Fees are an important issue to anyone receiving professional services. This fact sheet has been prepared to clarify our policies.
FEES: Our usual and customary fees are $175.00 for an initial intake, $140.00 for a 45-minute session of psychotherapy, $150.00 for a 60-minute session, and $150.00 per hour of psychological testing. Fees for psychological testing are based on time spent with the client, plus time spent for interpretation of results and report writing. Payment is requested at the time services are rendered by check, cash, money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or Flex Plan and HSA cards. Carolina Psychological Associates is not a forensic practice and does not choose to be involved in litigation, and we are opposed to it as we do not believe it to be therapeutic. If circumstances require so, our fees for involvement in any legal process are $250.00 per hour including preparation for court, travel, wait times, meetings, and telephone calls for the case as well as court time. These fees are not covered by insurance. The therapeutic relationship is legally considered privileged. Therefore, the therapist’s involvement in litigation has to be authorized in writing by the client or if a court orders the therapist’s involvement. Requests for a review and copies of records are subject to a $25.00 fee, not reimbursable by insurance.
INSURANCE: As a courtesy, we will file your insurance for you. However, the client is expected to pay for noncovered services and deductibles as well as co-payments at the time services are rendered. If insurance payment is not received within 90 days, after a claim is filed, the client will become responsible for payment of the total amount due. It is your responsibility to follow-up with your insurance carrier for delayed payments or other concerns.
BILLING: We will bill clients monthly after insurance has been filed. This is a reminder of your balance due and is an informational statement to keep you up-to-date regarding the status of your account. Our usual and customary collection procedures will be followed in order to collect unpaid balance and co-payments due.
REFUNDS ARE ISSUED ONCE A MONTH ONLY AFTER ALL PENDING INSURANCE CLAIMS HAVE CLEARED.
PAST DUE ACCOUNTS: Processing past due accounts is expensive. Accounts which are over three months past due may be assigned to our collections attorney or small claims court, depending upon the total balance due, for enforcement of collection.
MISSED APPOINTMENTS: IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO KEEP AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. IF AN APPOINTMENT IS CANCELED OR MISSED WITHOUT 24-HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THIS SESSION TIME. WE HAVE A 24-HOUR-A-DAY PHONE COVERAGE THROUGH OUR OFFICE WHICH INCLUDES AFTER HOURS VOICE MAIL. INSURANCE DOES NOT PAY FOR MISSED APPOINTMENTS; THEREFORE, YOU WILL BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL FEE.
RESPONSIBILITY: The client (or referring parent in the case of minors) is considered responsible for payment of our professional fee. It is the client’s responsibility to know the amount of his or her deductible and co-payment. When we are requested to bill a third party, such as a divorced spouse, relative, or insurance company, and that third party fails to make timely payments, payment is expected from the referring parent that signed the Consent for Services. The client will be responsible for claims that are denied due to “filing past the insurance carrier’s time limit”, that are the result of failure by the client to inform this office of changes in insurance coverage. The client also acknowledges that psychological testing may not be covered, or not covered fully, by their insurance carrier. If you or your child are here for psychological testing, please be aware that pre-authorization does not guarantee payment or payment in full by your insurance carrier, or other third-party payor.