Frequently Asked Questions
At shrinkMD we want to ensure we have answered the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) before your appointment in order to make our time together more efficient.
For that reason the most commonly asked questions are listed below.
If you have other questions after reading below, please feel free to contact us.
New Patient FAQS
Florida, Texas, California, Maine, Another State, Hawaii, Indiana, New York. If you are in any states outside of these listed states, you cannot be seen.
Psychiatrists have a medical degree along with a 4-year residency within the field of Psychiatry. This includes rotations in a medical specialty such as Internal Medicine. They use talk therapy, medications, and other treatments to help you gain stability. Although they can treat your medical conditions, they can work together with your primary care physician to coordinate your care. They can also evaluate your medical conditions or medication effects and interactions.
Psychologists do not have a medical degree, rather they have a doctoral degree in an area of psychology, the study of the mind and human behavior. Typically, they do 1-2 years of internship. Both psychiatrists and psychologists are trained to practice psychotherapy (talk therapy) but the differences in background and training translates into different approaches to helping your mental health conditions. You can read more about it in our blog post discussing the differences here.
Before your first appointment, it is important to fill out all your new patient paperwork.
In the realm of mental health, everyone’s journey is unique and there is no one size fits all. At ShrinkMD, we recognize the importance of personalized care that considers your individual biological makeup and life experiences. We believe that taking the time to get to know you and asking the right questions to understand your goals is crucial to providing effective treatment. With our comprehensive and holistic approach, we can accurately diagnose and treat your condition empowering you to achieve optimal mental health and live your best life.
It is important to come to your first appointment prepared by writing some things down so you don’t forget anything. Make sure you filled out and submitted all your new patient paperwork.
Some of the things you should write down before the appointment include:
- what symptoms you are currently experiencing
- what medications you are currently taking including the dose, how long you have been on it, and how often you are taking it
- a list of what medications you have tried in the past including what dose, how often you took it, how long you were on it, and if any adverse reactions
- what your goals of treatment are
- whatever questions you have for me
Medications and refills FAQS
At ShrinkMD, we believe in taking a holistic approach to mental health treatment. While medications can be a vital tool for some individuals, we understand that they may not be the best option for everyone. Our team of experts will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that takes into account all aspects of your health and well-being. We place a strong emphasis on therapeutic approaches that promote overall wellness, such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, tobacco/alcohol cessation, and sleep hygiene. Our goal is to help you achieve optimal mental health and a fulfilling life, without relying solely on medications.
As part of our commitment to making mental health care accessible and affordable, we will work with you to find medication options that fit your budget. Whether you have insurance or not, we will assist you in exploring the most cost-effective options available. Our goal is to ensure that financial concerns don’t prevent you from receiving the care you need to live a fulfilling life.
At ShrinkMD, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our patients. Therefore, we have made the decision not to prescribe any controlled medications, including opioids and stimulants. These can include klonopin, xanax, ativan, valium, adderall, ritalin, vyvanse, concerta, ambien, lunesta, suboxone, etc. We believe in providing alternative treatments that are safe, effective, and personalized to your unique needs. Our team of experienced psychiatrists will work with you to develop a comprehensive and holistic treatment plan that focuses on your overall health and wellness.
At shrinkMD, we understand the importance of providing our patients with an adequate supply of medication until their next appointment. In some cases, we may provide a very temporary supply of medication due to extenuating circumstances. However, please note that there is a charge for refills, and we do not accept pharmacy refill requests. For any concerns or changes related to your medication, an in-office visit may be required. Please refer to our services and fees page for more information.
Appointment follow ups and privacy FAQS
At shrinkMD, we believe that the frequency of appointments should be tailored to each patient’s unique needs. We want to ensure that you are receiving the appropriate amount of care, and we will work with you to determine how often appointments should be scheduled. Your level of comfort is important to us, and we understand that some patients may require more frequent appointments. The frequency of appointments will be based on your individual progress and the medications you are taking. Depending on your stability, appointments can be scheduled every week, every month, or every three months. Our goal is to ensure that you are receiving the best possible care and support.
As a courtesy to our practice, we kindly ask that you notify us at least 24 hours prior to your appointment if you need to cancel. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. If you anticipate being late, please inform us as soon as possible. Please note that patients who arrive more than 15 minutes late may be considered a no-show and charged a fee of $75. We value our time together and want to ensure that we can provide you with the highest quality of care. Recurring no-shows or late appointments may result in the discontinuation of treatment.
As your mental health providers, we understand the importance of keeping your information private and confidential. Rest assured, any information discussed during appointments will be kept confidential except in four circumstances: (1) if an individual expresses a threat of harm to themselves or others, (2) if the individual chooses to be reimbursed by insurance, in which case we may need to release information about their psychiatric conditions, (3) if an individual signs a release of information to have their records sent to a different psychiatric office, and (4) if the information is subpoenaed by a court. We take your privacy seriously and will only share information when necessary and in accordance with legal and ethical guidelines.
Billing and Insurance FAQS
All fees are due at the time of service.
As a provider of comprehensive personalized care, we do not participate in health insurance plans. While this may seem daunting, it actually benefits our patients in a number of ways. First and foremost, it allows us to keep your sensitive patient information completely confidential without having to share it with insurance companies or other third parties who don’t need to know.
Additionally, not participating in insurance plans ensures that we can provide the highest quality of care for you without insurance dictating your treatment. We understand that this may require payment up front for your appointment, but it allows us to focus solely on your individual needs and goals.
That being said, if you do have health insurance, you may be able to get reimbursed for your appointment. We will provide you with an itemized receipt to submit along with a form obtained from your insurance company. While we value keeping your records completely confidential, if you do submit a claim to your insurance company, we are required to inform them of your diagnosis and type of treatment we are providing.
Most HSA (health savings account) and FSA (flexible spending account) plans reimburse for your office visit. However, we recommend checking with your employer’s plan before assuming so. Rest assured that we are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care while protecting your privacy and confidentiality.
First call your insurance company to get details on your plan. Specifically ask what kind of coverage they provide for out of network providers. Find out what deductible you might have (if you have a deductible plan and the deductible is high the cost would be the same whether in network or out of network if you have no other other medical expenses to reach the deductible amount). You should also ask specifics on the process of getting reimbursed. We will provide a superbill for you to use for the reimbursement. We highly recommend using the website for Reimbursify which provides an efficient and easy way to get reimbursement. Please see services and fees tab.
Reasons to consider seeing an out-of-network psychiatrist:
- High deductible plan: If you have a high deductible plan and no other medical issues, it can be difficult to reach the deductible by only seeing a psychiatrist. If your deductible is $8,000 that means you must have paid $8,000 for all medical services before insurance will cover your visits. Up to that point you will pay the full cash price wherever you go whether in or out of network. In this case, it may be beneficial to see someone of your choosing who is out of network.
- Personalized care: When insurance does not dictate your care, the psychiatrist can spend more time with you as per your choosing. Medications or treatments are based on your personal needs, not enforced by your insurance. If you need to be seen more often, you can do so without insurance constraints.
- Good out-of-network benefits: If your insurance company provides good out-of-network benefits, they may reimburse a significant portion of your visit cost, making your visit as much or close to how much you would pay for someone in-network.
- Privacy, Privacy, Privacy: If you don’t want your family, friends, insurance company, or employer to know about your care, then an out-of-network provider would be ideal. Your information remains confidential.
- Connection with provider: It’s difficult to find a psychiatrist or therapist that understands you. If you find someone you connect with, you would want to continue to see them as they will be able to understand exactly what you need.
- Long wait times: Mental health care wait times can be several months. Many psychiatric practices are full and are not accepting new patients. Seeing an out-of-network provider can help you get in much sooner.