Scheduling, Fees, and Payments
In order to schedule an initial appointment, please contact us and leave your contact information and any other information that you would like. It is also helpful to leave any information you can about your schedule. Dr. Beech will speak with you by telephone first, and then schedule an appointment.
Payment is expected at the time of service, but patients with standing (weekly) appointments may pay their balance at the end of the month. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card.
Dr. Beech is not a participating provider in any health insurance plan and does not file health insurance claims, but will provide all the information necessary in order for you to file a claim for out of network benefits.
Appointment Fees:
Initial Office Consultation $375 (adult). $450 (under 18 years old)
Individual Psychotherapy, Full Session $300
Individual Psychotherapy, Half Session: $200
Medication Evaluation and Management: $200
Couples or Family Therapy. $325
Clinical Phone Consultation (per hour, 10 mins minimum) $300
Individual psychotherapy sessions include medication evaluation and management as indicated.
Information on The Federal "No Surprises Act"
The No Surprises Act takes effect on 1/1/2022. Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance a Good Faith 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 non-emergency items or services. This does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur.
Make sure your healthcare 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 healthcare provider(s) for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you are billed for more than the Good Faith Estimate of medical costs,
You have a right to dispute the bill
You can ask the provider for an updated bill to match the Good Faith Estimate
You can ask to negotiate the bill
You can ask if there is financial assistance available
You have a right to initiate a patient-provider dispute resolution process with the US Department of Health and Human Services if the actual billed charges substantially exceed (by at least $400) the expected charges included in the Good Faith Estimate.
If you choose this route, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process
If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price of the Good Faith Estimate
If the agency reviewing your dispute disagrees with you and agrees with the provider, you will have to pay the higher amount
The initiation of a patient-provider dispute resolution process will not adversely affect the quality of healthcare services furnished to you.
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 or call 866-226-1819.
There may be additional items or services the provider may recommend as part of the course of care that must be scheduled or requested separately and are not reflected in the Good Faith Estimate. Upon request, the Good Faith Estimate can be updated.
The information provided in the Good Faith Estimate is only an estimate; actual items, services, or charges may differ from the Good Faith Estimate.
The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract and does not require the uninsured (or self-pay) individual to obtain the items or services from the provider.
Fees and Billing
I do not accept any insurance or insurance payments, nor am I on any insurance panels. If you are wishing to seek out-of network coverage for payment to me, please reach out to your insurance to clarify your out of network reimbursement benefits, as well as your deductible; you will need to take the lead in coordinating all communications with insurance companies. I will fill out insurance forms at your request and explicit direction. I am not a Medicare or Medicaid provider.
Payment of the bill is independent of and not contingent on reimbursement from insurance. Payment is appreciated at the time of the visit or on receipt of bill, though weekly clients will be billed at the end of each month. In addition to invoices in the form of a CMS 1500 form, which can be submitted to insurance for out of network reimbursement, a monthly statement will be sent if there is a balance at the end of the month. In the event that you are temporarily unable to pay your bill, please discuss it with me, and I will set up a payment schedule with you. Accounts overdue for more than 60 days may be charged a monthly late fee of 5% of the total balance overdue; in some cases, sessions will need to be temporarily stopped, except in an emergency, until payment is received. In addition, accounts overdue by more than 90 days may be turned over to a collection agency.
Fees:
o Psychiatric Evaluation (scheduled as one 120 minute appt or two 60 minute appts): $1150
Additional sessions are sometimes necessary for an evaluation and will be billed at the rates listed below
o Psychopharmacology/medication management
$500 for 30 minutes
$550 for 45 minutes
$575 for 60 minutes and hourly thereafter
o Meetings with schools/NY Department of Education/other groups, forensic/legal write-ups, or court testimony, etc
$575/hour (including transportation, when relevant)
In some cases discussed ahead of time, psychopharmacology appointments can be made for 15 minutes for $300; if the session runs over 15 minutes, the above fees will be charged
In cases where fees have been negotiated to a lower than full rate, fees will be increased approximately 2.5-5% annually.
Notes on the CMS 1500 insurance reimbursement form:
Once this form is completed, make and keep a copy for your records
In most cases, I have only completed my portion of the form; make sure every item in the form is completed with your information for your portion.
Sign items 12; leave item 13 blank.
Diagnostic codes are listed under 21 (A-L); it is then “coded” in 24 E (as, for example, “A” or “AB”). Despite the CMS form explaining how I am to complete the form, insurance will often inaccurately claim I did not list the diagnosis.
Complete item 29 if not already completed.
You do not need to return the bill/insurance form to me with your payment; make sure to send the form to insurance if you are seeking reimbursement.
Make sure your insurance company knows to send reimbursement directly to you and not to me; I must return and insurance payments sent to me back to your insurance.