Questions and Answers
How long are sessions?
Therapy sessions are 45 minutes in length unless otherwise arranged.
What are the fees for a session?
The first session will be a diagnostic interview and will be billed at the rate of $225.00. The fee for subsequent standard length sessions is $185.00, but this fee may vary somewhat based on the specific session length authorized by your insurance company. If you do not wish to bill an insurance company, please discuss a specific fee schedule with your therapist. Any other financial concerns may be discussed with your therapist. For any additional questions concerning billing, call our office manager at (208) 883-1144 or (509) 758-9698.
Is there a fee if I cancel my appointment?
You must cancel scheduled appointments 24 hours in advance or you will be billed a missed appointment or late cancellation fee, except in the case of an emergency where it is impossible for you to keep your appointment. Missed appointments with no prior notice will be charged $100.00. Late cancellation of an appointment (i.e., < 24 hour notice) will be billed at $50.00. If we can fill the appointment there will be no charge for a late cancellation. If you are more than 20 minutes late for an appointment and you have not called, we will assume you have missed. Typically, insurance companies will not pay for missed appointments and late cancellations.
When do I pay for my appointment?
Payment for services is expected at the time services are rendered, unless other arrangements are made. You may discuss adjusting the fee with your therapist if the amount will pose financial difficulty for you. If we agree to a reduced fee, a zero balance must be maintained. There will be a 1.5% interest charge, compounded monthly, on the unpaid account
Counseling services may be temporarily suspended in the event that there is an outstanding balance of $300.00 or more and there is no indication that your insurance will be covering the majority of the balance. Counseling may resume once your balance is paid. Delinquent accounts will be referred to a professional collection agency. If you have specific concerns related to billing practices please speak with your therapist. Under special circumstances, payment plans can be set up to manage outstanding balances.
Does Fitzgerald Psychological Services take insurance?
Yes.
If you want to use your medical insurance, you need to check your policy to find out if your therapist is a covered provider, what portion of the fee will be covered, and how many sessions are allowed per year. We will bill your insurance company, but it is important for you to remember that you, not your insurance company, are responsible for seeing that your account is paid in full. Most insurance companies require special authorization for detailed psychological, cognitive, and/or educational evaluations. We will do our best to work with your insurance company but it is important for you to know that some of these services may be denied.
You should be aware that most insurance agreements require you to authorize us to provide a clinical diagnosis and sometimes additional confidential information, such as a treatment plan or copies of progress notes. If you have a problem with this, it is your responsibility to find out what kind of confidential information your insurance company can request from us and make a decision as to whether or not you wish to utilize their coverage.
In accordance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, providing us your medical insurance information allows us to use that information for insurance billing purposes.
What are my rights and responsibilities as a client?
As a client and consumer of psychological services, you are entitled to the following: 1) to request a different therapist; 2) to discontinue therapy; 3) to request a change in therapy; and 4) to ask questions. It is the client’s responsibility to choose a therapist and treatment modality that best suit his/her needs.
If your insurance company or other third-party payer denies payment (for whatever reason) for services that are rendered to you as the client, you specifically agree to pay for the services. One way in which this situation arises is when a pre-authorization was not properly obtained; in the event that the insurance company states it does not have to pay for the services, you are agreeing, by signing this disclosure, to pay for the services that your insurance company refused to pay. However, you will not have to make payment if your therapist’s contract with the insurance company specifically prohibits it.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
If you have not already done so please contact your insurance company to determine: If you have or need prior authorization. What your deductible is. What your co-payment is. Please bring your insurance card and your copay to your first appointment.
How do I contact the office or my therapist?
Phone: (509) 758-9698
Address: 629 6th Street, Clarkston, WA 99403
E-Mail: contactus@epsclarkston.com
Our telephone answering service is available for client messages on a twenty-four (24) hour per day basis. In case of emergency, we will provide 24 hour coverage by phone. If your therapist is not available to take your call, another clinician in the practice group will respond. Emergency calls up to 10 minutes in length are free of charge. Those between 10 minutes and a half hour will be charged at a half session rate. Those exceeding a half hour will be charged a full session rate. This fee is not likely to be covered by your insurance company. The Emergency Contact Number is (509) 552-1777