreed upon. I accept EFT (electronic fund transfer) via Zelle, paper checks, and cash payments.
I am happy to provide you a receipt (referred to as a super-bill) that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement. I do not submit claims to insurers on behalf of my clients.
If you have out of network health insurance benefits, then you may wish to use it to subsidize your therapy. You may also choose not to use your health insurance benefits. Here are some things for you to consider as you contemplate using your health insurance to cover the cost of your therapy:
The advantages to using insurance:
Your insurance will likely pay for the majority of your therapy.
You pay for your premiums and you want to use your benefits whenever possible.
You believe you could not afford psychotherapy unless you used your insurance to pay for it.
The risks to using insurance:
Your insurance will pay for therapy only if I give you a psychiatric diagnosis that becomes a part of your medical record.
Your level of privacy can be compromised. If you later try to apply for life/disability/private health insurance, your company will request access to any prior health information and could dramatically increase the costs to you, or deny you the insurance you seek, because of a past diagnosis.
The answer to using your health insurance to subsidize therapy shouldn’t be black or white. Rather, you should consider all the advantages and risks and make the decision that makes the most sense for you.
Cancellations and Missed Appointments Hours set aside for you are not easily filled when they are canceled without notice. You will be expected to pay for appointments that are not canceled with at least 24 hours notice. Missed sessions cannot be billed to insurance companies.
Emergency Coverage Although my practice is covered by a 24 hour answering system, I am not always immediately available in case of emergency. All emergencies should be handled by the nearest hospital emergency room if I am not available.