Legal
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC maintains the highest of professional and ethical standards. To serve our clients to the best of our ability, we request that you review the following policies and procedures prior to your initial session. Should you have any questions or concerns prior to signing acknowledgment of these terms, please discuss these issues with your therapist or the office manager at 561-903-TALK (8255).
Emergency Services: Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC does not provide 24-hour emergency coverage. Should you have a potentially suicidal/homicidal situation, please call 911 IMMEDIATELY or go directly to the emergency room of the nearest hospital based on the severity of the situation. You may also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week if you are experiencing a clinical emergency at 800-273-8255 or 988.
Confidentiality of Relationship: All information given by you or your family is treated as confidential and may be released only upon your written consent or as required by law. The legal limitations to confidentiality include: Suspected or reported child abuse/neglect, suspected or reported situations in which your therapist believes to be potentially life threatening to yourself or others, or should a court order require your therapist to provide information to the courts.
Canceled / Missed Appointments: Appointments must be canceled by 5:00pm the day before your scheduled appointment. For weekend Appointments ONLY, you must cancel by 5:00pm on Friday night. You may call 561-903-8255 or email Talk@VeronicaListens.com or V@VeronicaListens.com to notify us of your cancellation. We reserve the right to charge a fee for missed or late canceled appointments. Your insurance company will not pay for missed appointments; therefore you will be responsible for this fee which is currently $150.
Phone Contacts: Telephone calls, consultations and correspondence will be billed at therapy rate of $100 in 15-minute increments. At times, a client will request that Veronica reach out to other clinicians etc for collaboration. Veronica will be happy to do this and please take note of her fees. These are not covered by insurance.
Court Testimony: We do not believe that it is advantageous to expect your therapist to testify in court. Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC does not make court appearances. You can read more about court documents and subpoenas in her Policy and Informed Consent for Couples on her website.
Sessions: Please respect that your sessions are scheduled for 45-50 minutes. Most insurance companies cover one 50 minute session per day. We ask that you arrive for your session on time. Your session will be limited to the original scheduled time. Should your therapist be responsible for the session starting late, you will receive your entitled session time. Sessions are currently $200 for self-pay and last 45-50 minutes. Longer sessions for more intensive treatment (Ex: EMDR, Family) can be arranged. In this instance, please contact the office. Most insurance companies pay for a 50-minute session, unless otherwise noted.
Telehealth Sessions: Now that Covid-19 Quarantine has lifted, phone sessions are limited and not encouraged, as Veronica believes the best work is done in person. If you decide to use a phone or video chat modality, please check with your insurance company to make sure it is still covered. I hereby authorize Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC to administer mental health/psychiatric treatment via Telehealth. Telehealth treatment shall be defined as Phone or secure Online Video using a HIPAA compliant platform. All stipulations made in the above paragraphs will hold true for Telehealth the same as in person sessions.
Co-Pays/Coinsurance and Deductibles: Our office is unique in that there is no support staff on site and all monies are collected by a credit card that is kept on file. A credit card is required to book any appointment. Co-pays, deductibles, late fees are due prior to appointment to avoid rescheduling. The less administrative work done in the office, the more time Veronica has for therapy with you. We encourage you to utilize our off-site support services. Our office is quick to return emails (Talk@VeronicaListens.com) or calls (561) 903-TALK (8255) and this guarantees the most efficient service for you.
Insurance Premiums: From time to time we receive notification that a policy has lapsed or is in a “grace period” due to non-payment of the premium. Please be advised that when we receive such a notification we will suspend your appointments until the insurance company confirms the policy is back in effect. Or you will have the option of paying the full rate for the session.
TEXT AND EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE
I acknowledge the use of secured and unsecured text and email correspondence to and from the office of Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC and release any liability to Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC should any confidential information be transmitted. I can learn more about my privacy and correspondence by reading Veronica Lichtenstein, LMHC LLC Social Media Policy.
INSURANCE WAIVER
All services that we provide to you in our office will be billed to your insurance company. Any services not paid by your insurance company will be your responsibility. Due to the magnitude of changes within the insurance companies, we are unable to pre-verify benefits for all insurances, as many companies subcontract their outpatient mental health benefits. Clients need to be aware of their own insurance benefits and what will be covered by their plans. It is your responsibility to obtain prior authorization if it is required by your insurance company. In addition, it is the responsibility of each client to be sure that your provider is participating with the insurance plan.