Skip to content

Posts from the ‘Policies’ Category

Mar 15

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Case Management Policy

Following is an addition to the Outpatient Services Contract effective immediately:

I run my practice in as independent and private a manner as possible by choosing not to be contracted with insurance companies that are likely to impose excessive bureaucratic requirements. Even on an out-of-network basis, some insurance companies may request additional information about your treatment in the form of utilization reviews or requests for additional information about you.

My default response is to refuse such requests for the dual purpose of protecting your privacy and maintaining the autonomy of my practice. I will notify you if I have received any such requests from your insurance company, and you and I may discuss on a case-by-case basis whether there is a reason to comply with such requests. Time spent on case management will be billed to your account on a prorated basis.

If you are insured by Aetna, your case may be selected by Aetna for a utilization review meeting by telephone. If your case is selected for utilization review, I will discuss this with you before participating in the review, and you and I may decide together whether or not to comply with the request. Time spent on utilization reviews with Aetna will not be charged.

If in addition to individual psychotherapy you are also being treated by a psychiatrist or another mental health professional (for example, group therapist, couples therapist), with your written authorization I may periodically discuss your treatment with that professional to ensure continuity of care. There is no charge for routine coordination of care with other mental health or medical professionals. However, in the event you are hospitalized, your account will be billed for time spent on coordination of care with treatment providers at the hospital.

If you have authorized me to discuss your case with any other individuals who are not mental health professionals (for example, a family member or employer), time spent on these activities will be billed to your account on a prorated basis.

Feb 5

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

New Cancellation Policy

This is the new cancellation policy effective for all clients starting in 2010 and later. Existing clients may be transitioned to the new policy on a case by case basis. The old policy may be found here.

Excessive cancellations should be avoided because keeping therapy appointments on a consistent basis is essential to making meaningful progress.

If you and I decide to work together, I will usually schedule one forty-five minute session (one appointment hour of forty-five minutes duration) per week at a mutually agreed time. Once this appointment hour is scheduled, you will be expected to pay for it. For clients with weekly appointments, four free absences are allowed per year.* You are responsible for payment of any additional absences beyond those allowed, regardless of the reason or type of absence. These include absences of all types, including illness, advance cancellations, late cancellations, and no-shows. Holidays and other days the office is closed will not count as absences.

I appreciate the courtesy of at least 24 hours notice if you know that you will not be able to attend a scheduled appointment. However, regardless of whether you have provided such notice or not, you will be charged for missed appointments that exceed the allotted number of free absences.

In instances where your insurance company limits the number of sessions covered per year, you will be responsible for payment of sessions that exceed such limitations.

You will be required to keep a credit card or check card on file and to provide signed authorization that this card may be charged for absences that extend beyond the allowed number. You will be responsible for updating your credit card information whenever it may change.

In situations where a client shows a pattern of excessive cancellations and efforts to address the situations are unsuccessful, the client may lose their reserved appointment hour. Such situations are rare and are usually resolved successfully.

Additional important information regarding cancellation and fees may be read in the Outpatient Services Contract.

*Addendum 07/28/11: The allowance of four free absences per year will be issued 30 days following the initial consultation. New clients will be responsible for payment for any absences that occur within the first 30 days.

Jan 12

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Fees

Current professional fees are listed, related policies are described, and suggestions for lower-cost options are included in this section.

My current fees are as follows:

Individual Psychotherapy: $170 per 45 minute session

Couple’s Therapy: $250 per 60 minute session

Professional Consultation: please inquire

Clients are expected to pay for each psychotherapy session at the time it is held, unless you and I agree otherwise. This includes co-payments for Aetna-insured clients as well as out-of-pocket fees for out-of-network clients. Fees may increase periodically, no more than once per year. Clients are informed one month in advance of any changes in fees.

Full-fee payments may be made by cash, check or credit card. Credit and debit cards are not accepted for co-payments (see the Credit/Debit card policy), with the exception of cards associated with flexible medical spending accounts.

If you are in need of a lower-cost option, I would encourage you to visit TherapySafetyNet.org, a coalition of New York mental health professionals who offer reduced fee psychotherapy to uninsured clients.

Additional important information regarding fees may be read in the Cancellation Policy, Case Management Policy, and Outpatient Services Contract.

Aug 17

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

After Hours Coverage

Though I am often not immediately available by telephone, I routinely check both voicemail and email during regular business hours.

I do not routinely check messages after regular business hours. If you need to speak with someone immediately, crisis counseling is available by telephone 24 hours a day in New York City by calling 1-800-LIFENET. If you experience a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room and request to be seen by a mental health professional.

I will inform you of my planned vacations and holiday absences several weeks in advance, and these dates are regularly posted on my website.

Additional crisis resources

Feb 13

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Insurance

I am a participating in-network provider with Aetna. I also work with many clients insured by other insurance companies on an out-of-network basis.

If you are insured by Aetna, you will be responsible for paying any applicable co-payment as defined by your policy.
If you have coverage through a different insurance company, you may be eligible for reimbursement of fees that you pay to an an out-of-network psychologist. At the end of each month, I provide a receipt that you may submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement.

You may call the toll-free number on your insurance card to ask about the rate at which they reimburse you for fees you pay an out-of-network psychologist. I recommend asking for the following information:

  • Does my plan include benefits for going to an out-of-network psychologist?
  • Am I responsible for paying an annual deductible before starting to receive reimbursements?
  • Is pre-authorization required?
  • At what rate would I be reimbursed going to an out-of-network psychologist?
  • What is the typical time lag between submitting a claim and receiving the reimbursement check?
  • How many sessions are allowed per year?

Nov 30

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Cancellation Policy (Original)

The following is the Original Cancellation Policy effective for clients starting prior to 2010. Clients may be transferred to the new policy on a case by case basis. The text of the New Cancellation Policy may be found here. 

CANCELLATION POLICY

Excessive cancellations should be avoided because keeping therapy appointments on a consistent basis is essential to making meaningful progress.

Appointments usually are scheduled as one forty-five minute session (one appointment hour of forty-five minutes duration) per week at a mutually agreed time. Once this appointment hour is scheduled, you will be expected to pay for it each week unless you provide 24 hours advance notice of cancellation.

You will be required to keep a credit or debit card on file and to provide signed authorization that this card may be charged for missed appointments and appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours advance notice. You will be responsible for updating your credit card information whenever it may change.

In situations where a client shows a pattern of excessive cancellations and efforts to address the situations are unsuccessful, the client may lose their reserved appointment hour. Such situations are rare and are usually resolved successfully.

I will let you know several weeks in advance (whenever possible) if I need to cancel a scheduled appointment. I also keep a listing of days I will not be in the office in the blog.

Nov 1

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Privacy

One of the ‘active ingredients’ of psychotherapy is the freedom to discuss anything, secure in the knowledge that your privacy will be protected. All information about a client’s psychotherapy is confidential, except in situations where there is a threat or danger to life, including neglect or abuse of a child or an elderly person, and in other limited circumstances as defined by law.

With these exceptions, this practice’s privacy policy prohibits the release of any information concerning a client to anyone without the client’s explicit and informed written authorization.

Complete details regarding confidentiality (and its limits) are described in the Notice of Privacy Practices that it is furnished to each client of this practice.