PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the particular problems you hope to address. There are many different methods I may use to deal with those problems. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Because therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. When treating insomnia specifically, therapy might cause you to experience increased sleepiness and fatigue, especially in the early phases of treatment. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, significant reductions in feelings of distress, improved sleep, and less fatigue. But there are no guarantees as to what you will experience. Our first session will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with me for therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions about whether you feel comfortable working with me. At the end of the evaluation, I will notify you if I believe that I am not the right therapist for you and if so, I will give you referrals to other practitioners who I believe are better suited to help you. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, I will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional for a second opinion. Please note that the psychological services I provide are not for emergency situations. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. FEES My fee is $395 for an initial evaluation lasting 90 minutes, and $250 for each subsequent psychotherapy session (either in-person or over the telephone) lasting 45 minutes. I charge this same $250 per 45-minutes rate for other professional services you may need, though I will prorate the cost if I work for periods of less than 45 minutes in increments of 15 minutes, rounded to the nearest 15-minute increment (e.g., 22 minutes of service will be charged for 15 minutes whereas 23 minutes of service will be charged for 30 minutes). Other professional services include telephone conversations or email responses lasting longer than 15 minutes, and the time spent performing any other service you may request of me. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for any professional time I spend on your legal matter, even if the request comes from another party, at the same $250 per 45-minutes rate. I do not charge for time spent writing reports and progress notes as per the standard routine of my care of you. I also do not charge for any time I may spend collaborating with your other providers. From time to time, I may institute fee increases and these will be discussed and agreed upon ahead of time with a new Treatment Contract. If it has been more than one year since our last appointment, then you will re-initiate services at my current standard fee which may be higher than the fee you were previously paying. In addition, if it has been more than one year since our last appointment, you will be scheduled for another initial evaluation (90 minutes) and charged accordingly, with subsequent 45-minute psychotherapy sessions thereafter. INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT You are responsible for paying your full session fee. I am not in-network with any insurance companies. If you decide to submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement for any out-of-network benefits you might have, you may do so. However, be aware that the services provided will still be charged to you, not your insurance company, and you are responsible for the full payment. I have no role in deciding what your insurance covers. You are responsible for checking your insurance coverage, deductibles, payment rates, pre-authorization procedures, etc. Missed appointments, late cancellations (i.e., cancellations within 24 hours of service), and telephone session are not typically covered by insurance companies and therefore you will likely be responsible for the full session fee in these instances. If your insurance company doesn’t reimburse you, I am not responsible for refunding you any payment you expected to be reimbursed or otherwise. I will provide you a superbill after each session with the following information that you will need to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement for any out-of-network benefits you might have:
Treatment Program Testing The Employer may request or require an employee to undergo drug and alcohol testing if the employee has been referred by the employer for chemical dependency treatment or evaluation or is participating in a chemical dependency treatment program under an employee benefit plan, in which case the employee may be requested or required to undergo drug or alcohol testing without prior notice during the evaluation or treatment period and for a period of up to two years following completion of any prescribed chemical dependency treatment program.
Surgery Services and Mastectomy Related Treatment This plan provides benefits for mastectomy surgery and mastectomy-related services in accordance with the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 and Rhode Island General Law 27-20-29 et seq. For the member receiving mastectomy-related benefits, coverage will be provided in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician, physician assistant, or an advance practice registered nurse and the patient, for: • all stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed; • surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance; • prostheses; and • treatment of physical complications at all stages of the mastectomy, including lymphedema. See the Summary of Medical Benefits for the amount you pay.
Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege The information disclosed by Patient, as well as any records created, is subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege. The psychotherapist-patient privilege results from the special relationship between Therapist and Patient in the eyes of the law. It is akin to the attorney-client privilege or the doctor-patient privilege. Typi- cally, the patient is the holder of the psychotherapist-patient privilege. If Therapist received a subpoena for records, deposition testimony, or testimony in a court of law, Therapist will assert the psychotherapist-patient privilege on Patient’s behalf until instructed, in writing, to do otherwise by Patient or Patient’s representative. Patient should be aware that he/she might be waiving the psychotherapist-patient privilege if he/she makes his/her mental or emotional state an issue in a legal proceeding. Patient should address any concerns he/she might have regarding the psychotherapist-patient privilege with his/her attorney. Fee and Fee Arrangements The usual and customary fee for service is $100.00 per 50-minute session. Sessions longer than 50-minutes are charged for the additional time pro rata. Therapist reserve the right to periodically adjust this fee. Patient will be notified of any fee adjustment in advance. In addition, this fee may be adjusted by contract with in- surance companies, managed care organizations, or other third-party payers, or by agreement with Therapist. From time-to-time, Therapist may engage in telephone contact with Patient for purposes other than sched- uling sessions. Patient is responsible for payment of the agreed upon fee (on a pro rata basis) for any tele- phone calls longer than ten minutes. In addition, from time-to-time, Therapist may engage in telephone con- tact with third parties at Patient’s request and with Patient’s advance written authorization. Patient is respon- sible for payment of the agreed upon fee (on a pro rata basis) for any telephone calls longer than ten minutes. Patients are expected to pay for services at the time services are rendered. Therapist accepts cash, or major credit cards.
Medication Assisted Treatment This plan covers medication assisted treatment for substance use disorders, including methadone maintenance treatment. Please see the Summary of Medical Benefits for specific copayments for these services.
School Psychologists At the time of employment and subject to (b) above, full credit for specialized work as a psychologist in a school program shall be given. Full credit for other clinic experience may be given, subject to approval by the Human Resources Division.
Tuberculosis Examination The examination shall consist of an approved intradermal tuberculosis test, which, if positive, shall be followed by an X-ray of the lungs. Nothing in Sections 5163 to 5163.2, inclusive, shall prevent the governing body of any city or county, upon recommendation of the local health officer, from establishing a rule requiring a more extensive or more frequent examination than required by Section 5163 and this section. § 5163.2. Technician taking X-ray film; Interpretation of X-ray The X-ray film may be taken by a competent and qualified X-ray technician if the X-ray film is subsequently interpreted by a licensed physician and surgeon.
Diagnosis For a condition to be considered a covered illness or disorder, copies of laboratory tests results, X-rays, or any other report or result of clinical examinations on which the diagnosis was based, are required as part of the positive diagnosis by a physician.
Psychologists Psychologists hired by the Employer, with no prior years of experience as a school psychologist, teacher, or prior years of military service shall be placed on Step 1 of the salary schedule effective July 1, 1990. Credit for combined years of prior experience as a school psychologist, teacher, and active military service experience shall be allowed at a rate of one (1) year for each twelve (12) months of continuous service up to a maximum of eight (8) years, as per credit requirements in Salary guidelines. Retroactive to the 2000 – 2001 school year, for new school psychologists, credit for combined years of prior experience as a school psychologist, teacher, and active military service experience shall be allowed at a rate of one (1) year for each twelve
Health Screening The Contractor shall conduct a Health Needs Screen (HNS) for new members that enroll in the Contractor’s plan. The HNS will be used to identify the member’s physical and/or behavioral health care needs, special health care needs, as well as the need for disease management, care management and/or case management services set forth in Section 3.8. The HNS may be conducted in person, by phone, online or by mail. The Contractor shall use the standard health screening tool developed by OMPP, i.e., the Health Needs Screening Tool, but is permitted to supplement the OMPP Health Needs Screening Tool with additional questions developed by the Contractor. Any additions to the OMPP Health Needs Screening Tool shall be approved by OMPP. The HNS shall be conducted within ninety (90) calendar days of the Contractor’s receipt of a new member’s fully eligible file from the State. The Contractor is encouraged to conduct the HNS at the same time it assists the member in making a PMP selection. The Contractor shall also be required to conduct a subsequent health screening or comprehensive health assessment if a member’s health care status is determined to have changed since the original screening, such as evidence of overutilization of health care services as identified through such methods as claims review. Non-clinical staff may conduct the HNS. The results of the HNS shall be transferred to OMPP in the form and manner set forth by OMPP. As part of this contract, the Contractor shall not be required to conduct HNS for members enrolled in the Contractor’s plan prior to January 1, 2017 unless a change in the member’s health care status indicates the need to conduct a health screening. For purposes of the HNS requirement, new members are defined as members that have not been enrolled in the Contractor’s plan in the previous twelve (12) months. Data from the HNS or NOP form, current medications and self-reported medical conditions will be used to develop stratification levels for members in Hoosier Healthwise. The Contractor may use its own proprietary stratification methodology to determine which members should be referred to specific care coordination services ranging from disease management to complex case management. OMPP shall apply its own stratification methodology which may, in future years, be used to link stratification level to the per member per month capitation rate. The initial HNS shall be followed by a detailed Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) by a health care professional when a member is identified through the HNS as having a special health care need, as set forth in Section 4.2.4, or when there is a need to follow up on problem areas found in the initial HNS. The detailed CHAT may include, but is not limited to, discussion with the member, a review of the member’s claims history and/or contact with the member’s family or health care providers. These interactions shall be documented and shall be available for review by OMPP. The Contractor shall keep up-to-date records of all members found to have special health care needs based on the initial screening, including documentation of the follow-up detailed CHAT and contacts with the member, their family or health care providers.
