You are entitled to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of what the charges could be for psychotherapy services provided to you. While a therapist can’t know in advance how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, this form estimates the cost of services provided. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, your therapist’s rates, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you.
This estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to obtain any services from the therapist listed, nor does it include any services rendered to you that are not identified here. This Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist. You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time.
Example for a full year of therapy, once a week, with no breaks:
Initial Session $$$ x 1
Returning Sessions $$$ x 51
= $$$ total (1 year of therapy, weekly sessions without any breaks)
Any diagnostic codes will not be identifiable until you begin treatment. Any diagnosis will not affect the cost of the session but will inform your treatment plan which would include suggested session frequency.
Disclaimer
This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur.
If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.
Throughout your treatment, the provider may recommend additional items or services as part of your treatment that are not reflected in this estimate. These would need to be scheduled separately with your consent and the understanding that any additional service costs are in addition to the Good Faith Estimate.
If your needs change during treatment, your provider should supply a new, updated Good Faith Estimate to reflect the changes to treatment, and the accompanying cost changes.
You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.
The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract between provider and client and does not obligate or require the client to obtain any of the listed services from the provider.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.
To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call HHS at (800) 985-3059.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.
