PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the particular problems you hope to address. There are many different methods I may use to deal with those problems. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Because therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. When treating insomnia specifically, therapy might cause you to experience increased sleepiness and fatigue, especially in the early phases of treatment. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, significant reductions in feelings of distress, improved sleep, and less fatigue. But there are no guarantees as to what you will experience. Our first session will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with me for therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions about whether you feel comfortable working with me. At the end of the evaluation, I will notify you if I believe that I am not the right therapist for you and if so, I will give you referrals to other practitioners who I believe are better suited to help you. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, I will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional for a second opinion. Please note that the psychological services I provide are not for emergency situations. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. My fee is $395 for an initial evaluation lasting 90 minutes, and $250 for each subsequent psychotherapy session (either in-person or over the telephone) lasting 45 minutes. I charge this same $250 per 45-minutes rate for other professional services you may need, though I will prorate the cost if I work for periods of less than 45 minutes in increments of 15 minutes, rounded to the nearest 15-minute increment (e.g., 22 minutes of service will be charged for 15 minutes whereas 23 minutes of service will be charged for 30 minutes). Other professional services include telephone conversations or email responses lasting longer than 15 minutes, 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 any professional time I spend on your legal matter, even if the request comes from another party, at the same $250 per 45-minutes rate. I do not charge for time spent writing reports and progress notes as per the standard routine of my care of you. I also do not charge for any time I may spend collaborating with your other providers. From time to time, I may institute fee increases and these will be discussed and agreed upon ahead of time with a new Treatment Contract. If it has been more than one year since our last appointment, then you will re-initiate services at my current standard fee which may be higher than the fee you were previously paying. In addition, if it has been more than one year since our last appointment, you will be scheduled for another initial evaluation (90 minutes) and charged accordingly, with subsequent 45-minute psychotherapy sessions thereafter. You are responsible for paying your full session fee. I am not in-network with any insurance companies. If you decide to submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement for any out-of-network benefits you might have, you may do so. However, be aware that the services provided will still be charged to you, not your insurance company, and you are responsible for the full payment. I have no role in deciding what your insurance covers. You are responsible for checking your insurance coverage, deductibles, payment rates, pre-authorization procedures, etc. Missed appointments, late cancellations (i.e., cancellations within 24 hours of service), and telephone session are not typically covered by insurance companies and therefore you will likely be responsible for the full session fee in these instances. If your insurance company doesn’t reimburse you, I am not responsible for refunding you any payment you expected to be reimbursed or otherwise. I will provide you a superbill after each session with the following information that you will need to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement for any out-of-network benefits you might have:
Outpatient If you receive infusion therapy services in a hospital's outpatient unit, we cover the use of the treatment room, related supplies, and solutions. For prescription drug coverage, see Section 3.27
Diagnostic procedures to aid the Provider in determining required dental treatment.
Hospice Individuals whose permanent residence and principal work location are outside the State of Minnesota and outside of the service areas of the health plans participating in Advantage. If these individuals use the plan administrator’s national preferred provider organization in their area, services will be covered at Benefit Level Two. If a national preferred provider is not available in their area, services will be covered at Benefit Level Two through any other provider available in their area. If the national preferred provider organization is available but not used, benefits will be paid at the POS level described in paragraph “i” below. All terms and conditions outlined in the Summary of Benefits will apply.
Inpatient If you are an inpatient in a general or specialty hospital for mental health services, this agreement covers medically necessary hospital services and the services of an attending physician for the number of hospital days shown in the Summary of Medical Benefits. See Section
Extended Health Care Plan The Employer shall pay the monthly premium for regular employees entitled to coverage under a mutually acceptable extended health care plan.
Radiation Therapy/Chemotherapy Services This plan covers chemotherapy and radiation services. This plan covers respiratory therapy services. When respiratory services are provided in your home, as part of a home care program, durable medical equipment, supplies, and oxygen are covered as a durable medical equipment service.
Health Promotion and Health Education Both parties to this Agreement recognize the value and importance of health promotion and health education programs. Such programs can assist employees and their dependents to maintain and enhance their health, and to make appropriate use of the health care system. To work toward these goals:
Orally Administered Anticancer Medication In accordance with RIGL § 27-20-67, prescription drug coverage for orally administered anticancer medications is provided at a level no less favorable than coverage for intravenously administered or injected cancer medications covered under your medical benefit.
Organ Transplants This plan covers organ and tissue transplants when ordered by a physician, is medically necessary, and is not an experimental or investigational procedure. Examples of covered transplant services include but are not limited to: heart, heart-lung, lung, liver, small intestine, pancreas, kidney, cornea, small bowel, and bone marrow. Allogenic bone marrow transplant covered healthcare services include medical and surgical services for the matching participant donor and the recipient. However, Human Leukocyte Antigen testing is covered as indicated in the Summary of Medical Benefits. For details see Human Leukocyte Antigen Testing section. This plan covers high dose chemotherapy and radiation services related to autologous bone marrow transplantation to the extent required under R.I. Law § 27-20-60. See Experimental or Investigational Services in Section 3 for additional information. To speak to a representative in our Case Management Department please call 1-401- 000-0000 or 1-888-727-2300 ext. 2273. The national transplant network program is called the Blue Distinction Centers for Transplants. SM For more information about the Blue Distinction Centers for TransplantsSM call our Customer Service Department or visit our website. When the recipient is a covered member under this plan, the following services are also covered: • obtaining donated organs (including removal from a cadaver); • donor medical and surgical expenses related to obtaining the organ that are integral to the harvesting or directly related to the donation and limited to treatment occurring during the same stay as the harvesting and treatment received during standard post- operative care; and • transportation of the organ from donor to the recipient. The amount you pay for transplant services, for the recipient and eligible donor, is based on the type of service.
