INSURANCES
I’m a preferred provider with the following insurance companies: Aetna, Beacon Health Options, Cigna, First Choice Health, Kaiser, Optum, PacificSource, Premera, Regence, and United Behavioral Health.
If your services are covered by one of these companies, you’ll be expected to pay the co-pay or co-insurance, as determined by your personal policy, at the time of services.
It is your responsibility to verify insurance coverage in advance of starting services with me. Additionally, you are responsible for all fees not covered by your insurance plan, including any denials or late fees.
SELF-PAY RATE
If you aren’t covered by one of the above insurance companies, I offer individual sessions and family meetings at the rate of $150 per session. You’ll be expected to pay the session fee at the time of service.
This fee is subject to change. If it does, you’ll be given notice at least 30 days in advance.
GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE
As of January 1, 2022, federal law requires health care practitioners, including mental health counselors, to provide current and potential clients who are not using insurance to pay for services a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of treatment. This law is designed to provide transparency to clients regarding their expected medial expenses and to protect them from surprises when the receive medical bills.
If you’re paying out-of-pocket for services from me, I will provide a Good Faith Estimate at our first session or by email within three days following it. If you have questions on this, feel free to ask.
CANCELLATIONS, NO SHOWS & LATE ARRIVALS
I require at least 48 hours notice for a cancelled appointment. If you cancel an appointment with less than 48 hours notice or don’t attend a scheduled session, you’ll be charged the full session fee of $150. In the case of a legitimate emergency or illness, this fee will be waived.
If you’re more than 15 minutes late for a session, I’ll consider it a no show. The session won’t be held and you’ll be charged the full session fee of $150. If you’re less than 15 minutes late we’ll hold the session, but end at the scheduled time.
I understand teens sometimes refuse to attend sessions. However, fees won’t be waived for this reason. I recommend parents attend the session anyway and we can use the time to explore strategies for increasing your teen’s willingness to engage.
Please note: Insurance companies won’t pay any portion of fees resulting from cancellations, no shows, or late arrivals. These fees must be paid at least 24 hours before your next appointment. You can take care of this by calling Mindful Therapy Group at (425) 640-7009 or logging into your online Patient Portal.
A NOTE ABOUT FREQUENT CANCELLATIONS
I very much believe that counseling is most effective when it occurs in a consistent and predictable manner. With that in mind, if you frequently cancel or reschedule, even with 48 hours notice, I’ll most likely discontinue our recurring appointment, so I can offer the time to someone able to attend more regularly. Should this happen, I’ll offer you the option to schedule appointments on a session-to-session basis, assuming that would be an appropriate level of care.
DOCUMENTATION REQUESTS
For currently active clients, I provide the following documentation without a fee:
-
- A letter documenting attendance at the intake, including my initial diagnosis and treatment recommendations, if requested within seven days of your first appointment.
-
- Monthly letters documenting attendance at sessions, if requested by the seventh day of the following month.
-
- A brief discharge summary, if requested within seven days following our final session.
Other documentation requests are billed at the rate of $150 per hour, prorated in 15-minute increments. Insurance companies won’t cover this fee.
It generally takes seven to ten days for me to provide any requested documents.
CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Case management services include phone calls or emails with you regarding anything except scheduling or billing. It also includes time I spend communicating with other helping professionals regarding your care, assisting you to complete forms, or similar support.
For currently active clients, I provide up to 15 minutes of case management and consultation per month without charge. After that, these services are billed at the rate of $150 per hour, prorated in 15-minute increments. Insurance companies won’t cover this fee.
COURT PROCEEDINGS
It is my intention to avoid any involvement in the court proceedings of clients or their families. This includes divorces, custody disputes, competency hearings, and all other legal matters.
I maintain this stance because I strongly believe it is impossible to be an effective therapist while also providing documentation for legal purposes, serving as a witness, or being involved in any other way with court proceedings.
With this in mind, I won’t agree to serve as a witness and I don’t provide assessments, evaluations, or documentation for court proceedings or in fulfillment of any legal requirement. This is true for current clients and their families, past clients and their families, and individuals who may be specifically seeking such services.
I’m not able to refuse a subpoena, but I can charge for my time. Should I be subpoenaed to appear in court on your behalf, the following fees will apply:
-
- $400 per hour for time spent testifying, waiting in court, preparing, and traveling.
-
- Reimbursement of any fees related to me consulting with my own lawyer.
-
- Reimbursement of all travel costs and other expenses related to testifying or preparing to testify.
-
- Documentation and case management fees as stated elsewhere on this website.
Since I can’t be an effective therapist when also involved in a client or family’s legal matters, if I’m subpoenaed in any matter involving a current client, I will immediately discontinue counseling sessions.