Welcome to Austin Mind and Behavioral Health. We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with you to provide care for you or your loved one. Please read the office policies carefully and feel free to ask any questions.
1. Appointments
Initial appointment can last up to 60 minutes. During this appointment information will be gathered to help develop a comprehensive treatment plan and then recommendations made for further care. Treatment plan does not guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed. We do not offer walk in appointments. Please call to set up initial appointment as well as subsequent appointments. All patients under the age of 18 years have to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. For divorced parents, we require legal documentation authorizing you to seek medical care of the child prior to the visit.
2. Cancellation of Appointment or Late arrival
If you do need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, request must be called in at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment time. (For Monday appointment, request has to be made on the preceding Friday). If you or your child miss an appointment without providing a 24 hour notice, you may be charged 50% of the full fee for the appointment. If you or your child is more than 15 minutes late for the appointment, you appointment will be rescheduled to another available time and will be charged/billed for the appointment. In some cases, we may be able to see a late appointment, but please note that in such circumstances, the time for appointment may not be extended.
3. Payment
You are financially responsible for payment for services provided to you. Legal guardian of minor are financially responsible for the service. Payment of the service is required at the time of service. We accept cash, checks and major credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa). A charge of $30 will be levied on all returned checks. All outstanding balance over 60 days due will be forwarded to a collection agency.
4. Insurance/Fee for services
We accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, ComPsych, Magellan, UBH and self-paying patients. We do not accept Medicare, Traditional Medicaid, Superior or managed care plans.
The rates for services are:
- Initial Psychiatric Appointment -up to 60 minutes: $350
- Medication management without psychotherapy –up to 15 minutes: $100
- Medication management with or without psychotherapy –up to 30 minutes: $175
- Medication management with psychotherapy-up to 45 minutes: $250
5. Medications
Any appointment is not a guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed. Depending on your symptoms, a medication may be recommended as part of treatment. The parent or legal guardian are responsible for ensuring that your child takes medication as prescribed and notify us of any side effects or adverse effects of any medication that is prescribed to your child. Adult patients are responsible for ensuring that they take medication as prescribed and notify us of any side effects or adverse effects of their medication. Please note that you are responsible for notifying us of any change in your or your child’s medical or psychiatric condition.
6. Medication Refills
You will be provided with enough refills to last until your next appointment. In rare case that you do need a refill, please ask your pharmacy to send us a refill request. Please provided at least 48 hours or two business days for the request to be completed by our office. Controlled substance prescriptions will be provided for a period of one month. Controlled substance prescriptions will not be filled early. If you or your child miss two consecutive appointments, further medical refill request will be denied till you or your child is assessed at an appointment.
7. Controlled Substance Monitoring
The controlled substances are used to treat several conditions but they also have a higher risk for misuse or diversion. For any patient, urine toxicology may be ordered prior to start of treatment and may be ordered on subsequent visits as well.
8. Laboratory tests
As part of your treatment, your provider may order laboratory tests. Laboratory test are billed to your insurance company, or yourself (if you are self-pay). The laboratory may send you a bill for deductibles or laboratory tests not covered by your insurance. In such case, you are financially responsible for any deductibles or bills.
9. Communication and Phone calls
If you need to speak to the provider over the phone, a phone call is charged $50 for a 15 minute phone call. If your provider does a phone call with another provider for your care, the call will be charged $50 for a 15 minute phone call.
10. Emergency
In case of an emergency, please call 911, call psychiatric emergency services or go immediately to nearest emergency room. Please do not wait to speak to your provider in our office before seeking emergency care.
11. Confidentiality
We are legally mandated to report any suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence to Department of Family and Protective Services or to law enforcement agency.
12. Office closures
Our office is closed on all major holidays. In case of inclement weather, the office will be closed on days or times that Austin Independent School District is closed. Appointments canceled due to inclement weather will be rescheduled.
13. Forms
For forms requiring clinician signature, please fill out all the required information, sign the form and submit the form to the clinic. Fees for completion of form are assessed a fee of $25 – $100, based on complexity and time required to complete the form.
School accommodation request forms for 504 accommodations, school accommodations or school medication administration form are assessed a fee of $10 per every form. The patient or the legal guardian of the patient is responsible for the charges.
We require 5 business days to complete any forms and cannot complete forms or letters to be picked up the same day.
14. Legal Consulting
We do not provide forensic evaluations, CPS evaluations, disability determination evaluations, medical leave evaluations, custody of a minor evaluations, or assessment for parental ability to determine custody or visitation. In the situation requiring testimony from our mental health clinician, or if our provider has to provide a deposition or is subpoenaed on your behalf, you will be responsible for our court fees. The court fee payable to our clinic is $5000 per day for each day, and has to be paid upfront and in full.
15. Termination of Service.
We reserve the right to terminate service or professional relationship with any patient at any time.