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:
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.
Diagnostic procedures to aid the Provider in determining required dental treatment.
Speech Therapy This plan covers speech therapy services when provided by a qualified licensed • loss of speech or communication function; or • impairment as a result of an acute illness or injury, or an acute exacerbation of a chronic disease. Speech therapy services must relate to: • performing basic functional communication; or • assessing or treating swallowing dysfunction. See Autism Services when speech therapy services are rendered as part of the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The amount you pay and any benefit limit will be the same whether the services are provided for habilitative or rehabilitative purposes.
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
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
Screening After you sign and date the consent document, you will begin screening. The purpose of the screening is to find out if you meet all of the requirements to take part in the study. Procedures that will be completed during the study (including screening) are described below. If you do not meet the requirements, you will not be able to take part in the study. The study investigator or study staff will explain why. As part of screening, you must complete all of the items listed below: • Give your race, age, gender, and ethnicity • Give your medical history o You must review and confirm the information in your medical history questionnaire • Give your drug, alcohol, and tobacco use history • Give your past and current medication and treatment history. This includes any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, such as vitamins, dietary supplements, or herbal supplements, taken in the past 28 days • Height and weight will be measured • Physical exam will be done • Electrocardiogram (ECG) will be collected. An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart • You may be tested for COVID-19 o Blood tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C o Blood tests to see how your blood clots ▪ Fibrinogen ▪ PT/INR/aPTT o Blood tests for amylase and lipase (enzymes that help with digestion, Part B only) o Blood tests for a lipid (fats) panel (Part B only) ▪ Total cholesterol ▪ Triglycerides ▪ HDL ▪ Direct HDL o Blood tests to check your thyroid function (Part B and Part C only) ▪ TSH ▪ Free T4 o Urine to test for drugs of abuse (illegal and prescription) o Urine tests to check your albumin/ creatinine ratio o Females who have not had a period for at least 12 months in a row will have a blood hormone test to confirm they cannot have children • The study investigator may decide to do an alcohol breath test • The use of proper birth control will be reviewed (males only) • You will be asked “How do you feel?” HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C will be tested at screening. If anyone is exposed to your blood during the study, you will have these tests done again. If you have a positive test, you cannot be in or remain in the study. HIV is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If your HIV test is positive, you will be told about the results. It may take weeks or months after being infected with HIV for the test to be positive. The HIV test is not always right. Having certain infections or positive test results may have to be reported to the State Department of Health. This includes results for HIV, hepatitis, and other infections. If you have any questions about what information is required to be reported, please ask the study investigator or study staff. Although this testing is meant to be private, complete privacy cannot be guaranteed. For example, it is possible for a court of law to get health or study records without your permission.
Hospital This plan covers behavioral health services if you are inpatient at a general or specialty hospital. See Inpatient Services in Section 3 for additional information. This plan covers services at behavioral health residential treatment facilities, which provide: • clinical treatment; • medication evaluation management; and • 24-hour on site availability of health professional staff, as required by licensing regulations. This plan covers intermediate care services, which are facility-based programs that are: • more intensive than traditional outpatient services; • less intensive than 24-hour inpatient hospital or residential treatment facility services; and • used as a step down from a higher level of care; or • used a step-up from standard care level of care. Intermediate care services include the following: • Partial Hospital Program (PHP) – PHPs are structured and medically supervised day, evening, or nighttime treatment programs providing individualized treatment plans. A PHP typically runs for five hours a day, five days per week. • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) – An IOP provides substantial clinical support for patients who are either in transition from a higher level of care or at risk for admission to a higher level of care. An IOP typically runs for three hours per day, three days per week.
Medication 1. Xxxxxxx’s physician shall prescribe and monitor adequate dosage levels for each Client.
2. Xxxxxxx’s physician shall not impose and/or limit dosage capitations for any prescribed medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
Physician Visits This plan covers the services of a physician or other provider in charge of your medical care while you are inpatient in a general or specialty hospital.
