PAYMENT/INSURANCE
PAYMENT DUE:
All payments are due at the time of service unless other arrangements are made in advance.
CREDIT CARDS:
We take Visa and MasterCard (or cash) only. Our policy is not to take checks. If this is impossible, please speak to Pam Selph, Office Manager, who may be able to make special arrangements.
MANAGED CARE:
We are in-network providers for MEDICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield, New Directions Behavioral Health, Aetna, Cigna, Gulfcoast, Mental Health Network, Value Options, Evolutions, CompCare, Concordia, and Humana/Life Sync. Under certain circumstances, we have limited participation with United Health Care. You are responsible for all copayments and deductibles according to health insurance plan allowable amount.
We are also not providers for Tricare, Magellan, Florida Healthy Kids, HealthEase, Amerigroup, or Medicaid. For these or any other health insurance plans for which we are not considered in-network, full payment at the time of service will be required. We will be happy to provide you with a statement which you can submit to your insurance company.
AUTO INSURANCE:
We do see patients who are covered by their auto insurance or auto insurance PIP if it has not been exhausted. We bill auto insurance, but as with all insurance, you are responsible for your co-payments.
MEDICARE:
We do accept Medicare, and typically, if you have a Medicare Supplemental insurance, there is not likely to be any co-payment. Rarely, a supplemental (like GEHA) may not fully cover the cost of the remainder above and beyond what Medicare will pay and so, in such instances, you may have a very small co-payment. Please note that a second (or secondary) insurance does not always cover the cost of what Medicare does not cover if you do not have a "Supplemental" insurance policy. In such instances, we may not be providers for the secondary insurance and/or insurance authorization may be required which may or may not be able to be obtained or which may not cover the full cost of the remainder left over from Medicare. If you do not have a Medicare Supplemental or a secondary insurance (i.e. you have Medicare only, or Medicare and Medicaid), Medicare requires a 20% co-payment for psychological or neuropsychological testing and a 35% copayment (which will change to 20% in 2014) for mental health services (typically about $30 per session for psychotherapy).
WORKER'S COMPENSATION:
We do see Worker's Compensation cases but require proper prior authorization before an appointment can be scheduled.
COUPLES THERAPY:
Many insurance companies do not cover marital or couples therapy. Billing for marital/couples therapy as individual therapy is fraudulent, so if your plan does not cover it, please do not ask us to do so. We encourage private payment for marital therapy to maximize confidentiality.
SUBSTANCE TREATMENT:
Alcohol and drug treatment benefits may be more limited in some plans than other mental health benefits.
MENTAL HEALTH PARITY:
Mental health benefits are usually subject to higher deductibles, more limited treatment, greater restrictions, and higher co-payments than other health benefits. This is why psychologists have lobbied hard through the American Psychological Association and your local congressmen and congresswomen for "Mental Health Parity" to make it illegal for insurance companies to change benefits solely due to mental health issues. Studies show increasing such benefits to patients will usually reduce overall healthcare costs. We applaud our congressmen and women for passing the Mental Health Parity legislation (July, 2008) but note that this only applies to insurance from employers with over 50 insured employees. If you are an employee of a smaller company or have your own individual insurance plan, it is not subject to the Mental Health Parity regulations and protections.
Visa/Mastercharge/American Express Accepted




