FAQ & FEES

Is my insurance accepted?

• INSURANCE PLANS USUALLY ACCEPTED and billed directly by my office staff: Highmark, Capital Blue Cross, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Federal BC/BS, and Out-of-State BC/BS.
  • It is your responsibility to call your plan to confirm that its mental health portion is administered by the Blues, not by a 3rd party.
  • Payment: cash or check for co-pays, coinsurance & deductibles (credit/debit cards not accepted).
• INSURANCE PLANS NOT ACCEPTED: Aetna; Medicare & 3rd Party Blue Plans administered by United, Magellan, PEBTF; etc. Dr. DeMuth is out-of-network for these plans.
  • Payment: cash or check for all fees is due at time of service. If requested, a receipt is given to you to submit to your insurance plan (credit/debit cards not accepted).

What are the fees for a session if your insurance is not accepted? 

• Fees: $175 for 55 minute session (first visit $195) for in-person or teletherapy.
• Payment: cash or check (credit/debit cards not accepted).
• Sliding Scale: yes, if discussed and agreed upon in advance.

Is Medicare accepted?

• No basic or supplemental Medicare plans are accepted.
  • Even if your supplemental insurance is currently a Blue Plan.

What are the fees for a phone consultation?

• $45 for each 15 minute segment. For example, $90 for a half an hour.
• No charge for calls 5 minutes or less.
• Phone consults can not be submitted to insurance and are paid out-of-pocket.

Teletherapy, telemedicine, and telehealth: are they the same?

• Yes, all terms describe video chat therapy sessions over the internet.
• Dr. DeMuth uses Sessions by Psychology Today and Doxy.me. Both are HIPAA protected sites for teletherapy. Other video chat platforms, Facetime & regular Zoom, are not HIPAA protected and can not be used as back-up at the present time.

What are the office hours and is there office staff?

• Teletherapy hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 11am – 6pm unless otherwise arranged.
• Billing and other office matters are handled by my Office Manager, Joann.

Are court mandated psychological evaluations offered?

• No, this is not a specialty of my practice.

How long are appointments and how do I schedule?

• Session Length: usually 55 minutes.
• You can schedule by calling and leaving a message on the office message line.
• At the end of each session, we typically schedule your next session.

How long does treatment last?

• It depends on a number of factors including your concerns, severity of issues, receptiveness to treatment, and goals. Teamwork between us is very important.
• A treatment plan is discussed with your strengths/weaknesses and budget in mind.
• Adjustments, as needed, are made for your benefit as therapy progresses.
• Clients with treatment plans that involve Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy may require 8 to 25 sessions depending on progress.

How can I get ready for my first visit?

• Go to the Forms page, download the forms listed under the “For New Clients: Getting Ready” section, complete them, and return to Dr. DeMuth.
• Optional: Please bring a list of what has worked or not worked for you in the past.

What can I do between our sessions to make progress?

• Practice. How rapidly you progress is related in part to the self-help you initiate and do between sessions.
• Customize the tools/strategies that best work for you from our sessions and routinely practice them throughout your day.

How can therapy help me? What are realistic goals?

• Reduce anxiety, depression, and internal distress.
• Gain a different perspective on life stressors and self.
• Make healthier lifestyle choices consistently.
• Navigate thoughts, feelings, and actions more skillfully.
• Enhance self-care of body, mind, and spirit.
• Boost resiliency to bounce back from life challenges.
• Learn the difference between things you can control versus cannot control.
• Cultivate a calmer, clearer mind to deal with life’s challenges and sorrows.
• Decrease stress-related illness and associated medical office visits.*
  
  *Psychotherapy targets the root causes of stress driven illness and helps break the cycle of chasing only physical symptoms.

How do I find the “Right Therapist” for me?

• Ask questions, do research, and trust your gut. This is your life and health.