Insurance can only be used when mental health therapy is regarded as medically necessary. This means that a client must have a diagnosis that is disrupting their lives and functioning in manner that is significant enough to warrant the level of therapy being provided. Insurance companies conduct regular audits of claims and records to ensure that a client is not overutilizing therapy. If an insurance company determines that mental health therapy is not warranted in the manner in which it is being delivered (e.g. too frequently), insurance companies can deny services and demand repayment from the provider for services rendered.
Clients are welcome to seek therapy on a self-pay basis for areas related to self-improvement or to maintain overall wellness that may not meet the criteria for medical necessity. Self-pay rates are as follows:
Initial appointment: $150
Follow up appointments: $120
Clients are encouraged to understand their insurance benefits, including deductibles, co-insurance, co-pays, as well as whether authorization is needed. Green Valley Therapy will submit claims to insurance companies on clients’ behalf, but will not assume financial responsibility for a client’s lack of knowledge of available benefits or failure to obtain authorization. Please call your insurance company to find out benefits for behavioral health AND to double-check that Jennifer Pietrzak and/or Green Valley Therapy is listed as a provider on your particular plan. See the attached list of in-network insurances.
Since the pandemic’s impact, healthcare providers have been encouraged to provide telehealth services as appropriate and whenever possible. Because of this, many insurance companies have covered and reimbursed telehealth behavioral health services on par with in-office services. Please be sure to know your benefits before engaging in therapy with me, since the variations among insurance plans is significant.