What is HIPPA?

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a new federal law that provides privacy protections and new patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) used for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations. HIPAA requires that I provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices (the Notice) for use and disclosure of PHI for treatment, payment and health care operations. The Notice, which is attached to this Agreement, explains HIPAA and its application to your personal health information in greater detail. The law requires that I obtain your signature acknowledging that I have provided you with this information at the end of this session.

Using Insurance? Things you need to know

Chances are your insurance is with a managed care company. That means I must bill the insurance for their share and you are responsible for your co-pay. Some insurances require pre-certification. Look on your insurance card to see if the company requires you to call for approval. They usually will give you several visits to start out, and the total number of visits you can have in a year varies with the companies. Most companies require very little information about you or your reasons for coming. One local company asks for more information than other HMO’s. If you are uncomfortable with this, you may pay for the sessions yourself and not send your information to the insurance company.

Insurances accepted

Affordable Medical Network
Aetna
BC/BS State of Michigan
*Mental Health Case Management Network
*Community Blue PPO
Beech Street
Choicecare Network
CIGNA
Community Care Network
Family Health Plan
First Health
General Motors Careline (GM hourly and salaried) managed by Value Options
Great-West Healthcare
HHS, Inc
Magellan
CMG HMO
Merit Behavioral Health
Aetna HAI and PPO (referral process)
Main AETNA site
Med View
One Health Plan
Priority Health
Private Health Care Systems (PHCS)
Pro-America
Midwest
Preferred Healthcare Network
Select Care
United Behavioral Health
UBH Providers
United Health Care
Value Behavioral Health
VMC Connect

Traditional insurances

Blue Choice (Point of Service)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
MESSA
Medicare

Don’t have insurance?

That can be a problem, but not the end of the world. You may pay the full fee yourself and not use insurance. If you have serious money problems, ask about payment plans or determine what you can afford to pay. We’ll talk about it and agree upon a fee that works for both of us.