Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon can I come in for an appointment?

My office will conduct a short screening when you initially call the office. Then, if I offer the service required to meet your needs, a free Precision Consultation meeting will be scheduled with me, which usually occurs within 2 weeks from the screening call. Following the consultation, if you are interested in moving forward, my office will have you complete the necessary paperwork, and once completed, your appointment will be set. I will provide a timeline for completing the services requested during the Precision Consultation.

What are your fees?

Fees for all services are listed on the website under the specific service. Please click “Clinical Services” on the menu above and choose the service you are interested in. For a copy of my full fee schedule, including non-clinical fees, click here.

Do you accept healthcare insurance or employee assistance program (EAP) benefits?

I am not in-network with insurance plans or companies, and my office does not work directly with insurance companies. All fees must be paid in full when service is rendered or before. Your insurance policy may include “out of network” (OON) care coverage. If so, upon request, my office will provide you with a detailed receipt of service and documentation (also known as a “superbill”) to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. You must review your coverage carefully and consult your insurance company before seeking reimbursement. My office will provide this information directly to you so you can see exactly what information would need to go to your insurance. My office CANNOT submit out-of-network claims or work directly with your insurance company. Using OON benefits will require disclosing your diagnosis, and your insurance may request a copy of your psychotherapy records. Neither I nor my office can guarantee that you will receive reimbursement (or how much reimbursement) from your insurance company. All reimbursement is between you and your insurance company. If you would like assistance applying for out-of-network reimbursement, my office recommends using Reimbursify, which I am a participating provider.”.

Why don’t you accept insurance at your practice?

The decision to stop taking insurance has been a difficult one for me. Although I’ve accepted insurance for nearly 20 years, as my practice has evolved, I’ve realized the limitations and problems with insurance. Taking insurance no longer made sense for the work I do. Ultimately, this decision came down to my goal and belief in practicing with integrity and providing a high level of care without limitation. Below are some of the general reasons that went into this decision:

1. Lack of Privacy and Confidentiality
Over the years, I’ve seen increased requests from insurance companies, and sometimes other companies they contract with, for copies of records. These often include requests for evaluation data and a copy of your treatment plan. This information is then reviewed by their employees (clinicians or not) to “audit” treatment and services. This is done to save insurance companies money by searching for fraud and determining whether you are overusing your insurance coverage. While I’ve never had problems identified in these reviews, the time required to fulfill these requests detracts from providing care for those seeking services. In addition, I’ve become increasingly more concerned with insurance practices and the information requested. I believe you have the right to confidentiality and to progress through treatment at the pace and using the best interventions for you. You and a provider should decide this, not someone you’ve never met. This is becoming more difficult. Only you should control your information, who views it, and how they use it.

2. Assumption of Illness
The rule for insurance companies is that they only pay for services considered “medically necessary.” To use your insurance for psychological services, you must be diagnosed with a mental health disorder affecting your health and functioning daily (e.g., functional impairment). While this might be appropriate in many cases, there are times when the need for service is not covered and does not require a diagnosis, such as when you are just facing life’s difficulties. As an in-network provider, I’ve had situations when services were denied because of this. I could not assist because it was “contrary to” my contract with the insurance company. This also occurs when I am doing evaluations, especially with children and adolescents, in which insurance companies deny the option to look at possible learning issues that might be at the root of a child’s problems because it is an “educational issue.” This can lead to misdiagnosis if needed, and it does not allow for comprehensive care. You should have access to service based on your needs and not what an insurance company decides you need.

3. Potential Negative Consequences
Recently, I’ve had situations where the information released to an insurance company has negatively affected patients/clients. The information insurance uses to process your claims becomes part of your permanent medical record. For the most part, this has no immediate impact, and it might never pose an issue. However, I’ve seen this become a barrier for patients seeking life insurance or employment in a sector where their decision-making might be questioned. You should be able to get the help you need without concern or stigma for improving your mental health and making personal growth a priority.

4. Lower Rates
When I decided to take insurance in the past, I agreed to accept a lower rate in exchange for being part of a particular insurance panel. You would think that with the increase in costs of insurance premiums, deductibles, and copays, this would translate into better rates for providers, but that has yet to be the case. Some insurance companies have cut the rates for some services that psychologists provide. To compensate for this, I have had to overbook appointments to make up the difference. My goal has been to provide high-level care when you come to my office, and this would not be possible by overbooking. However, to maintain the costs of practice, it would be necessary.

5. Delayed or Nonpayment
Receiving payment from insurance has been increasingly problematic. This has involved more paperwork and often needing to submit and resubmit to get paid. I’ve had times when the wait on the phone to speak to an insurance representative has been over 2 hours. There have been times when it has taken nearly 12 months to get reimbursed for the services provided, and at times, this has been longer. The time spent on these tasks could be used to provide services to others and to ensure quality care. I want my focus to be on patient/client care rather than spending time trying to resolve insurance issues.

6. Long Wait Times
One of the greatest frustrations I’ve seen in the last few years is the extremely long appointment wait times. Not only is there a long wait to get a first appointment, but there is also often extended time to schedule a follow-up. This is something that I never wanted to see in my practice, and I genuinely find this unacceptable. Unfortunately, to continue with the demands of being an in-network provider, this became a reality in my practice. My goal is to provide timely and quality services, and by being a self-pay provider, I have a greater opportunity to meet this goal and promptly provide the best possible care for my patients/clients.

7. Quality of Services Being Received
The quality of my services is important to me, and I’ve taken pride in becoming an expert and credentialed provider. Unfortunately, I see services offered by providers who are part of a group but are not licensed or do not have appropriate training and supervision. Some providers hold “certificates” and put themselves out to the public as experts, though these areas of expertise have been achieved through online weekend training for a few days. The need to offer services by providers with limited experience results from the above complications as being an in-network provider as a means of making a modest profit. The services provided at my practice are provided directly by me or in consultation with other equally qualified providers to ensure high-quality care.

8. Concluding Thoughts
It’s essential to recognize that many well-intentioned and qualified providers continue to be able to provide in-network services to those who are insured. These providers might be the best options to meet your needs at a given time, and many will provide excellent service. For me, however, the goal for my practice moving forward is to provide a high-quality and patient/client-focused approach to better meet the needs of others without spending time on tasks that do not better the outcomes for those I see at my office. If my practice is not the right fit to meet your needs, I am happy to provide you with a list of providers in-network with insurance plans who might be a better fit for your care. You may also contact your insurance for a list of in-network providers.

What are the options to pay for services?

Paying for services is essential to any professional relationship and one my practice takes seriously. It is your responsibility to pay for all services provided. All fees that have been paid for services are non-refundable. My office requires an active credit/debit card with authorization for us to charge your card for the agreed-upon services, or payment must be made the day before the service date.

For your convenience, we accept cash, debit, Venmo, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and Flex Savings Accounts (FSA).

Due to legal and ethical requirements, patients/clients cannot carry account balances, which can negatively affect scheduling and our clinical work. This means that full payment is due at the beginning of or before the time of service. For those needing financing options, I’m pleased to accept CareCredit, a credit card designed exclusively for healthcare services.

If you do not take our insurance, can we still receive services at your practice?

Absolutely! I have many patients/clients who work with my practice and self-pay for services or use their Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for services. You will pay all fees in full when the service is rendered or before. Some insurance policies include “out of network” (OON) care coverage. If so, upon request, my office will provide you with a detailed receipt of service and documentation (also known as a “superbill”) to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. You must review your coverage carefully and consult your insurance company before seeking reimbursement. My office will provide this information directly to you so you can see exactly what information would need to go to your insurance. My office CANNOT submit out-of-network claims or work directly with your insurance company. For those submitting a superbill, this will require disclosing your diagnosis, and your insurance may request a copy of your psychotherapy records. Neither I nor my office can guarantee that you will receive reimbursement (or how much reimbursement) from your insurance company. All reimbursement is between you and your insurance company. If you would like assistance applying for out-of-network reimbursement, my office recommends using Reimbursify, which I am a participating provider..

Does the practice offer sliding scale fees?

For those experiencing financial hardship and who are interested in receiving service with me, I participate in Open Path Collective. I offer limited reduced-fee psychotherapy appointments (at $70.00/session) to Open Path members as part of this program. Please contact my office to determine if there are Open Path appointments available.

How will I know how much services will cost me?

Fees for all services are listed on the website. Please click services on the menu above and then choose the service you are interested in.

In compliance with the federal No Surprises Act (effective 01/01/2022), I am required to notify you of your federally protected rights to receive notification against “surprise billing” when an out-of-network provider (my practice) renders services, when a patient/client is uninsured, or if you elect not to use your insurance. For information about my office’s No Surprises Act Disclosure, click here.