Fees

Mental health care and evaluation services can be a significant financial investment, and I believe you should have clear information about costs before deciding to move forward. My fees for all services are listed here so you can make informed decisions about your care without having to request pricing or encounter unexpected costs.

Fees reflect the time and expertise involved in providing each service, including my education, specialized training, professional experience, and the resources necessary to provide thoughtful, high-quality care.

Court-involved therapy often requires significantly more time and professional responsibility than traditional outpatient therapy. In addition to time spent in sessions, these cases may require reviewing court orders and other records, communicating with attorneys and other professionals, completing additional documentation, responding to subpoenas or records requests, and preparing for or participating in depositions and court proceedings.

Court-involved cases also require careful consideration of confidentiality, informed consent, documentation, professional boundaries, and the distinction between the therapist’s clinical role and a forensic or evaluative role. These additional responsibilities frequently require substantial time outside of scheduled appointments.

For these reasons, court-involved therapy is billed at a higher rate to account for the additional time, documentation, coordination, and professional responsibilities associated with providing clinical services when there is active or anticipated legal involvement.

Why I Am a Self-Pay Practice

I do not contract with insurance companies. All services are self-pay.

I began my career in an insurance-based group practice, briefly contracted with two insurance panels in my early years of private practice, and have operated as a fully self-pay practice since 2018. That decision was not made lightly, and I want to be transparent about why.

1. Reimbursement rates do not reflect the actual cost of care.

The conversation around private-pay providers is often framed as therapists being unwilling to take insurance, but the more accurate picture is that insurance companies are unwilling to reimburse at rates that reflect the true cost of quality care. Reimbursement rates in our area fall significantly below the industry average. Beyond the financial reality, the administrative burden of contracting with insurance companies as a solo provider is substantial, including hour-long hold times, poor customer service, and having to justify to a non-clinical reviewer why your therapist believes you need continued care. Accepting insurance would mean diverting a significant portion of my time from clients to unpaid administrative work. That is not a trade-off I am willing to make.

2. Insurance requires a diagnosis, and that diagnosis follows you.

In order to bill your insurance, I am required to assign you a DSM-5 diagnosis and justify medical necessity at every visit. Not everyone who seeks mental health support meets the criteria for a clinical diagnosis, and this is especially true in the context of relationship and family therapy. Beyond that, a mental health diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record and can have implications for future employment, life insurance eligibility, or legal proceedings.

3. Your insurance company has the right to review your records.

Insurance companies employ reviewers, not always mental health clinicians, to audit treatment records and determine whether your care meets their definition of medical necessity, whether you have exceeded the number of sessions they deem appropriate for your diagnosis, or whether claims should be denied after sessions have already occurred. This process gives your insurance company access to the details of your treatment.

I believe you have the right to privacy and confidentiality, including from your insurance company. I believe you deserve the autonomy to move through the therapeutic process at a pace that is right for you, without an insurance company determining when that process should end.

Vann Counseling & Consulting does not contract directly with insurance companies and is considered an out-of-network provider. Depending on your insurance plan, you may have out-of-network mental health benefits that reimburse you for a portion of the cost of services.

Payment is due directly to the practice at the time services are provided. Upon request, I can provide a Superbill containing the information needed for you to submit a claim to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Use of insurance benefits requires a mental health diagnosis, and reimbursement is determined entirely by your individual insurance plan.

Insurance coverage for psychological and neurodevelopmental evaluations varies considerably. Many plans do not cover comprehensive ADHD or Autism evaluations, although some may reimburse for certain portions of the evaluation process, such as the initial clinical appointment or feedback session. I recommend contacting your insurance company before beginning an evaluation if you plan to seek reimbursement.

Court-involved and family law services are not eligible for insurance reimbursement.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company

When contacting your insurance company, ask:

1. What are my out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits for services provided by a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist?
2. Do I need a referral from my primary care provider to use these benefits?
3. Do I have an out-of-network deductible, copay, or coinsurance?
4. How much of my deductible have I met, and when does it reset?
5. Is preauthorization required before beginning services?
6. How are out-of-network claims submitted?
7. If you are seeking an ADHD or Autism evaluation, are any portions of the evaluation eligible for out-of-network reimbursement?

Because insurance policies vary, verification of benefits does not guarantee reimbursement. You are ultimately responsible for confirming your coverage and for any fees not reimbursed by your insurance company.

Reduced rates may be available on a limited basis depending on financial need, current caseload, and the services being requested. If cost may be a barrier to care, please contact me directly before scheduling to discuss whether a reduced-rate opening is currently available.

Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds may be used to pay for mental health services, allowing you to apply pre-tax income toward the cost of care. Itemized receipts are available upon request for all charges.

Please note that HSA and FSA funds are not appropriate for cancellation or no-show fees. You are encouraged to keep a non-HSA/FSA card on file for any fees of that nature.

Effective January 1, 2022, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) explaining the anticipated cost of your care before services begin. Transparency in billing has always been a priority at Vann Counseling & Consulting, and our fee schedule is available both on this website and as part of the onboarding process for all new clients.

Under the No Surprises Act, healthcare providers must provide uninsured clients and those not using their insurance with an estimate of expected costs for medical and mental health services. Please note that receiving a Good Faith Estimate does not alter any billing agreements you have already established with this practice.

Your rights under this law include:

• The right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency services
• The right to dispute any bill that exceeds your Good Faith Estimate by $400 or more
• The right to retain a copy of your Good Faith Estimate for your records; a copy will be available in your client portal at any time

For questions or more information about the Good Faith Estimate and your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.