PSYPACT
WHAT IS PSYPACT?
Being a PSYPACT (Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact) member signifies a psychologist’s dedication to breaking down geographical barriers in the provision of mental health services. Active PSYPACT membership allows psychologists to extend their reach beyond state lines and offer their expertise to clients in different states through telepsychology. As a PSYPACT member, a psychologist has undergone a streamlined licensing process, demonstrating their commitment to adhering to high ethical and professional standards. This membership empowers them to provide clients with a wider range of options, making it easier for individuals to access specialized care or find the right therapist for their unique needs. It also emphasizes the psychologist's commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality and privacy standards, ensuring the well-being and trust of their clients as they navigate the complexities of providing effective mental health care across state boundaries.
Click here to see if your state is a PSYPACT participant.
Cash Billing
Cash billing is used when you are paying for your counseling services with cash, check, or credit card and are not attempting to file insurance claims. When paying cash for services, the billing at Shoreline Mental Health & Performance is simple. You just pay the therapist’s fee for each session conducted. There are no surprises or hidden fees. In some cases where a client expresses financial hardship, a therapist is free to reduce his or her fee to accommodate the hardship (see the Sliding Fee Scale). Any reduction of this kind is discussed and agreed to between therapist and client.
Superbills
A superbill is a detailed invoice that outlines the services you’ve received during your sessions with us. While we do not directly bill insurance companies, providing you with a superbill empowers you to seek potential reimbursement from your insurance provider for an out-of-network claim. It includes essential information such as diagnosis codes, session dates, and the type of services rendered. Keep in mind that reimbursement eligibility varies depending on your insurance company and policy, so we recommend reaching out to your insurance provider to understand your coverage better.
A link to access your superbill will be sent to you at the beginning of each new month, covering all sessions in the previous month. Past superbills can be accessed by logging into the Client Portal and clicking on the Documents page.
“Good Faith Estimate”
WHAT IS “NO SURPRISE BILLING”?
Beginning in January 2022, the Public Health Services Act, a new federal law, requires Health Care Providers to provide information about rights and protections to help prevent surprise and unexpected billing. Many have experienced the shock of medical bills following a trip to the ER, surgery, or other medical procedure. Since therapists/counselors are considered Health Care Providers, we are included in this effort to prevent surprise billing.
Keep in mind that overall therapy/counseling costs cannot be estimated like a surgical or other medical procedure. The number of sessions of your work in counseling depends on many factors to be evaluated collaboratively between you and your therapist. The best we can do is to inform you of session fees and help educate about possible insurance benefits.
The Staff at Shoreline Mental Health & Performance will clarify the session fee during your intake appointment via your intake paperwork. As part of your digital intake paperwork completed before the first appointment, you will be provided with a written financial agreement that will have information about SMHP and your therapist and a clear statement of the fee and any hardship fee reductions. This estimate is not a contract. You may choose to not see the therapist or switch to another therapist at any time.
You will decide whether or not to file claims with your insurance company using a Superbill. We make no promise of any coverage from your insurance company, and you are responsible for any of the fees they do not pay.
Sliding Fee Scale
To better serve the mental health needs of our community, Shoreline Mental Health and Performance offers an income based sliding fee scale for individual therapy sessions. The sliding scale is available to those who cannot afford the full fee rate of $150/session. In order to be eligible for the sliding scale, you must complete an application, including income information and an explanation of why you cannot pay the full fee. Although in most cases the sliding scale is offered on an honor system, we may occasionally ask for you to verify your income (with a paystub or financial statement).
Sliding scale rates range from $150 to $60 with a Licensed Psychologist. Lower rates are available for sessions with a Pre-Licensed therapist. The sliding scale rate must be agreed upon and signed by both the client and the provider. Sliding scale rates are approved for a maximum duration of 6 months at a time. If at any point during that time your income situation changes, please communicate this to your therapist. After your rate expires, you will default back to the full fee unless you re-apply for the sliding scale and are approved. Generally, there is a limit to how many times a sliding scale will be approved, and you can expect to eventually default to the full fee. For this reason, we ask that you consider sliding scale a benefit that is intended to help you bridge a time of financial hardship, rather than a permanent change in your fee.
2024 SLIDING FEE SCALE POLICIES
Fees are as of January 1, 2024 and are adjusted periodically.
Sliding Fee Scale Agreement is valid and will remain in effect for six months from the date signed by client and therapist.
Fees above are based on regular 45-50 minute individual therapy sessions and will be adjusted and documented below if 25-30 minute sessions are to be provided.
Extended sessions (beyond 53 minutes) are charged at the regular rate of $40/15 minutes. No-show or late canceled appointment will be charged at agreed upon session rate.
Other extenuating circumstances regarding ability to pay (e.g. childcare, high medical bills, etc.) can be documented below and taken into account when agreeing upon fee.
Fee reductions do not apply to intake session.
Your Rights
Though we would love to help with your counseling needs, you are not required to see our therapists. You have freedom to seek in-network therapists through your insurance company if you want.
Though SMHP does not provide billed emergency services, you should be aware that agencies, hospitals, or providers who do provide emergency services are no longer allowed to collect fees beyond in-network rates from you.
If you think you have been wrongly billed at Shoreline Mental Health & Performance, contact the owner, Dr. Cora Ryan at 910-406-1027. We will be happy to listen and resolve the issue. You can also visit www.CMs.gov/nosurprises/consumers for information about your rights under Federal Law. If you believe you have no gotten resolution with the Shoreline Mental Health & Performance administration, you can call 800-985-3059 for information and to make a complaint. We certainly hope to avoid that and will work with you to get the issue resolved.