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 Office Policies The majority of services provided in our Psychosomatic Center are not covered by in-network benefits. Payment for psychotherapy services provided by the independent contractors will vary depending upon credentialing status of psychotherapist with the independent insurance companies. Patients with out-of-network benefits are qualified as a self-pay. Due to inconsistent timely payments from Medicare, new Medicare patients are required to sign an ABN (Advanced Beneficiary Notice) form prior to services being rendered. For insured patients, all copays are due at the time of the visit. The self-pay patients or patients with out-of-network benefits will be required to pay the full fee prior to each service provided. Patients should contact their insurance companies to determine their out-of-network benefits. We will provide information to help patients submit for out-of-network reimbursement on their own from their insurance company.
There is a 24 hour notice required to cancel a routine appointment (medication management, Suboxone appointment, group therapy, individual/couples/family psychotherapy, EMDR). A cancellation with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the late cancellation fee which is equivalent to the missed appointment fee. Any missed/cancelled appointment fees will be placed on your credit card account automatically. The missed/cancelled appointment fee is paid by the patient, not the insurance company. Any Initial evaluation/consultation appointment should be cancelled during working office hours at least 48 hrs in advance to avoid missed/cancelled initial evaluation/consultation appointment charges. No further appointments will be scheduled until all missed/cancelled fees are paid. If the office is closed and you find it is necessary to cancel your appointment you may leave a message on the answering machine with your name, phone number, day and time of your call and day/time of your scheduled appointment. To insure you are not charged, it is your responsibility to call the office during normal office hours (8:30 am-4:30 pm M-F; closed Sat and Sun) to confirm the appointment was cancelled within the appropriate time period. Two missed initial evaluation appointments will result in no further appointments being scheduled. Two consecutive missed appointments for any services provided will result in discharge from all services.
There is a 24 hour notice required to cancel an Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) session. A cancellation with less than 24 hours notice or in a morning of scheduled ECT session at Sibley Memorial Hospital will be charged the late cancellation fee which is equivalent to the missed ECT session fee. The $300.00 missed/late cancelled ECT session fee will be placed on your credit card account automatically. For appropriate, in advance, 24 hour ECT cancellation you are required to call the Psychiatry Department at Sibley Memorial Hospital (202-537-4770) and provide you name and date of original scheduled ECT appointment. After that you are required to call Dr. Miller’s office (410-535-2026) and speak to the receptionist or leave a message on the answering machine. All patients receiving ECT are aware of the rules and regulations of this treatment provided at Sibley Memorial Hospital. All patients receiving ECT must not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to the treatment and also should arrive 1hour before scheduled ECT time. Any food or water consumption (including chewing gum) after midnight the night before ECT as well as being late for the treatment will be considered cancellation of the treatment and patient will be charged $300 missed appointment/cancellation fees due to the major hospital /staff resources involved.
Regular Medication Management appointments are 20 minutes at a cost of $85.00. If you need an additional time with Dr. Miller (20-30 minutes) an additional charge of $65.00 for the Extended Medication Management will be charged at check out. You can of course, let the receptionist know in advance if you feel you will need additional time with Dr. Miller and we will give you an appointment time will allow for the additional time you need.
While we attempt to make reminder calls for appointments, this is done as a courtesy only. The absence of a reminder call does not relieve you from your responsibility to provide us with a 24 hour cancellation notice for follow-up (routine psychotherapy and medication management) appointments and 48 hour cancellation notice for initial evaluation (by psychiatrist or psychotherapist) and ECT/ TMS evaluation you are unable to keep.
If you have not been seen by the physician for more than 6 months you will not be given refills on any medications (scheduled or non-scheduled). You must schedule follow-up appointment and be re-evaluated for effectiveness of current medication regimen and possible side effects or complications. If you have not been seen in a office for more than 3 months you will not be given refills on any Anxiolytic Medications (Benzodiazepines: Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Klonopin and other) as well as ADHD medications (Stimulants: Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Concerta, Dexedrine and other). Make sure you allow sufficient time to have your appointment scheduled to be re-evaluated for necessity of current controlled medications and to avoid possible withdrawal symptoms due to abrupt discontinuation of Benzodiazepines.
If you lose a scheduled medication prescription for Stimulants (ADHD medications), Opioid Dependence medications (Suboxone/Subutex/Buprenophine) or Benzodiazepines (Anti-anxiety medications) you will not be given another prescription until it’s time for scheduled routine refill and you will be required to provide detailed information about the incident. Based on circumstances and physician determination you may or may not be prescribed this specific medication again. Please make sure to give us 7 days for all ADHD medication refills outside of the regular doctor’s visit. ADHD medications are scheduled controlled substances and must be written by a physician in the office. You can only get 1 month supply of stimulant medications and must by written by a physician and this type of medication can not be called in to a pharmacy.
Comprehensive Suboxone® Program includes medication management, mandatory group therapy sessions and urine toxicology screen. Fees for medication management, group sessions and urine toxicology screen are due at the time of service. All Suboxone/ Subutex (Buprenorphine/Naloxone; Buprenorphine) prescriptions will be provided only during routine Suboxone appointment.
Any court or other legal appearance requested to be made by Dr. Venera R. Miller, other practice Physicians, Psychotherapists or Providers to serve as a testimonial witness or to give a deposition will necessitate the cancellation of patient treatments for the entire day. As such, court or other legal appearances will be charged on a per-day basis and require full payment (according to treatment charges) in advance (minimum two weeks in advance) via retainer and a two-week cancellation notice must be given for fees to be returnable. Unless cancelled a minimum of two weeks in advance, the fees are non-refundable, even if testimony or a deposition is deemed not necessary.
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