Below are most of the nuts and bolts about running my practice.
These are here for your information, and to help us all create healthy boundaries for a successful therapeutic experience.
Payment
VENMO: winston-wilde-1
Patient Forms:
Treatment Policies Form
Consent to Treatment Form
Release of Confidentiality Form
Location
Structure
Sessions are usually 50 minutes long, starting at the top of the hour, and ending at ten of the hour. Longer sessions and double sessions are available when warranted. Most clients prefer sessions once a week, others prefer more often than that. Some clients finish up, then return a year or two later for a tune up, or to deal with a new issue. Determining the frequency and duration of treatment is a collaborative agreement between the therapist and the client.
Appointments
When I provide you with two or three optional appointment times, please know that others may have also been offered those times. First grabber gets it.
Fees
The standard fee is $200 to $300 per session, depending on your economic status. Payments are to be made each session in advance via Venmo or Paypal.
Insurance
I am currently certified by Medicare as a psychotherapy provider. As well, I am on the insurance panel of Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. We are awaiting approval from Presbyterian and Humana of NM. If you have a different insurance carrier, then I would be considered an “out-of-network provider.” You may call them to inquire how much they will cover. Individual psychotherapy (procedure code: 90837) or Couple (90847). I mail out monthly statements to clients who wish to seek reimbursement from their insurance carriers.
Cancellation
The client will be charged for appointments cancelled in less than 24 hours. Insurance carriers do not reimburse for missed sessions.
Legal Stuff
Upon embarkation of treatment, the client will be asked to sign the Treatment Policies and the Consent to Treatment forms linked above for your convenience. Further, I may ask the client to sign a Release of Confidentiality for me to speak with their psychiatrist, physician, primary therapist, or other health care providers. You do not have to consent to these consultations, but please know that it is my obligation to request to assist you in this manner.
Mandated Reporting
As a licensed psychotherapist in the states of California and New Mexico, I am mandated by law to report:
- imminent harm to self or others
- awareness of a child, dependent adult, or senior who is being abused (sexually, emotionally, physically) or who is being neglected
- or financial abuse of a senior
Good Faith Estimate Notice
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.