How We Work Together
Below you will find detailed information related to our practice policies, including who we treat, how a typical evaluation and treatment course work, and our payment, medication refill, and other policies.
Ages Evaluated and Treated
Although I am certified in both Child/Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry, at this time I am only evaluating children/adolescents 17 years of age or younger in order to better address the critical shortage of Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists in the State of Minnesota.
Initial Evaluation
Once the initial documentation has been received and reviewed (intake forms and consents), we can schedule an intake appointment which generally takes between 60 and 90 minutes.
Follow-Up Sessions
After the initial visit, a follow-up visit of 45 minutes will be scheduled to review the results of that evaluation and discuss a treatment plan. If we decide to move forward with treatment, all future follow-up appointments will also be 45 minutes in duration. The frequency of follow-up appointments will be determined based on services requested, symptom acuity, and other factors.
Your child should be present for all sessions, if possible. It can erode the therapeutic relationship if I meet with parents or caregivers consistently without the child participating. To that end, special efforts will be made to help you find before or after school appointment times if we are meeting more than monthly.
Payment
Payment by credit card or check is due at the time of the appointment. I do not accept any insurance payments at this time.
Billing information and receipts will be provided so patients can submit out-of-network claims to their insurance company, if they have those benefits. It is recommended that patients contact their insurance company prior to establishing treatment to understand their out-of-network benefits. Your insurance company might ask you which CPT billing codes I use. Since I typically blend psychotherapy with medication management, I usually will use the “E&M” (evaluation and management) codes 99205 (new eval), 99213 or 99214 (follow-ups), combined with the psychotherapy add-on code 90833. The use of both types of these codes together might increase your reimbursement, depending on your plan.
I normally do not bill for brief contact outside of session via email or phone (e.g. calling a pediatrician for a brief discussion, or emailing with you to clarify scheduling), unless this contact exceeds 10 minutes or is an emergency, at which point, such services will be pro-rated at the agreed hourly rate.
The following is a list of the most common services and associated fees:
- Initial 10-minute Phone Consultation: Free
- Initial Evaluation: $900
- Extended Professional Athlete ADHD Evaluation (MLB, NFL, etc): $1,600
- Follow-Up Visits: $450
- Phone calls, emails, extensive prior authorizations for medications, or paperwork (any in excess of 10 minutes): $50 per 10-minute increment
- Court Fees: $600 per hour for any time in court plus preparation time, transportation, etc.
Cancellations
If appointments are missed or canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice, patients will be charged a fee equal to the amount of the missed appointment.
Medication Refill
It is a much more productive and safe practice to prescribe medications during visits. But I am also aware that unexpected events take place, and occasionally visits must be rescheduled. Thus, the first request for a refill outside office hours will be honored without charge. Subsequent requests will be charged $30 per refill. A refill will be provided only for one month. Further prescriptions will be provided during your next office visit.
Telehealth
Telehealth sessions are available, but to provide you with the best and most effective treatment possible, I would ask that our first visit and at least half of all other appointments be scheduled as in-person visits. I would also ask that if you are participating in any session via telehealth, that you find a quiet, private location with good WiFi, and refrain from joining the session from your car.
Out-of-State Patients
Due to changes in the Public Health Emergency, it will no longer be possible to adequately care for patients via telehealth who reside out-of-state, or to send many types of prescriptions across state lines. In addition, I have found it very difficult to treat college students due to a host of logistical factors, even when they are in state. Therefore, if you are moving out of Minnesota, or if your adolescent/young adult will be matriculating to college, you will need to find a different provider.