I accept Premera/ Lifewise, Regence, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and First Choice Health Plans for these services. If you have another insurance or no insurance, the full fee will be due at the time of service, and proper documentation provided by request for you to submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
Like visits with other medical specialists, visits with a psychiatric nurse practitioner are billed based on many factors including, but not limited to time, complexity, amount of therapy etc. As a result, your copay/coinsurance and the length of the appointment may be different for each visit.
Appointments At your initial visit, I will begin a thorough review of your current concerns and of your background. By the end of the initial visit we will discuss preliminary impressions and your treatment options, however it may take 1-3 appointments to complete this process. In many cases, a combination of psychotherapy and medication management is optimal, however lifestyle and wellness factors will also be addressed and in some cases will be sufficient with therapy. The initial visit is also your opportunity to determine for yourself if my services are well matched to your needs. If you determine it is not a good match I can assist you with referrals to other mental health professionals.
Appointment Frequency At your initial visit, we will decide together the structure of your therapy. Appointments will be more frequent initially until symptoms have stabilized. If medications are prescribed, or changed, I prefer to conduct a 25-minute follow-up visit within two weeks. This is necessary to ensure proper administration, and minimize any side effects you may experience. If your symptoms improve, follow-up visits can be spaced out at monthly intervals. For clients who are stable and on maintenance therapy, follow-up visits can be held at three-month intervals.
If Your Insurance Changes Helpful questions to ask about the new policy: 1) What are my mental health benefits? 2) What is the coverage amount per therapy/medication management session? 3) How many mental health sessions does my plan cover? 4) Is Sarah Woodall, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner within my network providers? 5) How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider? 6) What is my deductible? (amount you have to pay before insurance benefits start to apply) 7) What are my co-pays? 8) Is a referral required from my primary care clinician?
Fee For Services
If I am credentialed with your insurance (Premera/LifeWise, Regence, Aetna and First Choice Health), the fee is determined by the contracted rate schedule set by your insurance plan. Out-of-pocket rates vary by time and complexity:
Ancillary services: (filling out forms etc., calling in prescriptions without appointment; non-emergent telephone calls, preparing summaries): $25 per 15 minutes
Legal Testimony: It is often unforeseen, but legal matters requiring the testimony of a mental health professional can and do arise. Legal testimony can often be damaging to the relationship between a patient and his/her practitioner. Because of this, I require that you employ independent forensic psychiatric or psychological services should this type of evaluation or testimony be required. If for any reason I am deposed or subpoenaed on your behalf and required to testify or appear in court, you will be responsible for my court fees at a minimum of $1,080 for a half day or $2,160 for a full day.
Genetic Testing This service is available during regular follow-up appointments to assist in identifying the most beneficial treatment options for you.
Financial Responsibility and Insurance Billing Practices
Payment in full is due at the time of each session including private pay amounts, co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles. You will be billed for any remaining balance. New billing statements are posted in the patient portal, typically on a monthly basis. Payments can be made in the patient portal with a credit or debit card. My practice does not have access to this card unless you present it in person.
I reserve the right to bill my standard fees for case coordination, clinical and legal write-ups, and phone consultations exceeding 5 minutes per week. I generally do not fill out forms for L&I, disability, custody disputes or court. My time is best-served providing high quality professional services to you while you are here in session. There is no charge for routine telephone calls regarding scheduling, appointments, or billing.
For billing questions, please call the office and choose the billing option.