LIGHTHOUSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT POLICY
Benefits/Outcomes
The therapeutic process seeks to meet goals established by all persons involved, usually revolving around a specific complaint(s). Participating in mental wellness treatment may include benefits such as the resolution of presenting problems as well as improved intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. The therapeutic process may reduce distress, enhance stress management, and increase one's ability to cope with problems related to work, family, personal, relational, etc. Participating in mental wellness treatment can lead to a greater understanding of personal and relational goals and values. This can increase relational harmony and lead to greater happiness. Progress will be assessed on a regular basis and feedback from clients will be elicited to ensure the most effective therapeutic services are provided. There can be no guarantees made regarding the ultimate outcome of mental wellness treatment.
expectations
The journey to mental wellness is a marathon, not a quick fix. It takes time and effort, and therefore, may move slower than your expectations. During the process, we identify goals, review progress, and modify the treatment plan as needed. After your evaluation, follow-up visits are required to continue to assess efficacy of treatment. At a minimum, you must be seen at least one time every 3 months. If a required follow up is not made at the 3-month period, you will no longer be considered an active client of Lighthouse Behavioral Health, and Dr. Odetalla will no longer accept responsibility for your care.
services
You agree to receive psychotherapy, medication management if needed, which may involve the off-label use of medications. You understand the risks, benefits and alternatives of receiving these services and have had the opportunity to ask questions.
fees
The cost of an initial evaluation is $350 for one hour, and follow up appointments are $175 for 30 minutes. Additional fees are listed in the intake packet.
appointments and cancellation
You are responsible for attending each appointment and agree to adhere to the following policy: If you cannot keep the scheduled appointment, you MUST notify our office to cancel or reschedule the appointment 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time for an evaluation, or 24 hours prior to a follow up visit. If you cancel or reschedule more than once, we may re-evaluate your needs, desires, and motivations for treatment at this time. Any late cancellations or no-shows will result in the client being charged the FULL appointment visit fee, and risk of being discharged.
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Arriving 20 minutes late to a 60 minute evaluation visit or 10 minutes late to a 30 minute follow up visit will count as a cancellation. The provider reserves the right to terminate the treatment relationship if more than 2 sessions are missed without proper notification. Two no-shows will result in immediate discharge.
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Please note you will be charged day-of for your session before your session time. Acceptable forms of payment are exact-amount cash, Zelle, or credit/debit card on file. Any payment transactions that are declined will incur an additional non-refundable $100 fee.
reminder calls
We have an automated service that will provide you with a reminder email/text prior to your scheduled appointment. These reminders are a courtesy and we are not responsible for appointments missed due to incorrect contact information or nonreceipt of a reminder email. It is the patient's responsibility to keep the scheduled appointments or reschedule / cancel the appointment with 48 hours notice for new patients and 24 hours notice for existing patients.
insurance
Lighthouse Behavioral Health does not accept insurances, including Medicaid or Medicare. With the exception of those with Medicaid and Medicare insurances, if you are paying out of pocket, we can provide you with an itemized receipt/superbill that may allow you to get reimbursement from your insurance company usually between 60-80% after your deductible is met. Clients with Medicaid and/or Medicare insurances are prohibited from seeking reimbursement for services per government policy and understand and agree they may not do so.
prescriptions
You have been prescribed enough medication to last until your next follow-up visit for further evaluation. Your prescriber is required to monitor your response to medication, therefore, it is your responsibility to schedule an appointment prior to running out of medication. Our schedule fills up quickly, so booking your follow-up appointment at the conclusion of each visit is highly recommended. There will be a charge of $35 for one week refills needed in between visits.
prior authorizations for medications
Some insurance plans require prior authorization for medications that are prescribed to you. If your insurance plan requires a prior authorization, please ask your pharmacy to fax the required information to our office at 845-207-0025. It is ultimately up to your insurance carrier to determine coverage for medications. The processing time for prior authorizations varies; in some cases it may take 1 to 2 weeks. Whenever possible we will provide samples of your medication until your insurance coverage is approved. If you have questions about your pharmacy benefits please contact your insurance carrier directly. Contacting our staff regarding a medication prior authorization must be done using our patient portal or by leaving a detailed message.
copies of medical records
Should you request a copy of your medical records; the cost is $1.50 per page. Payment for your medical records will be due prior or upon receipt and can be picked up at the office. Please allow at least 2 weeks to prepare medical records.
phone contacts and emergencies
Office hours are flexible from Tuesday - Thursday. If you are experiencing issues that need to be addressed by your provider, and they are not life-threatening emergencies, please schedule an appointment to discuss these matters further. Additionally, you may text or call 1-845-480-5406, leave a voicemail, and a return call will be made by the next business day. Text messages can not replace missed appointments.
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Do not email, text, or leave a voicemail if you are experiencing a life-threatening event. Call 911, Rockland County Behavioral Response Team at 845-517-0400, Hatzolah, or go to your nearest emergency room.
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Additionally, you can access emergency assistance by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, about any type of crisis. Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via a medium people already use and trust: text.
social media
In a digital modern world we use our professional social media platforms to advocate for mental health and wellness while providing educational information. Social media should not replace mental health and wellness treatment. No friend requests on our personal social media outlets (Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) if you choose to comment on our professional social media pages or posts, you do so at your own risk and may breach confidentiality. We cannot be held liable if someone identifies you as a client. Please do not contact us through any social media site or platform. They are not confidential and may become part of a medical record.
electronic communication
Any electronic means of communication bears the risk of being intercepted. Our office does not communicate via email because it becomes harder and harder to keep emails secure and confidential. Furthermore, if you send email from a work computer, your employer has the legal right to read it. Emails sent to our office are made a part of your medical record.
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Please contact our office through the Spruce app if you would like to reach your provider by electronic means. You MUST text inside of the application for it to remain confidential. Please be aware that these texts are screened by our office staff and are often resolved without the provider being contacted directly. Please note Dr. Odetalla charges for phone calls over 5 minutes in length, email correspondence, reading assessments or evaluations, writing assessments or letters, and collaborating with necessary professionals (with your permission) for continuity of care.
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