Payment Arrangements:
Insurance Plans
If the neuropsychologist is an in-network provider for your insurance, you will be expected to pay any applicable co-pay or deductible on or before your day of service. It is important to note should your insurance company determine that evaluation is not a covered expense you will be responsible to self-pay for services provided. Though we do our best to give you a good quote of any out-of-pockt cost to you before the evaluation, it remains important to check with your insurance carrier prior to service delivery.
Medicare
Neuropsychological evaluation is a covered service under Medicare and does not require preauthorization. At the time of service, you may be required to pay your Meicare deductible or coinsurance. If you have a supplementary insurance policy in addition to Medicare, the supplemental policy will typically cover your co-insurance costs.
Self-Pay
If you do not have insurance; OR if the neuropsychologist does not participate in your insurance program, you will be responsible to pay for all fees with the following payment schedule:
- You will be expected to pay in full ($350) for the initial consultation at the time of service.
- At the beginning of the examination day, you will be expected to pay estimated testing fees ($2150-3150).
- During the follow up visit, you will be asked to pay any remaining testing fee balance, as well as the cost of the final visit ($350).
Most insurance companies have what are called “Out of Network” benefits that may cover a portion of the cost of the evaluation if we do not participate in your insurance. You should check with your insurance company to determine what out of network benefits you may be entitled to and to make sure that neuropsychological testing is a covered service. It is also important to ask your insurer whether pre-authorization from the insurance company is necessary before services are provided. We will provide you with information regarding services and fees to assist you with filing out-of-network claims with your insurance company.
Cancellations
Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or change an appointment. Because the number of appointment times we can offer is limited, and there are many people in need of our services, we appreciate your assistance in giving us at least 48 hours notice of a cancellation. We will email you to remind you to complete our patient paperwork at the beginning of the month of your first appointment, and call you 2 business days prior to your appointment to confirm. If we do not hear back, nor recieve new patient paperwork by 8am the day before your appointment, we will cancel your appointment and wait to hear back if you wish to reschedule.
Please take note: If you are 30 or more minutes late for your testing appointment, we will need to reschedule you for the next available date.
Appointment Process
Most intake and follow-up appointments will be conducted via phone/telehealth services, unless
instructed otherwise.
Testing Appointments
If you/your child has a scheduled testing appointment with us, we encourage you to keep this
appointment unless you, your child, or someone in your household:
- are experiencing symptoms like fever (>99.5F), cough with shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, GI symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and/or body aches
- have had close contact with someone in the last 5 days that is positive/confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19
Please have the patient bring:
- relevant prior evaluations and medical records,
- a list of all current medications,
- completed questionnaires (if those have been provided to you)
Optional items to consider:
- snacks,
- drink,
- sweater/ jacket/ hoodie as the rooms can sometimes be cool
Notice Regarding Current COVID-19 Policies (Effective November 1, 2022)
Austin Neuropsychology follows the CDC masking guidance for COVID prevention, which is
based on community transmission by county.
Travis County has sustained a two-week trend at “substantial transmission” – down from “high
transmission” – and thus universal masking is no longer required by patients, and family
members in our clinic.
Special circumstances may arise that require masking such as:
- If someone is exhibiting signs or symptoms of cold or flu
- Employee exposure to COVID
- Per patient request
Confidentiality and Release of Records
The records we create in working with you are confidential and private except as provided by law. If you would like your records sent to someone else, we must have a signed written request indicating your permission and to whom you would like the record released. You may write your own statemestatement authorizing the release of records or you may use a form available at our office. You may revoke your authorization at any time. If we are filing insurance for you, insurance companies commonly require that you authorize the release of records to them as a condition for receiving reimbursement.
Information that a patient may be dangerous to him or herself or others, or that abuse of a child or adult has occurred must be reported, even without the patient’s consent. For more detailed information regarding confidentiality please refer to the Texas Rules for Protecting Health Information and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ HIPAA Rules, both available at the check-in desk.
Emergency Contact Information
Should an emergency arise while you are at Austin Neuropsychology, the emergency contact you provided at registration will be notified. If a medical emergency arises, EMS will be called.
Should an emergency arise at other times, please dial 911; or, for mental health emergencies you can contact the confidential Travis County 24-hour HOTLINE at 472-HELP (472-4357).
Complaints
If you have concerns or complaints regarding your care at Austin Neuropsychology, PLLC, please raise these issues with your neuropsychologist. Patient satisfaction is very important to us and we will strive to resolve any problems that may arise. If you would prefer, concerns/complaints can be directed to our administrator, Debbie Thomas (512) 637-5894. You may also submit a written complaint to:
Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
333 Guadalupe, Ste 2-450
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 305-7700
Research Participation
In our effort to learn more about how the brain functions and how to better help our patients, we sometimes carry out research. For any type of research, we will need your authorization. We want to emphasize that participation in research at Austin Neuropsychology, PLLC is purely voluntary. Your decision to participate or decline to participate in research will in no way affect your relationship with Austin Neuropsychology, PLLC or our commitment to your clinical care.
In this research, all identifying information is removed and confidentiality is protected.
These types of research mainly include:
- Statistical analysis of clinical information from past patients
- Specific cases examples, which are a powerful teaching tool when training psychologists or physicians.
- Occasionally we also contact past patients to see if they are interested in participating in new research studies. The specifics of any potential research project would be explained to you at that time, and you would have a choice to volunteer or decline participation at that time as well.