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Fees & payment
Every fee this practice charges is published on this page. You should never have to call a medical office to find out what something costs.
Why this practice is private pay
Tentie Psychiatry is not contracted with any insurance panel, does not accept managed care or private insurance plans, and does not file claims. This is a deliberate choice, and it deserves a direct explanation rather than a euphemism.
Appointment length. Insurance reimbursement rates make short appointments a financial necessity. Outside those contracts, an evaluation can take ninety minutes and a follow-up can take fifty-five when the situation calls for it.
Clinical independence. Prior authorisation requirements can push a clinician toward recording a diagnosis before it is settled, or toward a formulary medication rather than the right one. Here the diagnosis is whatever the evidence supports.
Privacy of your record. Every claim filed puts your psychiatric diagnosis into systems you do not control. When you pay directly, your record stays between you and your physician unless you choose otherwise.
The trade-off is real: care costs money up front. That is why every fee is on this page.
| Service | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial psychiatric evaluation (adults 18+) | Up to 90 min | [$XXX] |
| Additional initial evaluation session, if warranted | Up to 60 min | [$XXX] |
| Routine medication follow-up | Approx. 25 min | [$XXX] |
| Extended follow-up | Approx. 40 min | [$XXX] |
| Extended follow-up | Approx. 55 min | [$XXX] |
| Extended telephone call (over 10 minutes) | Per 15 min | [$XX] |
| Extended or complex forms, letters and reports | Per document | Up to [$XXX] |
| Coordination of care (over 15 minutes) | Per 15 min | [$XX] |
| Copying of records | First 20 pages | [$XX] |
| Copying of records — additional pages | Per page | [$0.XX] |
Follow-up appointments include monitoring of response to treatment, assessment of efficacy, surveillance of side effects and vital signs as appropriate, and supportive or behavioral interventions as warranted. Simple forms and letters that can be completed within an appointment are not billed separately. Fees are subject to change annually, with advance notice.
Seeking reimbursement from your insurer
On request you will be provided with a superbill — an itemised receipt containing the diagnosis and procedure codes for your appointment. You submit it directly to your insurance carrier, which may reimburse you a portion of the fee under your out-of-network benefits.
Reimbursement is entirely between you and your carrier, and this practice cannot guarantee any amount. Before your first appointment, it is worth calling the number on the back of your card and asking three specific questions:
- Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I met this year?
- What percentage of the allowed amount is reimbursed for CPT codes 90792 and 99215 after the deductible?
Those three answers tell you what your real cost will be.
How to pay
Payment is due at the time of service. This practice accepts major credit cards, health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). An additional processing fee may apply to credit card payments. A card is kept on file to be charged after a service is rendered or where payment is delayed more than two weeks. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
Cancellations and missed appointments
Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you.
What it costs
| Evaluation | [$XXX] |
| Follow-ups | [$XXX] |
| Payment | Card, HSA, FSA |
| Insurance | Not filed |
| Superbill | On request |
Cancellation policy
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, and appointments not kept, are charged the full appointment fee. These charges are not reimbursable by insurance carriers. Exceptions for genuine emergencies can be discussed.
As a courtesy you will receive a reminder by text or email, but you remain responsible for tracking your appointments.
Good Faith Estimate
Under the No Surprises Act you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before you receive care. The fee schedule above is that estimate, and it is also provided to you in writing when you schedule.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
Fees are published and applied consistently. Where a specific financial concern exists, it is worth raising directly — every effort is made to work with patients who have particular circumstances, though this is a private-pay practice and fees are what they are.
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Yes. Psychiatric care is an eligible medical expense for both.
What if I need to cancel?
Give at least 24 hours’ notice and there is no charge. Inside 24 hours, or a missed appointment, is charged the full fee. Genuine emergencies can be discussed.
Will my insurance reimburse me?
It depends on your out-of-network benefits, which vary widely. The three questions above will tell you before you commit to an appointment.
Why don’t you just take insurance?
Because the appointment lengths and clinical independence this practice is built on are not compatible with insurance reimbursement rates and authorisation requirements. The fuller answer is on the approach page.