Office policies and insurance

OFFICE POLICIES

1. Confidentiality: What you say in therapy, your records, and even your attendance are confidential. Exceptions include:
• When you give written permission to release information
• When your records are subpoenaed for legal reasons
• The law requires that all instances of child, elder and dependent adult abuse be reported to the proper authorities.
• We are legally bound to notify all potential victims when anyone makes a serious threat to kill another person.
• We are ethical obligation to take appropriate precautions when a client threatens suicide.

2 . Payment is expected in cash or check at the time of service. Upon request, we will provide you with a statement (super bill) at the end of each month. It will contain the information needed for you to bill your insurance company. There will be a $35.00 fee on any returned check.

3. Appointment cancellation: We require that 24 hours notice is given, or you will be charged for your cancelled appointment.
4. With regard to treating minors: we protect the confidentiality of minors as well as adults. Although we recognize and honor the right of parents to be informed of their child’s progress, parents are not told the details of children’s therapy sessions. However, in order to protect a child, parents will be notified of the need for crisis intervention.

INSURANCE
Any third party payor (e.g., insurance, EAP and PPO) does have a right to review your records, thereby impacting your right to confidentiality.

1. Your insurance may or may not cover our services. You will need to contact them to verify your coverage. When talking to your provider they will need to know that you are seeking services from a licensed marriage and family therapist.

2. The benefit of using your insurance is that it may pay for a portion of your therapy. You have paid your insurance premiums and should use your benefits whenever possible.

3. Considerations regarding using your mental health coverage are:
a. Your level of privacy is impacted. If you are trying to apply for life/disability insurance/private health insurance, your company will have access to your mental health information as well as your medical history.
b. We will need to speak with your insurance company to initiate counseling and get approval based on a diagnosis. This means someone other than you will decide whether your therapy should be paid for and for how many sessions.
c. Your insurance company may require a medication evaluation in order to continue coverage. This may not be consistent with your choices.

4. Transitions therapy is a Victim Witness provider.