For New Clients

Welcome!  Congratulations on taking the positive and strong step of seeking partnership in addressing your current challenges.

I run a paperless practice. So when a new client relationship is established, I create a link to a client portal where all necessary documentation can be completed. This same portal is used to schedule or reschedule appointments as necessary – eliminating any phone tag to get an appointment.

The first appointment lasts 90 minutes in order to gather in depth background information and an overall picture of the issues that are most pressing.  Subsequent sessions last 50 to 60 minutes and usually occur weekly – sometimes more and sometimes less depending on the situation.

Confidentiality is at the core of a trusting counseling relationship.  It is also an ethical standard for the profession.  Any discussion during sessions remains strictly confidential; however the following legally required exceptions exist:

• In cases of suspected child or elder abuse, I am legally required to make a report to the appropriate authorities.
• In cases of imminent physical danger to others, I am legally required to make a report to both the authorities and any intended target.
• In cases of imminent threat to self, I will encourage a client to seek an immediate higher level of care.  I am legally required to independently take actions to secure the physical safety of my clients if necessary.

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, I ask for 24 hour notice. Without the proper notice, you will be responsible for payment of the missed session.  Exceptions are certainly made for unexpected emergencies

YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs,  such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network. “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit. “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care – like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. You are protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable  condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections  not to be balance billed.
If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections. You’re never required to give up your protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network. When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections: You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will payout-of-network providers and facilities directly.
Your health plan generally must:

• Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance(prior authorization).
• Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
• Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
• Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact The Secretary of State in Georgia by visiting https://sos.ga.gov or by calling 404.656.2881
Visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf for more information about your rights under Federal law.