Practice Policies 

Welcome to Smiles Psychiatry & Wellness!  We provide evidence-based psychiatric care supported by secure, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant technology.  This document will outline the policies and procedures for our private practice.

Services

1.     The initial psychiatric evaluation will take place over 1-2 sessions.  It will determine if Smiles Psychiatry & Wellness, LLC can provide the expected services the evaluee desires and/or needs.  If the clinician and evaluee agree to enter into a treatment relationship at the conclusion of the evaluation, a detailed treatment plan will be established, focusing on medical interventions, therapy, required follow-up appointments and/or additional treatment recommendations.

2.     At Smiles Psychiatry & Wellness, LLC, we specialize in treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, trauma disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders, and parent-child relationship issues.  We take a comprehensive approach and focus on the biological, psychological, and environmental factors contributing to symptoms and behaviors.  Our key goal is to improve daily functioning and social connection.  We primarily work with parents who are 18 and over.

3.     This practice is NOT set up for: forensic evaluations; child custody evaluations; disability evaluations; management of severe aggression/homicidal ideation, substance use disorders, moderate to severe eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and suicidal ideation/behaviors/inpatient hospitalization/residential treatment within the last 3 months.

4.     If there is any concern about harm to self, or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK which is a confidential hotline staffed by trained mental health counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Smiles Psychiatry & Wellness, LLC does not have admitting privileges to assist with acute psychiatric hospitalizations.  Nevertheless, we ask that you notify us if you are experiencing an emergency.  If hospitalized, please have the attending physician contact us. 

5.     If a patient requires a higher or different level of care than we can provide, we can provide a referral to the appropriate level.  However, we cannot guarantee the patient will be accepted nor ensure the quality of care that is provided.

Appointment Visits

1.     We are a by-appointment-only practice that is not open on a daily basis.  New patients can schedule an appointment directly from our website by selecting an appointment slot and completing the “New Patient Form.”

2.     Completion of the form allows us to determine if we are a good fit for each other.  We will confirm the appointment and send an email with a link to register an account on our HIPAA-compliant patient portal.

3.     All communications are conducted through HIPAA-compliant services.

4.     Once the physician-patient relationship is established, we will schedule appointments at the conclusion of each appointment.

5.     In rare cases, there may be emergencies that arise that may lead to an unexpected delay. If this occurs, we will notify you prior to the appointment.

Rates/Fees

1.     Smiles Psychiatry & Wellness is a direct pay practice. We do not accept any health insurance and are considered to be out-of-network for all health insurance companies.  Please contact your insurance company to find out exactly what will be covered.

2.     Payment is charged after the appointment is completed through a secure payment. We provide a superbill so you can file a claim with your insurance company for reimbursement.

3.     Patient Visit Rates:

a.     Initial (New Patient) Psychiatric Evaluation for 60 minutes: $300

b.     Follow-up Psychotherapy Visit for 60 minutes: $200

c.     Follow-up Medication Management + Psychotherapy Visit for 45 minutes: $200

d.     Follow-up Medication Management Visit for 30 minutes: $150

e.     One-time Psychiatric Consultations for 90 minutes: $350

f.       No Shows / Cancellations within 48 hours: 50% of the rate

g.     No Shows / Cancellations within 24 hours: 100% of the rate

h.     If 10 minutes pass beyond the scheduled appointment start time, the appointment may be considered a no show. 

**We understand there are emergencies that occur so please notify us of the cancellation as soon as possible.**

Prescriptions

1.     All medication orders will be written or called in.

2.     All medication refill requests will be addressed within 2 business days. 

3.     As standard of care, stable patients will need to be seen at least every 3-6 months to continue to be an active patient and receive prescription.  If you have not been seen in over 6 months, Smiles Psychiatry & Wellness, LLC will attempt to contact you twice by phone to schedule you.  If there is no response, we will send you a termination letter and close your chart. 

4.     Other patients may require more frequent appointments, which will be discussed during treatment planning.

Transfer/Termination of Care

1.     Patient care may be transferred once a patient is stable (usually for 6 months to a year) and can continue to be managed by their primary care provider.

2.     In some cases, it may be necessary to end our treatment relationship.  The patient’s need for a different treatment setting, treatment non-adherence, violation of office policies, and/or failure to pay for services, among other reasons, may be grounds for termination of the treatment relationship.  We will attempt to discuss the transition plan with you together with the appropriate referrals and/or referral resources.