Confidentiality:
Privacy is important for patients seeking treatment, and our practice protects this right to privacy dearly. There are exceptions to confidentiality, however. Information will be shared without confidentiality release in cases in which there is suspected child abuse or when a patient is a danger to others, or themselves. Privacy is of utmost importance for adequate therapeutic work to occur. Your support of this is critical to your treatment.
Other areas of confidentiality include insurance. Please note that if you choose to request reimbursement from your insurance, your information will be shared with your insurance company in accordance with the agreement and policies set between your insurance company and you. At a minimum, insurance companies require a type of service provided and diagnosis codes. Lastly, if outstanding balances are not paid and not addressed, treatment information will be released for collection agency involvement.
Appointments:
Appointments can be made by telephone at (617) 855-2917 or by e-mailing me at ae@evanoffmd.com.
Cancellation Policy:
Appointment times are reserved for you in advance. Regular follow-up visits, particularly for medication monitoring, are necessary to provide safe medical care. A minimum of 24 hours notice for cancellations is required. Monday appointments need to be cancelled by 5 pm the preceding Friday. Appointments that are missed without appropriate notice will be charged at the full session rate.
Voicemail/Messages:
Keeping in contact is vital. As such, voicemails are frequently accessed. Your voicemail will be returned within 48 hours during business days after review of your medical record. Calls left late on Friday will be processed Monday.
Emergencies:
For life threatening emergencies, please call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Room. Notify Dr. Evanoff of such emergencies only once your safety has been established.
Telephone calls:
Dr. Evanoff urges patients and families to call for any major medication side effects or new concerning behaviors. Generally, issues that require more than brief management or recommendations will require an office visit. For any call longer than 15 minutes, or when required by the situation or requested for convenience, Dr. Evanoff will provide more extended services over the phone based on her hourly rate.
Connecting with your other providers:
Mental health care often entails significant time outside of appointment times coordinating care with other mental health providers, discussing impressions with other therapists, and managing medical concerns in concert with primary care physicians. Dr. Evanoff makes every effort so that your other providers can contact her securely via phone, fax, or email.
Refills:
In general refills are provided as are reasonable given the stability of the patient and frequency of monitoring needed. Refills may be conveniently requested by leaving a voicemail on Dr. Evanoff’s office phone or by having your pharmacy request a refill directly. If your condition requires monitoring and the time since your last appointment has been longer than recommended, Dr. Evanoff may insist on an appointment and will generally provide the patient with enough medication until that appointment. In general, psychopharmacology visits are frequent upon treatment initiation and then become less frequent as stability is achieved.
Patient Records:
You may request your medical records and request that factual errors be corrected. These records will be kept until treatment is terminated. You may authorize in writing that copies of these records be released to entities you designate. Records sent to other mental health care providers, primary care providers, therapists, for purposes of an education evaluation, psychological testing, or other mental health treatment will be provided free of charge.
Insurance and Payment:
Since Dr. Evanoff does not participate in insurance plans, it is your responsibility to verify that your plan will cover services. Insurance involvement is limited as they often govern the type, frequency, and amount of care. Statements outlining services are provided monthly with the most appropriate insurance billable codes; however, some treatments may not be covered by insurance. Payment of services, including non-covered services, is the patient's responsibility.
Billing:
Care delivered is billed at time of service. Credit card payments are preferred, and receipt of services are provided.