Where are you located? My primary office is located at 208 Fayette Street, Manlius NY. The office is directly across from the Swan Pond in downtown Manlius and next to the M&T Bank. Parking lot is rear of building. Office is on 2nd floor above TLC Chiropractic. It is my hope that clients will find the location both confidential and professional.
What is your rate? My rate is $140.00 for a 50-minute session.
What are your office hours? My office hours are by appointment. Providers are in the office each week day, and some DBT groups meet on Saturdays. Limited availability for Saturday sessions.
What is your cancellation policy? If you do not show for your scheduled appointment, and you have not notified me at least 48hrs in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session. There is never a charge for illness or weather related cancellations.
What forms of payment do you accept? Credit, cash or checks are accepted. Payment due at the time of service.
Do you accept insurance? The most common question perspective clients ask is if I 'take insurance' or not. By this, clients typically mean, do I work with insurance companies to provide a 'co-pay' system. The answer to this is no, for two reasons: 1) Complex insurance paperwork significantly increases overhead and would drive up the cost of each counseling session. 2)Breach of client confidentiality with information (diagnosis, progress reports, treatment plans, etc.) that becomes part of the client's permanent medical record (and sometimes then increases their insurance rate.) A better question may be whether or not your insurance will cover some or all of your expenses. The answer to this, happily, is often yes.
For insurance companies I would be considered an out of network provider. This typically means you have a deductible to meet (which varies by plan) and then you can be reimbursed for 50%-70% of your investment. If your employer offers a Health Savings Account (HSA) you are likely eligible to receive reimbursement (at a pre-tax rate) for your sessions.
All that is required to receive reimbursement is a letter from me with the necessary details (diagnostic code, diagnosis, dates of appointments, fees). This method seems to work well for a majority of clients. It also allows me to provide a high standard of care for a maximum number of clients.
The first thing you can do is contact your insurance company to learn: 1) If you have out of network coverage for mental health benefits. 2) What is your deductible amount. 3) What is your reimbursement rate. 4) How many sessions per calendar year your plan covers. 5) Is there a limitation on how much your provider will pay per session. 6) Is approval from your primary care physician required. 7) Is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with their R# allowed for your out of network benefit.