FAQS

By contract based on scope, needs, and details.

Contact info@essensuate.com to book and introductory call

Superbills for partial reimbursement are available (see insurance FAQ)

Options for sliding scale per inquiry

Contact intake@essensuation.com for more information or book a free informational session here

In Network

Half of our clinical sessions are reserved for those covered with Cigna (California). Please upload a copy of your card when you complete the registration process.

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Out of Network

For those with other insurance, you may be able to apply your benefits for “out of network” coverage. This means that a portion of the cost (determined by your plan) may be eligible for reimbursement. Our team will provide a monthly “superbill” for you to submit to your carrier. Services may be covered in full or in part.

We recommend collecting information from your carrier, including answers to the following questions:

• ​Do I have mental/behavioral health Out-Of-Network insurance benefits

• What is my deductible? How much of that has been met?

• What is the per-session rate that my plan covers?

• What amount/percent is the “patient responsibility?”

• Is primary care or other pre-authorization approval required?

• What is the process for submitting “superbills” for reimbursement?

APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

Please remember to cancel or reschedule 24 hours in advance.

Cancellations and re-scheduled session will be subject to a full charge if NOT received at least 24 HOURS in advance. This is necessary because a time commitment has been made and is held exclusively for you. You may lose some of that time if you are late for a session. To avoid this charge, as one time courtesy, we will attempt to rebook late cancelations *within the same week.* This is not guaranteed however, as it depends on the clinician’s schedule and availability.

The standard meeting time for psychotherapy is between 50-55 minutes. However, you and your clinician will determining the the appropriate length of your session based on your specific needs.

Payment is due at the time of service. During the intake process, you will be asked to enter a credit, debit, or HSA card to keep on file. The card is encrypted and the details cannot be viewed. Upon expiry, you will be prompted to update your card. The practice cannot take, record, or update this information for you. If you need a different payment option, please reach out to [billing@essensuate.com](mailto:billing@essensuate.com) to discuss other options.

**TELEPHONE ACCESSIBILITY** If you need to contact your clinician between sessions, please contact them via the patient portal secure messaging system, via the Signal App, or by email to make arrangements to connect on the phone or on an emergency video visit. Clinicians are not always immediately available. However, they will attempt to get back to your within 24 hours. Please note that face-to-face sessions are highly preferable to phone sessions. However, in the event that you are out of town, sick, or need additional support, phone sessions are available. If an actual emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room.

**SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATION** Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, clinicians do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). Adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please discuss it with your clinician.

**ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION** The confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media cannot be ensured, including text messages. However, if your preferred way to communicate for scheduling or cancellations is through email or text messaging, this is accommodated. Messages will be returned in a timely manner, but an immediate response cannot guaranteed. It is important to note that these methods of communication are not optimal means for discussing therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.

Services by electronic means, including but not limited to telephone communication, the Internet, facsimile machines, and e-mail, are considered telemedicine by the State of California. Under the California Telemedicine Act of 1996, telemedicine is broadly defined as using information technology to deliver medical services and information from one location to another. If you and your therapist choose to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that:

(1) You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.

(2) All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable.

(3) Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.

(4) Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent.

(5) Telemedicine has potential risks, consequences, and benefits. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to, improved communication capabilities, convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, reduced costs, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs.

Effective therapy is often facilitated when the therapist gathers within a session (or a series of sessions,) a multitude of observations, information, and experiences about the client. Therapists may make clinical assessments, diagnoses, and interventions based not only on direct verbal or auditory communications, written reports, and third-person consultations but also on direct visual and olfactory observations, information, and experiences. When using information technology in therapy services, potential risks include, but are not limited to, the therapist’s inability to make visual and olfactory observations of clinically or therapeutically potentially relevant issues such as your physical condition, apparent height and weight, body type, gait and motor coordination, posture, work speed, any noteworthy mannerism or gestures, physical or medical conditions including bruises or injuries, basic grooming and hygiene including dress, eye contact (including any changes in the previously listed issues), sex, chronological and apparent age, ethnicity, facial and body language, and congruence of language and facial or bodily expression. Potential consequences thus include the therapist not being aware of what he or she would consider important information that you may not recognize as significant to present verbally to the therapist.

**MINORS** If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. Information that may or may not be appropriate for your parents to receive, and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential will be discussed with you in detail.

**TERMINATION** Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination period depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. Treatment after appropriate discussion with you and a termination process may occur if it is determined that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. The therapeutic relationship will not be terminated without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, a list of qualified psychotherapists will be provided to you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.

If you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, the professional relationship is considered discontinued for legal and ethical reasons.

******ADDITIONAL TIME ADDENDUM/POLICY*******

**The “Additional Time Agreement” is necessary to ensure that clients are aware of costs incurred for therapeutically-indicated extensions of hour-long psychotherapy sessions. Additional time requested, proposed,  and/or aligned with a client’s treatment plan must be agreed upon and confirmed via signature.**

While this may seem like an inconvenience, such transparency protects both the client and the psychotherapist by clearly describing the cost. Clients are encouraged to make informed decisions about their healthcare. To avoid any unexpected charges, please read this policy carefully and bring questions or concerns directly to the provider to the billing department (billing@essensuate.com).

This policy applies to all clients regardless of insurance coverage. While each plan differs, insurance companies typically do *not* cover the cost of time extensions beyond a single 60-minute session in any single day. This may change in 2024. We will monitor updates to the current regulations and amend this policy if “extended time” service codes become available for potential insurance reimbursement. Although longer sessions are *strongly recommended* for many diagnostic presentations, they are explicitly indicated for specific services, such as couples psychotherapy and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Any session encounter that extends beyond the base hour is charged as an out-of-pocket expense to the client.

It is strongly recommended that couples consider the additional cost of 30, 60, or 90-minute extensions. By knowing the expected cost of additional time, couples can plan accordingly and avoid any financial surprises. This is especially important given the “No Surprises Billing Act,” which requires healthcare providers to provide patients with clear and accurate billing information. You may email billing@essensuate.com for the cost of specific incremental time units based on the type of service encounter scheduled.

The “Additional Time Addendum” is necessary to protect both the client and the psychotherapist. By clearly understanding the costs associated with additional time, clients/patients can make informed decisions about their treatment.

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Good Faith Estimate

According to a federal law called the **No Surprises Act**, all clinical clients of Essensuate Psychology Group, APC are entitled to a **Good Faith Estimate** of expected charges generated through the practice**.** The law aims to protect patients from surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers in certain situations. Professional services may be coordinated with and provided by other providers who may bill separately, however. You may read about this law here https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises. Our billing department will automatically generate a Good Faith Estimate upon intake for you to review, including information about how to initiate a dispute resolution process if charges substantially exceed the good-faith estimate. This documentation is stored and viewable in your HIPAA-compliant patient portal.

– You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
– 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 health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
– If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
– 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](http://www.cms.gov/nosurprises) or call 415-326-6354.

GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE

According to a federal law called the **No Surprises Act**, all clinical clients of Essensuate Psychology Group, APC are entitled to a **Good Faith Estimate** of expected charges generated through the practice**.** The law aims to protect patients from surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers in certain situations. Professional services may be coordinated with and provided by other providers who may bill separately, however. You may read about this law here https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises. Our billing department will automatically generate a Good Faith Estimate upon intake for you to review, including information about how to initiate a dispute resolution process if charges substantially exceed the good-faith estimate. This documentation is stored and viewable in your HIPAA-compliant patient portal.

– You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
– 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 health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
– If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
– 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](http://www.cms.gov/nosurprises) or call 415-326-6354.