Pleasant Place Psychiatry office policies

• Please be aware that email is not a secure form of communication and should not be used to discuss private health information or details. If you need to provide or discuss sensitive health details with our office, please contact us by phone or schedule an appointment. 
• We encourage patients to use the Spruce App for communicating with our practice and providers when possible. The Spruce App allows for faster and more secure messaging compared to email. Using the app is the best way to ensure your health information remains private when corresponding with our office electronically.
• For any urgent issues, we recommend calling our office directly. For non-urgent matters, the Spruce App is the preferred method of digital communication. This helps protect your confidentiality and allows us to respond promptly.

• One full business day (24 hours prior, not counting weekends) notice is required when canceling an appointment. Appointments canceled or missed without One full day’s notice will be charged to you at $100 for initial evaluation and $50 for follow-up visits. No future appointments will be scheduled until your fee is paid. When you cancel or reschedule less than 24 hrs before your appointment or do not show up for your appointment, you prevent someone else from seeking treatment. You also place a financial burden on the practice. As a small practice, we can’t stay in business and provide care if patients repetitively miss, reschedule at the last minute, or continuously cancel appointments. We hope you understand why we must put this policy in place.  
• Multiple reminders, in different modalities, are sent to you to remind you of your upcoming appointment. If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, we require at least 24-hour notice (weekends not included). If your appointment is on a Monday, the cancellation must be made by the same hour on the preceding Friday. We do offer video/online appointments.
• If you do not attend your appointment, you will not get refills until you see your provider.  

 As a small practice with limited staff, we have implemented the following policy for filling out disability forms.  This includes short, or long-term disability, SSI, attorney forms, and FMLA forms.  

• The client must have been a client of this office for at least six (6) months for long-term disability or SSI forms to be completed.  We are happy to provide your medical records but will not determine if you qualify for long-term disability.
• A client must have completed two visits for short-term or FMLA forms to be completed. 
• Paperwork completion may take up to fourteen (14) days.  It may be completed sooner, but it is done on a first-come-first-served basis.  Please understand that it is difficult to rush this process due to the limited staff available to complete these forms.
• Clients must comply with ongoing treatment, including medications and keeping appointments, to have the office continue filling out disability forms.
• Clients must have seen the provider within 30 days to submit disability paperwork.
• Blank forms will not be accepted:  At a minimum, the client’s name and date of birth should be filled out on the form before submission.
• There is a charge to fill out these forms: $50-$150 per form is due before the form is returned to the client.

• According to your insurance plan, you are expected to pay any deductibles or co-payments due at the time of service. If your insurance does not fully cover charges, you will be responsible for paying any remaining balance. 
• Please verify that this practice accepts your insurance plan before your visit. Bring your insurance card and provide complete insurance information before your initial appointment so that we can verify your coverage and benefits. 
• Some insurance plans may require pre-authorization for certain services. The patient is responsible for obtaining any necessary authorizations before the appointment. If authorization is required but not obtained, you may be financially responsible for any charges not covered by your insurance.
• We recommend contacting your insurance carrier in advance if pre-authorization is needed to understand coverage for planned services. Our staff is available to assist with benefit verification and authorization as required.

• Prescriptions for controlled substances will only be issued at regularly scheduled appointments with the prescribing provider. Lost, stolen, or misplaced prescriptions will not be replaced under any circumstances. 
• There will be no early refills authorized for controlled substance prescriptions. Prescriptions may only be refilled as directed on the original prescription and must be requested during a scheduled office visit. 
• All new patients prescribed controlled substances will be required to submit to a urine drug test before the first prescription is issued. Patients must sign a consent form agreeing to random urine drug screens as part of their treatment.
• Established patients taking controlled substances will be required to complete a urine drug test on an annual basis at a minimum. Patients may also be subject to more frequent, random urine drug testing at the provider's discretion based on individual risk factors or concerns. 
• Benzodiazepines carry risks of dependency and misuse. They are only intended for short-term use in treating acute conditions such as anxiety or insomnia per FDA guidelines. Benzodiazepines will not be prescribed for long-term, daily use without significant documented need and will require a tapering plan for discontinuation after appropriate treatment duration.

• You have the right to receive an estimate of costs for your medical care. Federal law states that healthcare providers must provide uninsured or self-pay patients an estimate of charges, known as a Good Faith Estimate, for non-emergency medical items and services. This estimate will include anticipated costs for related items such as diagnostic tests, prescriptions, equipment, and hospital fees that may be part of your care. 
• Make sure to request this Good Faith Estimate in writing from your healthcare provider at least one business day before any scheduled medical procedures or treatments. You can ask any provider you see for an estimate of fees before receiving care or services. The Good Faith Estimate gives you transparency into your financial responsibility for your healthcare.