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frequently asked questions
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What are your fees?15 Minute Phone Consultation = Free Fees for the CPT (billing/treatment) codes most commonly used in our practice: 90791 (Intake Assessment/Psych Diagnostic Evaluation) = $250 90837 (53 - 60 minute Individual Therapy Session) = $225 90834 (45 minute Individual Therapy Session) = $200 90832 (16 - 37 minute Individual Therapy Session) = $175 90847 (50 minute Couples Therapy Session) = $225 Upon booking confirmation for an Intake Assessment, a "Good Faith Estimate" is provided according to The No Surprises Act, which will outline more of what clients can generally expect for the total cost of treatment and the cost of other ancillary services we may provide over the course of a full calendar year. Payment Methods: Most Major Credit Cards, Flexible Spending Accounts, or Health Savings Accounts.
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Do you accept insurance?All of our services are billed as either Private Pay or Out-Of-Network (OON; this means that we do accept clients who want to use their insurance coverage to claim potential OON reimbursement for therapy depending on their OON benefits, but we are not in-network with any insurance companies). We strongly believe in providing exceptional services at a fair fee that’s consistent with the usual and customary market rates according to the states that we serve, our level of education and professional license, and our level of expertise gained over the past decade of our career. Private Pay clients are billed directly for Services that they are provided through our Jane Client Portal system with the card on file at the time of service. That's that! Private Pay clients enjoy greater privacy and a much lower risk of any third-party involvement in their mental health treatment, which remains private from any insurance company and helps increase the confidentiality of Private Pay clients' protected health information. OON clients are billed directly for Services that they are provided through our Jane Client Portal system with the card on file at the time of service. A Superbill for each completed session is provided, upon request, to clients via HIPAA-compliant email on a monthly basis. OON clients may submit their Superbills to their insurance company to claim potential OON reimbursement depending on the OON benefits covered by their plan. Insurance companies may typically process claims for OON reimbursement within 30-60 days. Superbills and/or any other estimate is not a guarantee of coverage and financial cost; you are responsible for verifying your coverage; your benefits are an agreement between you and your insurance company, and you are financially responsible for what your insurance does not cover. If you have concerns about your coverage, then you may need to contact your insurance provider directly. Here are some questions that you may ask your insurance company when calling the number on the back of your insurance card to verify the level of coverage for your plan's OON benefits: "Does my plan include out-of-network benefits for outpatient behavioral and mental healthcare services?" "What is my annual deductible for out-of-network mental health benefits? How much of this deductible have I already met?" "When does my deductible reset each year?" "Is there a limit on the number of sessions that my plan will cover annually?" "Are the following CPT (billing) codes for psychotherapy sessions covered?": 90791 (Intake Assessment/Psych Diagnostic Evaluation) 90837 (53-60 minute Individual Therapy session) 90834 (45 minute Individual Therapy session) 90832 (16 - 37 minute Individual Therapy session) 90847 (50 minute Couples Therapy session) "Is there a limit on out-of-pocket expenses per year? How much?" (This is the maximum amount you would pay in a plan year; once you exceed this amount, your insurance would pay 100% of all healthcare expenses. This amount resets each year.) "What is the coinsurance percentage for mental health services that my plan will cover?" (This is the percentage that your insurance would cover once you meet your deductible.) "Do I need a referral or pre-authorization to receive services?" "What is the Usual, Customary, and Reasonable fee (UCR) or the “allowed amount” for psychotherapy?" (They may tell you that this information is proprietary. This is not true. You are entitled to know what your plan sets as the allowed amount. Explain that you need this rate in order to know how much you can expect to be reimbursed after meeting your deductible. For reference, the UCR rate in NYC for 45 minute psychotherapy sessions is typically between $200 – $300). "How do I submit Superbills for reimbursement?" (Most insurance companies allow for Superbills to be submitted via their website; you may also consider using a service like Reimbursify). Please be advised that using health insurance to cover the cost of treatment carries some inherent and potential risk to your confidentiality, privacy, and/or future eligibility to obtain health or life insurance. Most insurance companies require that clients meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis and medical necessity in order to authorize payment for the cost of treatment/reimbursement if it is covered. Therefore, we are required to evaluate you for a mental health diagnosis and medical necessity, and disclose protected health information (PHI) about you to your insurance company through the Superbill and any other clinical documentation they require when you utilize health insurance to cover the cost of your therapy and/or claim OON reimbursement even if the challenges you are going through are common, relational issues, everyday stress, or transitions that occur as people move through natural life cycles. The information your insurance provider may typically request is limited to diagnoses, CPT (billing) codes, and dates of service. However, they would have a right to audit your records as a third party payer at any time which may include additional PHI such as progress notes and treatment plans. When you do not use your insurance, this information remains private and ensures you greater confidentiality. Please ask us any questions you have about billing and fees during your free phone consultation. Also, you can read about The No Surprises Act to learn more about your rights and protections against surprise billing.
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Do you offer a Sliding Scale?Yes! We believe it’s important to keep therapy accessible; therefore, we may offer a Sliding Scale / Reduced Fee Agreement on a limited basis. Access to our Sliding Scale is generally available on a first-come, first-served basis and it's based on household income + financial hardship(s) + availability in our schedule for the reserved Sliding Scale spots. The Sliding Scale rates cannot be combined with insurance (including potential reimbursement from out-of-network benefits). Sliding Scale / Reduced Fee Agreements are subject to change at our sole discretion (though we will give ample notice). If you are in need of a Sliding Scale rate, then send us an email or mention it during your free phone consultation.
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What's your cancellation policy?Our Financial Policy requires at least 24 hours advance notice to avoid fees for late cancellations and/or missed appointments. We value your time AND we value our time. Late cancellations and/or missed appointments ("No Call, No Show") are subject to a fee up to 100% of the fee for each appointment type.
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Do I need a phone consultation to get started?Spending 15 minutes on the phone up front can help us ask and clarify any questions, check to see if we could be a good fit to work with each other, and figure out the best next steps. Read these tips before your free phone consultation However, it's not required. If you prefer, then you may book an appointment online at your convenience.
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Why teletherapy? Can't we just see each other in the office?We live in a digital world. Teletherapy (a.k.a., telehealth, telemental health, telepsychology, online therapy, etc.) has been on the rise for many years. Research shows that internet-based interventions were equally effective when compared to more traditional face to face interventions even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Teletherapy offers many benefits for clients, therapists, and the greater community in general. We have a Business Associate Agreement with our preferred teletherapy platform(s) which ensures that the delivery of our teletherapy services are HIPAA compliant/secure. Our practice is exclusively online, remote, and virtual. Read more about our teletherapy services here.
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I'm curious about therapy with you. What's it like?Each and every person will have their own experiences from therapy. Clients who give us feedback tend to let us know that they appreciate having an outlet, a calm & clear sounding board, and "a fellow traveler" on their journey through life. Clients often tell us that they're able to relate and connect with us, and that this helps them experience a type of therapeutic accountability that they just can't really find anywhere else. Clients have shared that our approach provided them with useful insight, feedback, and resources. They shared that our support helped them manage acute stress, navigate difficult "bumps in the road", and resolve ongoing issues in their life. Clients frequently mention how they learn to feel more empowered and confident to be more direct with us during therapy sessions, and how these experiences ripple into and improve their relationships with other people. Clients have commented how working with us in therapy had taught them why it's important to embrace the power of vulnerability and work with their emotions & thoughts instead of avoiding them. Clients have reflected on how they looked forward to our therapy sessions, and that they were excited to share updates with us because they gained new coping tools for their toolbox.
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I'm ready to get started. How do I book an appointment?Call us at (212) 287 - 4027 to request an appointment - OR - you can... Send us an email. Complete our Online Contact Form. Book a free 15 minute phone consultation online. Book an appointment online*. *Accurate and verifiable credit card information is required in order to book an appointment; you will not be charged until the time of service.
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I can't login to the Jane Client Portal. What do I do?You can access the Jane Help Guide here.
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What happens during the Initial Intake Assessment / Evaluation?First, we connect via our HIPAA compliant/secure teletherapy platform. We set a brief agenda for the appointment and we encourage you to ask questions along the way while reviewing your consent forms, practice policies and procedures, We discuss the reasons for why you're starting therapy, your goals for therapy, and what you need as a return on your investment in therapy. Assessment and Evaluation is a critical part of Treatment Planning. Most importantly, we hold space for you to show up and get to know us, how we can support you, and how we will provide you with a safe, therapeutic relationship focused on helping you achieve your goals. Read more about what to expect in the first few sessions here.
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What about privacy and confidentiality?Your privacy is very important to us. We ensure that all clients who decide to work with us will receive Informed Consent for Treatment and a Notice of Privacy Practices. TLDR: You have confidentiality rights and they are governed by federal and state laws including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act); It's our job to protect your Protected Health Information (PHI). We follow strict legal and ethical guidelines to collect, maintain, and protect your protected health information (PHI). We may be legally or ethically compelled to break confidentiality when any of the following incidents may occur: (1) If a client may be an immediate danger to themselves or others, (2) If a client is endangering a population that cannot protect itself, such as the case of child or elder abuse, (3) To share diagnostic information as necessary to obtain payment for services, (4) As required by federal or state laws, and (5) When a client authorizes us in writing to release PHI (e.g., if a client would like us to collaborate with an alternate service provider or someone involved in their care like a psychiatrist, a primary care physician, a family member, a spouse or significant other, a friend, or an emergency contact). While we are an out-of-network (OON) provider, clients may submit "Superbills" to their insurance company for potential OON reimbursement through OON benefits. Please be advised that using health insurance carries some risk to confidentiality, privacy, or future eligibility to obtain health or life insurance. Most insurance providers require a mental health diagnosis in order to authorize coverage for the cost of treatment/reimbursement. Therefore, we are required to evaluate you for a mental health diagnosis and disclose PHI about you to your insurance company through the "Superbill" when you utilize health insurance to cover the cost of your therapy and/or claim OON reimbursement even if the challenges you are going through are common, relational issues, everyday stress, or transitions that occur as people move through natural life cycles. The information your insurance provider may typically request is limited to diagnoses and session dates. However, if we were an in-network provider, then they would have a right to audit your records as a third party payer at any time which may include additional PHI such as progress notes and treatment plans. When you do not use your insurance, this information remains private and ensures you greater confidentiality.
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Do you prescribe medication?No - We do not prescribe medication. However, if you would like to consider medication therapy as a part of your Treatment Plan for symptom management, then we will provide you with appropriate referrals to trusted psychiatrists who may prescribe medication.
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A quick note on the beginning, the middle, and the end of therapy.We believe that good therapy should begin with a mindful and intentional plan each stage and phase of therapy, including the end. Many cultural attitudes and social norms tend to avoid "endings" until they actually happen. We safely guide you through each stage and phase of therapy while coping ahead together for the future ending of therapy even if you may rather avoid it and any other kinds of "endings". The beginning - how we get started - impacts the middle and it shapes the future ending(s) - just as it happens in life. Our goal is to slow things down when needed because, "Slow is Smooth, and Smooth is Fast" - meaning, we can help you get to where you want to go more quickly when we pump the breaks and drive slow - think "Smooth Sailing". "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller. Some clients may only complete one intake appointment. Some clients may get started with a brief course of therapy lasting a few weeks or a few months. Many clients may value a longer-term, stable therapeutic relationship. Everything depends on you and what you need.
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