FEES & POLICIES

This is a seemingly maybe boring but also very important part. Some of you reading this may have sometimes experienced in the past giving your power away to others. Taking the time to read through this is a way to practice caring for yourself, because:

  1. You’ll learn about what you will be agreeing to by engaging in therapy with me; and

  2. You start becoming an active participant in your therapy.

So, here it goes:

Psychotherapy Fees & Payment Policies

Individual Counseling Fee:

In-person in St Johns at 8940 N Bradford St, Portland, OR (dependent on COVID rules and safety) and via Telehealth. 

My current full fee is $150 per 53-minute individual therapy session. However, I would like my services to remain accessible as much as possible, so I have slots available at a reduced rate ($90) for folks paying out-of-pocket and unable to afford my full fee. Please do inquire if my full rate would be a financial hardship that would prevent you from seeing me. Please note that my fee is consistent whether sessions are held via telehealth or in-person.

Payment Methods: 

Payment is due at the time of service. If billing CareOregon (for which i am out-of-network), any copays, deductibles or coinsurance will be collected after insurance reimbursement. I accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, HSA/FSA. Cards will be added to your secure client portal account, and I will charge the provided card after each session (or after reimbursement if billing CareOregon). When in-person, I additionally accept cash and checks.

Past Due Accounts: 

If your account becomes past due, necessary steps will be taken to collect this debt. If your account is referred to a collection agency, you agree to pay all collection costs incurred. Fees (currently $30, as charged by the bank and subject to change) will be charged for any returned checks.

Cancellations, No-Shows and Late Starts:

Sessions should be canceled/rescheduled 24-hours in advance so as not to incur a full charge. In the event of an emergency, these charges may be waived at my discretion. A late start may result in a shorter session, as i may not be able to extend it past the scheduled time.

Insurance

Oregon Health Plan (OHP)

I am currently accepting CareOregon as an out-of-network provider. Please check back later for additional OHP insurance plans.

Other Insurance

I am not currently able to accept insurance plans other than CareOregon as an out-of-network provider.

“Super Bills”

 I am happy to provide you with a “super bill” in the event your insurance does offer out-of-network coverage.  A “super bill” basically is a detailed receipt allowing clients to bill their insurance directly. It includes client and therapist information, date of services, fees and diagnosis/es code(s) and other similar details. Depending on the specifics of your insurance plan, you may be able to obtain reimbursement for out-of-network services. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance regarding out-of-network coverage. After reviewing your policy, here are some questions to ask:

  • Do you cover out-of-network Professional Counselor Associates mental health services (via telehealth and in-person)?

  • Do you require a pre-authorization?

  • Do i need a referral from an in-network provider/primary care physician?

  • What is my out-of-network coinsurance for each outpatient mental health visit with an out-of-network mental health provider?

  • How many out-of-network mental health sessions per coverage year does my plan include?

  • What is my deductible and how much of it has been met this year?

Good Faith Estimates

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care, including psychotherapy services, will cost. 

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, hospital fees, and psychotherapy. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Physical location during phone or video sessions

Current rules still mandate that clients be physically located in the same state, during the time of each session, as where their therapist is licensed/registered. This is due the lack of counselor-licensure portability/reciprocity between states. Professional counselors’ licensure is “state-based,” meaning that we have to apply for licensure in each state individually. Since i am registered in Oregon, this means that the client has to be physically present in the State of Oregon while the session is happening. This is something to consider while scheduling sessions. 

Detailed and complete policies will be provided to clients through my secure client portal. 

Thank you for Reading! Please do feel free to ask me for any additional information in the meantime.