Fees
Fees
My fees are reflective of extensive education, ongoing training, years of experience, specific areas of expertise, as well as the costs associated with maintaining a private practice.
Health Insurance
1. Private pay therapists aren’t unwilling to take insurance. Insurance companies are unwilling to pay the cost of therapy.
Reimbursement rates in our area are significantly below the industry average. The energy and effort it takes to interact with insurance companies, especially as a solo provider are extreme. Insurance companies generally have hour-long hold times, poor customer service, and push back on why therapists are requesting more sessions with you, their client. All of these factors mean that taking insurance would require me to spend significantly more time on administrative tasks for which I am not reimbursed than providing quality care to my clients.
2. You have to have a diagnosis based on a fully medical model of mental health care.
Insurance companies require you to have a diagnosis in order for them to cover therapy. This means that we must provide a DSM-5 diagnosis and justify medical necessity for every visit. Not everyone who seeks mental health services meets criteria for a diagnosis. In some cases, having a diagnosis on your permanent medical record can also impact your future in regards to employment, life insurance, or legal cases.
3. Insurance companies have the right to review your therapy records.
Your insurance company employs people (not all of them mental health clinicians) to conduct reviews in order to determine whether you’re using your insurance too much and to look for fraud. This process allows them access to your treatment records. This also means the insurance company may deny claims (often after a session has already occurred) either because they don’t believe it meets “medical necessity”, you’ve used more than the number of sessions they have determined are appropriate for a given diagnosis, or because our sessions were longer than what they are willing to reimburse.
I believe you have the right to privacy and confidentiality even from your insurance company.
I believe that you deserve the autonomy to move through the therapeutic process at a pace that is appropriate for you.
Out of Network Reimbursement
Most insurances do not cover evaluations, but may reimburse for some portions of the evaluation such as the first and last appointments.
Family law services are not reimbursable by insurance.
Questions to ask your Insurance Provider:
1. What are my “out-of-network, outpatient, mental health benefits” when seeing a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist?
2. Do I need a referral from my primary care provider (PCP) to receive mental health services?
3. Do I have a deductible (amount you have to pay out of pocket before benefits kick in), coinsurance (a percentage you have to pay), or copay (typically a set fee per service type)?
4. Have I met my deductible this year? When does my deductible restart?
5. Does pre-authorization apply? (Meaning: does the insurance company have to approve the treatment prior to starting therapy?)
6. How do I file out-of-network claims?
Sliding Scale or Reduced Fee
Please reach out directly to inquire about the availability of these spots before scheduling.
HSA/FSA
These funds should not be used for cancellation or no-show fees and you are encouraged to keep a back-up non HSA/FSA card on file for these charges.
Good Faith Estimate
- You have the right to receive a GFE for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your GFE, then you can dispute the bill.
- Make sure to save a copy or picture of your GFE (a copy will be in your client portal for you to review)
For questions or more information about the GFE, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprise. or call 1-800-985-3059
Therapy Session Fees
Intake Appointment for Individual Therapy
$185
Intake Appointment for Family or Couples Therapy
$250
Standard Therapy Session
$150
Extended Sessions
$225
ADHD & AUTISM EVALUATIONS
ADHD Evaluation
$695
Comprehensive Report Included
ADHD Computer Screening
$295
2 page Summary Report Included
Computer Re-Test
Adult Autism Evaluation
$1000
Diagnostic Letter Included
Report Options +$200-400
Adult Autism + ADHD Evaluation
$1350
Diagnostic Letter Included
Report Options +$200-400
Re-Evaluation Consultation
$250 Intake Appointment
FAMILY LAW CONSULTING
Co-Parenting Consulting
Social Investigations & Guardian ad Litem
Consulting with Other Professionals
$150/hour for fully-licensed Professionals
Legal Policies & Fees
There is a minimum fee of 4 hours ($1,000.00) required for any deposition or court appearance regardless of the actual time spent, or if the case is cancelled or postponed when the therapist arrives. The party that requests the deposition may be responsible for the full fee unless the court order states differently.
The fee to block a half day for trial (either 9am to 1pm or 1pm to 5pm) is $1,000. The fee to block a full day for trial (from 9am to 5pm) is $2,000. If your case is postponed or delayed on the day of appearance, and you have not guaranteed Heather Vann’s presence for the entire day, she will only be available for the estimated time. Court fees are typically split 50/50 between the parties unless the court order states differently.
Additional fees for court-related time are billed at $250 per hour which includes, but is not limited to records review and report writing, waiting for court, speaking with your attorney, meeting with your attorney, and/or actual testimony time. The $250/hour rate will be billed in 15 min increments after the first full hour.
Travel is billed at $150/hour with a one hour minimum and in 15 min increments after the first full hour.
If the deposition or court appearance is cancelled for any reason less than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled date then no refunds will be provided. Cancellations occurring four (4) or more business days prior to the scheduled date are subject to a 50% refund.