Frequently Asked Questions
How long are appointments? 50 minutes
How often will we meet? I am happy to schedule as often as your schedule and/or budget permit. In the beginning, meeting once a week or once every other week is typical. If interested, I often recommend books and assign “homework” in-between sessions in an effort to make sure you glean the most possible benefit from therapy or coaching.
Do you offer a free consult before making an actual appointment? Yes. I would be happy to offer you a 15 minute consultation call in which I will answer any questions you may have.
What is your fee? $160/ session.
Do you offer reduced fee options? I do, however I do not always have reduced fee spots available. If you are in need of a reduced fee, please notify me, let me know what issues and/or symptoms you are having as well as your goals, and I can let you know if I will have any availability in the near future. If I do not have availability, I will then do my best to either give you names of colleagues or point you in the right direction in your search.
Do you take insurance? I am an out-of network provider (which is currently what many mental health therapists choose to be). The way I interface with insurance is I give clients an insurance statement (often called a “superbill” by insurance companies). The form contains all the information that is needed by insurance. You can then submit it to your insurance to see if they will reimburse or count my fee towards your deductible.
If you would like to contact your insurance company first to see how they would handle this, you can absolutely do so. All you would need is tell them you are interested in seeing an out-of-network provider, and tell them that you will be sending them a “superbill” or “insurance statement” (depending on the term your insurance company uses). They will then be able to let you know how they would handle your claim.
Do you have a cancellation fee? Yes. In order to avoid being charged for the session, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance before your appointment. This is standard for the therapy profession as well as many other professions. That being said, I do allow one missed session per calendar year in the case of illness.
**Important to note: Finding the right fit between therapist/ coach and client is highly important for your success. Most professionals like myself, have certain areas of expertise that they prefer to stay within. If I feel that I am not the best fit to work with you, this should not be cause for concern, but a sign that you are on the right path to finding the best professional to work with you. I will then do my best to either give you names of colleagues or point you in the right direction in your search.
If you are wondering about my areas of expertise, click here: https://www.amanda-mccall.com/about.html
Also, for more in-depth info about the issues/concerns that I work with, click the Psychology Today icon below to view my profile on PsychologyToday.com.
NEW LAW EFFECTIVE 1/1/22
YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in -network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care - like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
You are protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network.
You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
- You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
- Your health plan generally must:
- Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
- Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
- Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
- Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
Visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf for more information about your rights under Federal law.
