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Most insurance policies provide some coverage for mental health treatment.
It is your responsibility to determine exactly what mental health services your policy covers.**
Please check your policy coverage carefully by asking the following questions:
1. Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
2. What is my deductible and has it been met?
3. How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
4. What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
5. Is approval required from my primary care physician?
* * If you are using Insurance, your co-pay is due at every session. Insurance deductibles are due as they arise. You (not your insurance company) are ultimately responsible for full payment of fees.
Professional Fees
Individual/ Family Art Therapy
If you are presenting for art therapy/psychotherapy, the Initial Evaluation session includes a psychological interview (including diagnostic interview) and, on occasion, art therapy/ psychological assessment. My fee for an Initial Evaluation is $150 for a one-hour appointment.
Most other services are provided at my standard fee of $125 per “appointment hour” (45-50 minutes). Services provided at the standard fee include Individual Art Therapy/ Psychotherapy, Consultations, and Educational Sessions.
In some cases, sessions may be longer or more frequent. For example, some anxiety treatments require 90-minute sessions at certain points during treatment. Longer sessions and/ or additional sessions frequently are not payable by your insurance company. In such cases, additional time is pro-rated, will be billed accordingly, and payment is due at that session. My rate for a 90-minute session is $225.
Group Art Therapy
Group therapy is $45 per 90-minute session, per person.*
* For 75-90 minutes, additional time is pro-rated. A per person materials fee may be additional, based on artistic project.
In-Network fee contract
If I am an in-network provider for your insurance or Maine Care plan, I have contracted with them to accept their fee schedule. In this situation, the standard fee becomes the amount agreed to in the relevant contract.
A complete listing/ summary of fees is available at any time, per request.
Other Fees
Customary Professional Services
I charge $125 per hour for most other customary professional services that you may need and break down the hourly cost if I work for periods of less than one hour. Such services include report writing; phone conversations lasting longer than 10 minutes, attendance at meetings with other professionals you have authorized, and preparation of records, treatment summaries, or treatment recommendations/ accommodations. Insurance will not pay for these services. Payment is due payment at the time of service, payable online, at the next appointment, or within 7 business days, at the latest.
Art Supplies
Many art supplies are available in Alison’s Studio.
Additional fees may incur, if you choose to use special materials and/ or have a special project, such as semi-precious/ precious materials (copper, semiprecious stones, silver, gold, silk, hardwood, etc.).
Special firings (Raku, Wood Firings, High-Fire Firings) and specialty glazes incur additional fees.
We will discuss possible additional art supply fees in your session, as the creative need arises.
Cancellation Policy
If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not provided at least 24 hours notification in advance, you will be required to pay $75 for the appointment hour. Please note that you are responsible for paying late cancellation or no show fees since your Insurance/ Maine Care does not cover these fees.
If you miss more than 2 appointments, I may terminate the therapy relationship and suggest that you meet with another provider.
Unpaid Balances
If you think that you may have trouble paying your bills on time, please discuss this with me as soon as possible. If your unpaid balance reaches $150, I may consider terminating treatment and/ or deferring you to another practitioner. Beyond needing payment for services, I have this policy because, in my experience, a debt of $150 or more places significant distress on clients. If your account has not been paid for more than 60 days and we have not agreed on payment arrangements, I have the option of hiring a collection agency or going to small claims court (which will require me to disclose otherwise confidential information). In most collection situations, I only release necessary information (name, nature of services provided, and amount due). If such legal action is necessary, its costs will be included in the claim.
Sliding Scale/ Financial Hardship
Reduced fee services are available on a limited basis.
If you are unable to afford the standard fee, you may request a reduced fee by completing an Application for Reduced Fees. This may require proof of income and related financial information. Please note that any fee reduction is in effect only after the Application has been submitted and approved. Reduced fees do not apply for customary professional services.
