Fees

• Private or Self-Pay Assessment:  While assessment fees are calculated based on your specific referral question and the amount of assessment required, my comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations often range from $3800 to $6500 so that you have a thorough evaluation that answers your questions and gives you a clear plan of how to support your child. I ask for half of the payment upon meeting for the first testing session, and the second half when you receive the written report/parent interpretation.  Assessment fees are flat-rate in nature, and the total cost will be provided to you in advance of scheduling any appointments so there are no surprises or billing after-the-fact.  
• Independent Evaluation: “Independent Educational Evaluations” are authorized and paid for at public (district) expense, when requested and authorized by a public school district. While I am a neutral third party, and will be paid directly through a contract with the district/educational entity for a flat-fee price, I do not “work for” either the district or the parent; in these cases, I work for the student and clarify the student’s educationally-relevant needs based on the data gathered.   
• In either case, should I be called as an Expert Witness or to testify in a fair hearing, my hourly or flat rates for preparation, travel time, and testimony are double my normal hourly rate, as these events are usually on late notice, often require cancellation of other clients, and are extremely stressful!

Consultation and Counseling

• Consultation, counseling, and training fees are $180 per hour. 
• LEP’s are licensed mental health professionals who are qualified to diagnose and provide counseling for youth who have needs that are within our scope of training and expertise!  If you are a self-pay counseling client, you will receive a Good Faith Estimate of total costs before beginning any service that would otherwise be considered a healthcare service.  Counseling services may be reimbursable to you by your behavioral health insurance in certain conditions. 

Are these services covered by insurance? As mentioned in the “About Me” section, I am not a provider on any healthcare panel and I do not accept insurance payment.  Be aware that  Psychoeducational Assessments that are exclusively focused on the identification of learning disabilities are not typically covered by healthcare insurance, though elements of an assessment may or may not be partially reimbursed to you at a MediCal rate if we are also answering medically necessary questions and you have approval to seek services out of network.  I can provide you with the appropriate information/superbill so that you can be reimbursed by your insurance company if you have authorization to obtain assessment out-of-network.  If you intend to seek reimbursement for counseling or assessment, let me recommend that you obtain pre-approval for out-of-network services before meeting with me, and to get clear feedback about the reimbursement rates. Note that you may be offered a specified percent of “usual and customary rates” that are not well-defined, unless you ask for that rate specifically.  I am happy to give you some ideas about talking with your insurance company before you make those calls.  

 “That’s the real problem with kids who struggle with learning … Some kids feel like they’re stupid.       I want them to know that they’re not. They just learn differently. Once they understand that and have the tools to learn in their individual way, then they can feel good about themselves.”

Charles Schwab