Practice Policies
A selection our office policies.
You will be sent copy of our full policy to review and sign prior to your first appointment
Payment
My practice is considered “out of network” with all major insurance companies and is unable to see patients on medicare.
Full payment is due at the time of service by credit card or debit card even if you plan to request reimbursement from your insurance, FSA or HSA.
My practice utilizes IVY PAY (https://www.talktoivy.com/ivypay), which is a credit card payment system designed specifically for Psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and their clients. IVY Pay works with your debit card, credit card, HSA or FSA account. It is HIPAA secure and it keeps our therapeutic relationship confidential. I do not personally see any of your credit card information.
Cancellation:
Notice of cancellation must be received at least 24 business hours in advance for weekday appointments. Please remember that business hours are considered weekdays from Monday through Friday and exclude all standard holidays. For example, if your appointment is on a Monday, the cancellation must be made by the same hour on the preceding Friday. Missed visits or cancelations within 24 hours of appointment will be charged 50% of the appointment fee.
In fairness to other patients and in order to provide safe treatment to engaged patients who are most likely to benefit, repeated no-shows or late cancellations may be cause to discontinue treatment.
Time Based fees:
In order to keep our overhead low and to offer you the most value, I charge an additional fee of $300/hour for administrative work outside of your appointment time, which exceeds more than 10 minutes. This includes: phone calls (to you, providers or family and friends); responding to emails or direct messages; making photocopies or faxing; document preparation for a third party (attorney, employer, etc.); medical record handling/photocopying, completion of any paperwork/forms; and obtaining any prior authorizations for medications or treatment. Time is billed in quarter-hour increments and is expected when services are rendered. We will always provide a time estimate and ask for your permission prior to performing any additional services that will generate a bill.
You must be in treatment for at least 6 months with 10 visits in order for disability or FMLA paperwork completion to be considered.
Intake Forms:
Prior to the initial evaluation, all patients must complete a patient intake package. Please plan to complete the entire intake package, including registration with Ivy Pay, 24 hours prior to your appointment time. If you have not, your appointment may be canceled or rescheduled and you will be charged a $220 cancellation fee.
Prescription History and Controlled Substances:
I routinely review the entire prescription history for all patients, including prescriptions for controlled substances as required by the DEA and most states. Refills for controlled substances always require an appointment. See FAQ regarding controlled substance prescribing. If you lose a bottle of your controlled substance medication, I will provide one refill. However, if it happens again, a refill will not be provided under any circumstances.
Emergencies:
For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you message me over the EMR, it may take 24-48 hours for me to respond to your message. If you cannot reach me during an urgent situation, you may also call the crisis line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 360.586.2800. You may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800- 273-TALK (8255), which is a confidential hotline staffed by trained mental health counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.