Question 1

I've never been to therapy before... What does a therapy session look like?

Accepted Answer

The nature of our sessions is uniquely tailored to each individual, taking into account factors such as your personality, age, and the issues you bring to therapy.

During our time together, the setting may vary depending on your style. You might find me sitting on the floor, cross-legged, as we delve into a narrative from your life. Alternatively, we may engage in expressive activities, such as frenzied whiteboard drawings to map out emotions on a scribbled outline of a body, creating timelines, or associating parts of yourself with movie characters. Therapy sessions may be dynamic, encompassing high-energy activities like impromptu dance parties to your favorite tunes or calming exercises, like moving slowly, akin to a turtle's pace.

In our collaborative journey, expect the co-creation of memorable and sometimes humorous acronyms designed to aid in remembering valuable skills. We may also venture into the realm of poetry, using creative storytelling to make sense of challenging or traumatic events. If you're navigating ADHD, anticipate insights into the remarkable workings of your brain and discover strategies to optimize your environment in alignment with your unique strengths. You may experience moments of vulnerability, where you express thoughts you never imagined saying aloud, and experience the liberating sensation as the weight of those revelations dissipates, realizing that you don't have to navigate life's challenges in isolation.

Question 2

When parent-child therapy is recommended, what does that mean?

Accepted Answer

What Parent-Child Therapy Is All About:
Parent-child therapy means that based on the presenting challenges, Dr. Brie might recommend therapy that includes sessions with just the parent or with the child and parent at times.  Parent-child therapy aims to strengthen communication and connections between parents and children. These sessions teach parents how to regulate their own emotions, become more aware of their emotions and behavioral triggers for both parents and children, and teach swift and effective responses.  Ultimately, the goal of parent-child is to understand the root of frustration, anxiety, anger (insert X feeling) in both parents and children and promote communication and safety within parent-child relationships.

What Therapy Entails:

Parent Sessions: Explore the parent's upbringing, establish goals as a parent, discuss personal feelings and triggers, develop coping strategies, and receive psychoeducation about the child's behavior and experiences.

Child Sessions: Equip children with the skills to communicate their feelings and advocate for their needs.

Parent-Child Sessions: Put into practice what each child and parent have learned in their individual sessions.

Question 3

How do I know if a therapist is a "Good Fit?"

Accepted Answer

Great question! Therapists often emphasize the importance of finding the right fit for you. Essentially, this means locating a therapist with whom you can establish a genuine connection, feel comfortable being your authentic self, openly discuss your challenges, and collaborate on a realistic treatment plan. Throughout our sessions, we'll regularly assess the effectiveness of therapy, ensuring that you're progressing toward your goals and that our collaborative dynamic is productive. Recognizing that not everyone clicks, (which is perfectly normal AND okay), I typically suggest giving the therapeutic relationship at least three sessions before deciding on the next steps. If, at any point, you feel unsure about our compatibility, please express your concerns, and I'm more than willing to discuss what we can do to change it up or assist you in finding a therapist better suited to your specific needs.

Question 4

You have the right to a Good Faith Estimate. What does that mean?

Accepted Answer

Please note that you have a right to an estimate, known as a Good Faith Estimate, of your medical service costs.

The Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for mental health needs and treatment. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill. If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill. You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available. You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
 
Key points:
The Good Faith Estimate should be provided by your healthcare provider at least one business day ahead of your appointment or upon your request. If your final bill exceeds the estimate by $400 or more, you can dispute it. It is advisable to keep a copy or a photo of your Good Faith Estimate.
 
For more details, visit: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises

Question 5

HIPAA Notice & Policy

Accepted Answer

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 
 
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY: The Landing Place, PLLC (henceforth referred to as “This Practice”) is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your protected health information (PHI) and electronic protected health information (ePHI) (henceforth condensed and referred to as simply PHI). PHI is information that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition and related health care services either in paper or electronic format. This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) is required by law to provide you with the legal duties and the privacy practices that This Practice maintains concerning your PHI. It also describes how medical and mental health information may be used and disclosed, as well as your rights regarding your PHI. Please read carefully and discuss any questions or concerns with your therapist.

II. LEGAL DUTY TO SAFEGUARD YOUR PHI: By federal and state law, This Practice is required to ensure that your PHI is kept private. This Notice explains when, why, and how This Practice would use and/or disclose your PHI. Use of PHI means when This Practice shares, applies, utilizes, examines, or analyzes information within its practice; PHI is disclosed when This Practice releases, transfers, gives, or otherwise reveals it to a third party outside of This Practice. With some exceptions, This Practice may not use or disclose more of your PHI than is necessary to accomplish the purpose for which the use or disclosure is made; however, This Practice is always legally required to follow the privacy practices described in this Notice.

III. CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE: The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your PHI that are created or retained by This Practice. Please note that This Practice reserves the right to revise or amend this Notice of Privacy Practices. Any revision or amendment will be effective for all of your records that This Practice has created or maintained in the past and for any of your records that This Practice may create or maintain in the future. This Practice will have a copy of the current Notice available in a visible location or on our website at all times, and you may request a copy of the most current Notice at any time. The date of the latest revision will always be listed at the end of This Practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

IV. HOW THIS PRACTICE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PHI: This Practice will not use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization, except as described in this Notice or as described in the “Information, Authorization, and Consent to Treatment” document. Below, you will find the different categories of possible uses and disclosures with some examples.

For Treatment: This Practice may disclose your PHI to physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other licensed healthcare providers who provide you with healthcare services or are otherwise involved in your care. Example: If you are also seeing a psychiatrist for medication management, This Practice may disclose your PHI to her/him in order to coordinate your care. Except for in an emergency, This Practice will always ask for your authorization in writing prior to any such consultation.

For Health Care Operations: This Practice may disclose your PHI to facilitate the efficient and correct operation of its practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.

To Obtain Payment for Treatment: This Practice may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services This Practice provided to you. Example: This Practice might send your PHI to your insurance company or managed health care plan to get payment for the health care services that have been provided to you. This Practice could also provide your PHI to billing companies, claims processing companies, and others that process health care claims for This Practice’s office if either you or your insurance carrier are not able to stay current with your account. In this latter instance, This Practice will always do its best to reconcile this with you first prior to involving any outside agency.

Employees and Business Associates: There may be instances where services are provided to This Practice by an employee or through contracts with third-party “business associates.” Whenever an employee or business associate arrangement involves the use or disclosure of your PHI, This Practice will have a written contract that requires the employee or business associate to maintain the same high standards of safeguarding your privacy that is required of This Practice.

Note: Federal law provides additional protection for certain types of health information, including alcohol or drug abuse, mental health, and AIDS/HIV, and may limit whether and how This Practice may disclose information about you to others.

V. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PHI IN CERTAIN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES – This Practice may use and/or disclose your PHI without your consent or authorization for the following reasons:

Law Enforcement: Subject to certain conditions, This Practice may disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law; judicial, board, or administrative proceedings; or law enforcement. Example: This Practice may make a disclosure to the appropriate officials when a law requires This Practice to report information to government agencies, law enforcement personnel and/or in an administrative proceeding.

Lawsuits and Disputes: This Practice may disclose information about you to respond to a court or administrative order or a search warrant. This Practice may also disclose information if an arbitrator or arbitration panel compels disclosure, when arbitration is lawfully requested by either party, pursuant to subpoena duces tecum (e.g., a subpoena for mental health records) or any other provision authorizing disclosure in a proceeding before an arbitrator or arbitration panel. This Practice will only do this if efforts have been made to tell you about the request and you have been provided an opportunity to object or to obtain an appropriate attorney to quash the subpoena or court order protecting the information requested.

Public Health Risks: This Practice may disclose your PHI to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, disability, to report births and deaths, and to notify persons who may have been exposed to a disease or at risk for getting or spreading a disease or condition.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): This Practice may disclose to the FDA, or persons under the jurisdiction of the FDA, PHI relative to adverse events with respect to drugs, foods, supplements, products and product defects, or post-marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.

Serious Threat to Health or Safety: This Practice may disclose your PHI if you are in such mental or emotional condition as to be dangerous to yourself or the person or property of others and if This Practice determines in good faith that disclosure is necessary to prevent the threatened danger. Under these circumstances, This Practice may provide PHI to law enforcement personnel or other persons able to prevent or mitigate such a serious threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

Minors: If you are a minor (under 18 years of age), This Practice may be compelled to release certain types of information to your parents or guardian in accordance with applicable law.

Abuse and Neglect: This Practice may disclose PHI if mandated by local child, elder, or dependent adult abuse and neglect reporting laws. Example: If This Practice has a reasonable suspicion of child abuse

Question 6

No Surprise Act Policy

Accepted Answer

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance, and/or deductible.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, like a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. You may have additional costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” means providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan to provide services. Out-of-network providers may be allowed to bill you for the difference between what your plan pays and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your plan’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Surprise medical bills could cost thousands of dollars depending on the procedure or service.

You’re protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services: If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most they can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other types of services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get out-of-network care. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

All contracts or agreements for participation as an in-network health services facility between an insurer offering health benefit plans in this State and a health services facility at which there are out-of-network providers who may be part of the provision of services to an insured while receiving care at the health services facility shall require that an in-network health services facility shall give at least 72 hours' advanced written notification to an insured that has scheduled an appointment at that health services facility of any out-of-network provider who will be part of the provision of the insured's health care services. If there is not at least 72 hours between the scheduling of the appointment and the appointment, then the in-network health services facility shall give the written notice to the insured on the day the appointment is scheduled. In the case of emergency services, the health services facility shall give written notice to the insured as soon as reasonably possible. The written notice required by this subsection shall include all of the following:

(1) All of the health care providers that will be rendering services to the insured that are not participating as in-network health care providers in the applicable insurer's network.

(2) The estimated cost to the insured of the services being rendered by the out-of-network providers identified in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have these protections:
You’re only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductible that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay any additional costs to out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Generally, your health plan must:
Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (also known as “prior authorization”).

Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your in-network deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you think you’ve been wrongly billed, contact Dr. Brie Arevalo at drbrie@thelandingplacecounseling.com. The federal phone number for information and complaints is: 1-800-985-3059.

Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers for more information about your rights under federal law.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions