It is time to update our fee list. February 2022 was the last time we revised our fees. Every year we update our fee list to reflect the changes in the cost of living. We have outlined the process as follows: Our fees are no longer comparable to those of comparable practices. In addition, our costs have gone up significantly …
Charges for Consultations and Updates via Email
With the recent explosion in interest in and use of various types of telehealth services, patients are becoming used to getting in touch with their health care provider through their home computer or cellphone. We celebrate the increase in channels for communication and hope that it will result in better accessibility to health care for all. However, we also have …
Walgreens Doesn’t Care – Why I Don’t Approve Refills Automatically
Today one of my patients had a simple request – “Doc, I don’t know if you need to write new prescriptions, but my pharmacy will ask for a refill if I do.” I said that I it is my policy to always write refills in session so that I can make sure that I and my patients understand what medications …
Telemedicine Coverage Mandatory in California
California Governor Signs New Telehealth Insurance Law On October 11, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law requiring commercial health insurance coverage and payment parity for telehealth services, unfortunately the law won’t take effect until 2021. However, in consideration of the State of Emergency declared by the Governor and the Secretary for Health and Human Services, an industry trade group, America’s …
Deaths of Despair – Suicide & Self Injury Crisis in US
The news of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade’s death by suicide as well as the CDC’s report on increasing suicide rates in the US reminds us of a larger public health crisis that was given the name “deaths of despair” by researchers Case and Deaton (see below). We have been collecting information on this topic in preparation for an effort …
Requesting Out of Network Coverage for Psychiatrist
EXTENDING MEDICAL BENEFITS TO NON-PREFERRED PROVIDER PHYSICIANS Some of the most heartrending calls that we receive from potential patients have to do with people who are unable to find psychiatrists who are covered under their insurance plan. One solution may be to request out of network coverage for a psychiatrist. Background There are several problems that make this a common …
Where is the Outrage About Suicide?
A wonderful editorial in JAMA Psychiatry highlights the overwhelming evidence that stigma is continuing to drive underfunding for treatment and prevention of suicide deaths. Suicide and “accidental” overdose deaths are an epidemic in this country. Since 1999, the rate of suicide deaths increased by 28.2%, and this probably underestimates the increase because there is evidence that coroners are categorizing more and …
Depression Screening Recommended
Although it seems like nothing more than common sense, we were very pleased to see that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which is the major organization responsible for guidelines for public health interventions in the United States, added depression screening for adults, in particular for pregnant women and women who recently given birth, to its short list of …
Mental Health and Violence Conference
I am very pleased to share an announcement for a conference for mental health professionals and psychiatrists sponsored by the Northern California Psychiatric Society . The topic is both an important one and one about which there is much confusion and strong conflicting opinions. I’m proud that our local district branch is not walking away from it but has arranged …
Parity Website
We ran across information about a new website that is drawing attention to the issue of mental health parity and that is dedicated to helping people get the behavioral health treatment they need – Paritytrack.org. The essence of the federal law that requires mental health parity in insurance coverage is not that mental health needs to have a certain level of …
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