POLICY SUMMARY
Pathways Behavioral Health Group (PBHG) provides convenient, accessible, high-quality behavioral health services. To ensure continuity of care and access to these services, clients must maintain appropriate insurance coverage. A list of our accepted insurers and payment information is available on our website.
MEDICAID RECIPIENTS
Medicaid recipients will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses for services, including additional costs not covered by Medicaid.
GAMBLING SERVICES
Gambling services are available to all Maryland residents at no cost, regardless of insurance coverage. Participants may be Medicaid eligible, Medicaid ineligible, or privately insured in the state of Maryland. Participants are required to be a state of Maryland resident to receive services at no cost.
COMMERCIAL AND SELF-PAY
The individual insurance companies contracted with PBHG determine the fee rates for accepted insurance. Additional costs, outlined below, apply only to commercial and self-pay clients. For clients with insurance plans that PBHG does not contract with, we may assist by submitting insurance claims on your behalf to help streamline the reimbursement process. Clients are responsible for the remaining balance if an insurance claim is denied or the reimbursement amount does not fully cover the fee.
STEPS IF YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM IS DENIED
If your insurance claim is denied, you should first contact your insurance provider to understand the reason for the denial. You may then resubmit the claim, provide additional documentation if required, or file an appeal following your insurer’s appeal process. PBHG can provide necessary documentation, such as superbills or treatment summaries, upon request to support your appeal. Clients are ultimately responsible for all outstanding balances not covered by insurance.
FEE SCHEDULE
The following fee schedule is not a complete list of all possible charges. The No Surprises Act aims to increase price transparency, and we have always posted our prices on our website for clients to review. If you are an uninsured or self-pay client who wants a Good Faith Estimate, please get in touch with our office.
Service Billing Codes & Rate:
- 90791-Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation (Initial Mental Health Assessment) - $235
- 90832-Individual Psychotherapy (16 to 37 minutes) - $95
- 90834-Individual Psychotherapy (38 to 52 minutes) - $110
- 90837-Individual Psychotherapy (53 to 60 minutes) - $175
- 90846-Family Psychotherapy (without the patient present) (26 to 60 minutes) - $175
- 90847-Family Psychotherapy (with the patient present) (26 to 60 minutes) - $175
- 90853-Group Psychotherapy (45 to 60 minutes) - $65
The following services are not billed to your insurance and will be billed directly to the client:
- Consultation Only (Mental Health Assessment) - $300
- Couples Therapy - $175
- Brief Therapy Phone Session (if less than 16 minutes) - $50
- Crisis Session/Call (per 5 minutes if less than 30 minutes) - $45
- Letter or Forms - $35
- Record Requests - $30
- Reports/Psychiatric Report (per half hour) - $50
- Bounced Check Fee - $35
- No Show Fee - $75
PAYMENT PLANS
PBHG understands the importance of flexibility in payment options. We accept various forms of payment, including credit cards, health savings accounts (HSA), checks, and cash. Payment is expected at the end of each session to ensure continuity of care. Please let us know if you have specific needs or wish to discuss flexible payment options. We are here to accommodate you.
CONDITIONS FOR FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS
Flexible payment arrangements are available to clients who demonstrate financial hardship or have high out-of-pocket expenses. To qualify, clients must submit a request and may be asked to provide documentation of income, proof of financial hardship, or verification of high medical expenses. Each request is reviewed individually, and approved payment plans will outline clear payment terms and timelines.
MEDICARE/DUAL INSURANCE
PBHG does not accept dual insurance coverage. Suppose you have coverage with both Medicaid and Medicare. In that case, Medicaid will not cover your services, and Medicare will be considered the primary payer. If you require services covered by Medicare, please inform us, and we will gladly provide alternative resources or refer you to agencies that accept dual insurance coverage. Your access to care is essential to us, and we are committed to helping you find the support you need.
EXISTING SERVICE RECIPIENTS WHO ACQUIRE MEDICARE AFTER ADMISSION
When you have dual insurance coverage, one insurance will be considered primary, and the other will be secondary. For example, if Medicare is your primary insurance, Medicaid will act as the secondary. In these cases, Medicaid may retract payments previously made to PBHG for services received during a specified period, leaving you responsible for the outstanding balance. You will receive an invoice detailing the amount owed and be accountable for the payment. PBHG may suspend your services until payment arrangements are established. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible to set up a payment plan.
Suppose you have already received disability benefits but haven't yet received your Medicare card. In that case, you are likely to become eligible for Medicare. We encourage you to discuss this with your caseworker for clarification and further assistance.
INSURANCE & RESPONSIBLE PARTIES
Clients are responsible for verifying their behavioral health benefits with their insurance provider. You will need to pay all copayments and deductibles at the time of service and any portions of fees not covered by your insurance. PBHG will charge copayments and deductibles to the card on file. Please inform PBHG of any changes to your insurance policy. Many insurance plans partially reimburse out-of-network providers and/or allow office visit fees to count toward your out-of-pocket maximum. Upon request, we can provide a "superbill" that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
NOTIFICATION OF INSURANCE CHANGES
PBHG will make reasonable efforts to inform clients about any major insurance policy changes that we are made aware of that may affect coverage for services. However, it remains the client's responsibility to regularly verify their insurance benefits, including coverage changes, copays, deductibles, and network participation. PBHG may notify clients of insurance changes through email, postal mail, or in-session communications when applicable.
CANCELLATION AND NO-SHOW POLICY
PBHG requires clients to provide 24-hour advance notice for appointment cancellations, including group therapy sessions, to avoid a missed appointment charge unless other arrangements have been made in advance with your counselor or therapist. Missing a courtesy reminder call does not waive your responsibility to attend or cancel your appointment. PBHG may require a credit card to be kept on file for balances over $200 or after two no-shows at your counselor or therapist's discretion.
FEES AND PAYMENT
All fees are due at the time of service. For clients using insurance, PBHG will submit claims to your primary insurance on your behalf. There is a fee for checks returned due to insufficient funds. Statements are generally sent via email but can be mailed upon request. PBHG will only submit claims to primary insurers for covered services. Suppose insurance payments are delayed beyond 30 days. In that case, we recommend you follow up with your insurer to ensure payment is forthcoming. You will be responsible for the full balance if your claim is denied or payment remains outstanding. Payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card. PBHG may request a credit card authorization on file for clients utilizing telehealth services, self-pay clients, accounts with high balances, or services not covered by your insurance.
FAILURE TO PAY
Clients agree that failure to pay service fees within 14 business days of the service date may be considered voluntary termination of services by the client at PBHG's discretion. Accounts sent to collections will incur the outstanding balance plus all associated collection fees. Clients consent to release relevant information to third-party collection agencies or attorneys for debt recovery. Clients also agree to cover attorney fees and any legal costs if legal action is required to collect payment. Legal proceedings will be conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, and clients waive any objections related to jurisdiction or venue.
UNDERSTANDING OF SEPARATE PRACTICES
Clients acknowledge that Pathways Behavioral Health Consulting, LLC (Pathways Behavioral Health Group or PBHG) and Treyway Multi Treatment Services LLC (TMTS) are independent practices despite sharing physical space. Therefore, separate client records are required. Clients understand that insurance benefits applied to PBHG services cannot be transferred to TMTS. Clients may choose to receive services from one or both practices as needed. Clients consent to exchanging relevant information between PBHG and TMTS to facilitate coordinated care, as indicated by their signature below.
USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide the best possible service, PBHG has opted to use an artificial intelligence note-taking tool that assists in generating clinical documentation based on your sessions. This allows for more time and focus to be spent on our interactions instead of taking time to jot down notes or trying to remember all the important details. A temporary recording and transcript or summary of the conversation may be created and used to generate the clinical note for that session. Your provider then reviews the content of that note to ensure its accuracy and completeness. After the note has been created, the recording and transcript are automatically deleted.
This artificial intelligence tool prioritizes the privacy and confidentiality of your personal health information. Your session information is strictly used for the purpose of your ongoing care. Your information is subject to strict data privacy regulations and is always secured and encrypted. Stringent business associate agreements ensure data privacy and HIPAA compliance. Please discuss any questions or concerns you may have about this feature with your provider.
By signing this form, you consent to the use of artificial intelligence as described. You acknowledge that your participation is voluntary and not a condition of receiving services from your clinician, and that you can withdraw your consent at any time.
TELEHEALTH SERVICES
Clients typically seen in the office may schedule telehealth sessions, as most insurance providers cover these services; however, we encourage you to confirm this with your insurance provider. If a scheduled appointment is missed, counselors or therapists may offer a brief phone session (16 minutes or less) during the initially scheduled time for individual, couples counseling, or family therapy. This phone session will be billed at a reduced rate, lower than the standard missed appointment fee. This option for missed appointments is available twice every 30 days.
COURT APPEARANCES, LEGAL REQUESTS, ASSOCIATED COSTS, AND LEGAL FEES
PBHG may be required to provide information or participate in legal proceedings, such as court appearances, depositions, custody reviews, or documentation requests ("Legal Requests"). These services involve additional time and preparation beyond standard care, and the associated costs will be billed to the client or their legal guardian. The fees for these services will be calculated based on the hourly rate equivalent to a self-pay client's 60-minute individual therapy session. This rate applies to activities such as preparation, document review, travel, consultations, waiting time, and any other work related to the Legal Request.
PROVIDER CONTACT OUTSIDE OF SESSIONS
Our priority is to offer you the highest quality of care. In case of emergencies, please call 911. If you are in crisis, contact the 988 Crisis Hotline. For appointment scheduling or billing inquiries, please get in touch with your counselor or therapist, who will provide you with their contact information for these concerns. If you need to speak with your provider outside of your scheduled session and cannot wait until your next appointment, please respect their time.
POLICY & FEE AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By signing below, you acknowledge that you have reviewed, understood, and accepted the policies outlined in this document. Please feel free to reach out with any questions before signing.