Insights Into Confidentiality and Appointment Procedures

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Confidentiality

Rest assured that any information shared during our therapy sessions will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Your details will not be disclosed without your written consent, except for professional consultation if necessary or as mandated by law. Legal obligations require me to report information related to suspected child abuse, an individual's inability to meet basic needs, or threats of harm to oneself or others. Typically, one person is allowed per telephone session, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed upon. Recording sessions without our mutual consent is strictly prohibited.

Appointment and Fees

To secure your appointment, a nonrefundable scheduling fee of $25 must be paid in full. Only after this payment will your appointment be officially scheduled and confirmed. The scheduling fee will be deducted from the total session cost. Full payment is expected before the session commences. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled session will incur a $75.00 charge. Our counseling rates are as follows: $135 for individual sessions, and $150 for couples and family sessions. We accept payments via credit cards, cash, insurance, out-of-network coverage, pre-authorizations, and single-case agreements. Feel free to reach out today to initiate positive changes in your life. Many clients report significant improvements in their personal lives, relationships, marriage, and family dynamics after just 2–3 sessions. We provide effective solutions that make a difference.

Effective January 1, 2022, a ruling went into effect called the "No Surprises Act," which requires practitioners to provide a "Good Faith Estimate" to individuals who are uninsured or utilize self-pay. The Good Faith Estimate (referred to throughout this document as “GFE”) works to show the cost of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service, a diagnosis, and a reason for mental health services. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. The GFE does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur, and you will be provided a new GFE should this occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill if you and your provider have not previously talked about the change, and you have not been given an updated GFE.

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), healthcare providers and healthcare facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or who are not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage, both orally and in writing, of their ability, upon request, or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a GFE of expected charges.

Note: The PHSA and GFE do not currently apply to any individuals who are using insurance benefits, including "out of network benefits” (i.e., submitting super bills to insurance for reimbursement).

Timeline requirements: Providers are required to provide a GFE of expected charges for a scheduled or requested service, including items or services that are reasonably expected to be provided in conjunction with such a scheduled or requested item or service. That estimate must be provided within specified timeframes:

• If the service is scheduled at least 3 business days before the appointment date, no later than 1 business day after the date of scheduling;
• If the service is scheduled at least 10 business days before the appointment date: no later than 3 business days after the date of scheduling; or
• If the uninsured or self-paying individual requests a GFE (without scheduling the service), no later than 3 business days after the date of the request. A new GFE must be provided, within the specified timeframes, if the individual reschedules the requested item or service.