FAQs and Fees
Do I need therapy?
Trust your instincts. If you are considering the idea that it might be helpful to talk to someone about what’s going on, then you are probably right. Some of the most successful clients are those who are doing quite well but need some extra attention in a specific area of life.
How do I get started?
The first step is to call or email. After that, we set up an appointment time. During the first appointment, we will begin to pull together important information so that we can come up with a plan. During the first session, we are figuring out what it will be like to work together.
How often do I come in for therapy?
Therapy often works best when we meet once a week, especially in the beginning. However, the number of sessions depends on your interests, goals, your history and your ability to work during and between our sessions. Some issues can be addressed in just a few sessions, most require at least a few months. Over time, we may “stretch out” the frequency of our sessions. Sometimes clients who have “graduated” still like to check in every 6 months or so. We know therapy is an investment of your time, energy and resources. We try to be mindful of and a good steward of that. While some people may choose to come for a long time, others can get good results in 6-8 sessions. It just depends.
What is your fee? Do you take insurance?
Kate’s fee is $295 per client hour (50 minutes). Jessica charges $240 per client hour (50 minutes). Payment is due at the end of each session and can be made by cash, check, credit cards, debit cards including medical savings account cards through your employer.
We do not contract with insurance companies or communicate in any way with your insurance company. This means that we are “out-of-network” providers. Some insurance plans include out-of-network benefits. The best thing to do is to call the number on your insurance card and ask about your out of network behavior/mental health benefits.
We can provide you with a receipt that you can use to file for reimbursement with your insurance company.
What about reduced fee offerings?
We are not able to accept new reduced fee clients as this time. Please refer to the following link for a list of reduced fee providers in the Atlanta area: www.katefergusontherapy.com/resources
Client Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills:
YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE
MEDICAL BILLS*
(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
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, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other 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” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay 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 annual out-of-pocket limit.
Please note that Kate Ferguson Therapy, LLC does not interact with insurance companies and is an out-of-network provider. We offer superbills to clients to submit to insurance themselves. Payment for services is due at time of service in full to Kate Ferguson Therapy, LLC. Clients are responsible for understanding what their own insurance company offers for out-of-network mental health benefits.
“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.
You are 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 the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). 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 may 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 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 protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections: You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
Your health plan generally must:
o Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
o Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
o 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.
o Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact: The Secretary of State 214 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Phone number: 404.656.2881
Visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf for more information about your rights under Federal law.