Question 1

Do you see patients who have no insurance, who are out-of-network, or who want to be cash-paying?

Accepted Answer

We are able to see patients who have no insurance, who are out-of-network, or chose to be cash-paying. These patients will have to pay out-of-pocket for their care. Please call us to discuss our out-of-pocket rates. We are able to provide "super bills" to help you apply for reimbursement from your insurance company for your out-of-pocket costs. Since coverage varies by plan, please contact your insurance company directly to confirm the specific amount or percentage they may reimburse.

Question 2

Good Faith Cost Estimate if you are paying out of pocket.

Accepted Answer

Good Faith Estimate Notice You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care 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 nonemergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. 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 health care 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/consumer or call 1-800-985-3059.

Question 3

Do you offer sliding scale?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer sliding scale at this time. We provide transparent billing to help you plan accordingly.

Question 4

Do I become a patient when I am scheduled for my first appointment or after my initial consultation?

Accepted Answer

Your first 1-2 appointments are considered a consultation, and being scheduled for an initial appointment does not mean that the practice or your provider has agreed to treat you. Typically, you and your provider will decide during the initial consultation whether to enter a provider-patient relationship. But it may also take more than one consultation/appointment to make this decision. Medications will only be provided after the initial consultation period is complete. After the initial consultation period, you or your provider may also decide not to continue together, in which case, we are happy to provide referrals to ensure you get the support you need.

Question 5

What medications can you prescribe?

Accepted Answer

We prescribe most psychiatric medications, including long-acting injectables and controlled substances like stimulants and anxiolytics. We'll help arrange long-acting injections at a specialized pharmacy or your primary care office. We don't offer ketamine, TMS, ECT, or methadone. We'll refer you if needed for these services. Emerging treatments like MDMA and psilocybin aren't available outside trials. We are excited for these medication to be FDA approved and will keep you updated. We don't prescribe medical marijuana.

Question 6

Do you see people for psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Our visits go beyond simply adjusting prescriptions. Every medication management visit includes dedicated time for brief, therapeutic conversation. Your provider may draw from evidence-based approaches exploring thought patterns, coping strategies, emotional triggers, or life stressors woven naturally into your appointment. This is not traditional psychotherapy. But it is so much more than a prescription pad. Our providers have limited slots available for traditional psychotherapy patients (who are typically seen for an hour every 1-2 weeks). Our providers will typically only accept new psychotherapy patients who are already established with them, or after a period of consultation. Please contact us if you'd like to inquire whether any of our providers are currently open for new psychotherapy patients.

Question 7

What is the difference between a therapist/psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Accepted Answer

Therapists/Psychologist help with mental health through psychotherapy often called talk therapy. They can be a psychologist (PhD or PsyD), a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a marriage and family therapist (MFT), or a psychiatrist (MD/DO). Traditional therapy cadence is weekly or every two weeks. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health illness and can also help investigate for contributing medical conditions. They are able to prescribe medications, or other medical interventions, and can also engage in therapy. The cadance of your office visits can vary. As you establish care your provider might see you for frequent follow-ups and as you become more stable you and your provider may decide to extend the time between your follow-ups.

Question 8

How long is my appointment?

Accepted Answer

Your first appointment, or initial consult, will be scheduled for one hour, and you can expect to talk with your provider face-to-face for about 45-50 minutes. A typical medication management follow-up appointment will be scheduled for 30 minutes (around 20-25 minutes face-to-face). A typical psychotherapy appointment is scheduled for one hour (45-50 minutes face-to-face).

Question 9

Do you see patients from outside the Los Angeles area?

Accepted Answer

We accept patients from outside the Los Angeles area on a case-by-case basis.

Question 10

Do you see people in-person or via tele-health?

Accepted Answer

We are able to see patients both in-person and virtually. While most patients can be seen virtually most of the time (if not exclusively), some patients may be required to present in-person from time-to-time (including for the first appointment). These can include patients with symptoms where an in-person examination is indicated. As pandemic-era rule exceptions expire, these can also include patients using Medicare or those who are prescribed controlled substances.

Question 11

Do you see children?

Accepted Answer

Not currently but we are looking to add child psychiatrist in the very near future.

Question 12

Can I get refills between visits?

Accepted Answer

Refills are typically handled during scheduled appointments with your provider. For urgent refills <24 hours there will be a $25 fee. Otherwise, please give us 2-3 bussiness days for refill request.

Question 13

What is the missed/late/no show cancellation appointment policy? What if I am running late?

Accepted Answer

We plan our appointments to ensure our clinicians can dedicate the necessary time and attention to each patient. To help us maintain this level of care, it is essential that you honor your appointment by arriving on time or providing a cancellation notice at least two (2) full business days in advance of your scheduled appointment.

We give a 10min grace period for arriving late to a 30min appointment and a 20min grace period for arriving late to a 60min appoinment. If you arrive after the grace period, we kindly ask you to reschedule and the missed appointment will be charged as a missed appointment. We want to ensure you have the time you deserve with your provider.

Failure to cancel your appointment in this timeframe, missing your scheduled appointment, or arriving late to your appointment will result in a $100 fee for a 30min and a $200 fee for a 60min appointment. It will be charged at the time of the missed appointment.

PW

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