Common Questions
WHAT IS TELEMEDICINE?
Many of patients live in places where there are few doctors or nurse practitioners, some don’t have cars, and public transportation can’t get them to the clinic, and some are just plain tired of the long wait to see their doctors. That’s where telemedicine comes in.
Telemedicine is a simple, convenient way for patients to receive personalized care from the comfort and safety of their homes. Telemedicine is easy and convenient. It can be done using a mobile phone, a computer, or tablet. It can be as simple as a video call, just like when you call family members and friends.
Anything that patients normally do when they’re face to face with their providers in the clinic can be done on virtual visits. The provider and patient can share information, in real time, from one computer screen to another.
Providers and patients can discuss new developing problems, medication side effects, go over lab results, renew medications, and much more. With telemedicine, patients can receive the same high quality healthcare, virtually on their computer, phone, or tablet, rather than in person.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Telemedicine is as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Request an appointment by clicking on the “Appointment Request” button.
2. We will send back a link, available time/date for the visit and registration forms. Choose best time and date for you, fill out the forms, send them back.
3. Meet the provider online, using the link provided, on the agreed upon time/date. That’s it!
HOW SAFE IS TELEMEDICINE?
HIPAA, which stands for The Health Insurance and Accountability Act, is a law that protects the privacy of your medical records and personal health information.
We use safe and secure software that are HIPAA compliant, meaning that your telemedicine interactions are secured. No one can access them except for authorized users. Even your payment online is secured using the same secure system.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
At this time, I can see patients with the following insurance companies for patients in DC and MD:
Aetna
BlueCross and BlueShield
CareFirst
Cigna and Evernorth
Johns Hopkins
Medicaid
Medicare
Optum
UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH.
For Virginia, I am currently getting credentialed with multiple different insurance companies. For now, I can see patients with Aetna and Carelon.
I am out-of-network with all other insurance companies, but I’m diligently working on becoming in-network with several national carriers.
I am able to provide the necessary paperwork with the information that insurance companies require to process out-of-network claims. However, you are responsible for making payments when you receive services and for submitting your own claims.
HOW DO I GET MY INSURANCE TO PAY?
Call the insurance company first to determine if you have mental health coverage. Some helpful questions to ask:
1. What are my mental health benefits?
2. What’s my deductible and has it been met?
3. How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
4. How much does my insurance company pay for an out-of-network provider?
5. Do I need a referral from my primary care provider?
WHAT CONDITIONS DO YOU TREAT?
I provide clinical services to children (6-10), adolescents (11-17), and adults (18- 100+) with a wide variety of psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, PTSD, OCD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, substance use disorder, life transitions and more.
If you have a mental health condition that’s not listed, please feel free to reach out to me using the Contact Us page.
WHAT TYPES OF TESTING DO YOUR REQUIRE?
The mind and the body are very much connected. The mind can cause physical symptoms in the body and vice versa. I order laboratory testing to help identify which systems are out of balance, the gut, the endocrine, or immune system.
Neuropsychological testing and screening tools help to differentiate one mental health condition from another even when they share similar symptoms.
WHO PAYS?
Most lab tests can be billed directly to the insurance company. Some may have to be ordered by your primary care provider, i.e. an M.D. or Nurse Practitioner or even a specialist.
Please note that some insurance companies will only cover testing at specific facilities, such as QUEST or LabCorp.
Please contact your insurance company before completing any lab work.
Follow-up visit: Neuropsychological testing and lab results cannot be given over the phone. A 15- 20 min follow up visit is recommended so that we can discuss your test results
CAN YOU PRESCRIBE MEDICATION?
Medications can greatly improve health, and for some people the risk of untreated mental illnesses far outweigh those of pharmaceuticals.
I am certified through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC), as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
I’m also licensed in the state of Florida, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. I can prescribed medications.
ARE YOU A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER?
I am trained as a primary and a psychiatric care provider; I am able to treat all conditions that a primary care doctor would address. However, I recommend that you have your own primary care practitioner who can take care of your chronic conditions like Hypertension, COPD, Diabetes, Asthma, as well as urgent care visits, and who can refer you, as needed, to other specialists such as Gastroenterologists, Dermatologists, Cardiologists, Gynecologists, etc.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT YOU?
The patient portal is the best way to reach me. It is a secure system that provides protection for your personal information. Email and text messages are not recommended because they are not secured.
You can also reach me by phone. Feel free to leave a message with best time/date (3 preferably) for me to return your call. I will do my best to answer messages within 12-24 business hours.
*Note that I will answer brief and appropriate questions. I recommend a follow up appointment if you have a complex question or one that will take a significant amount of time*
WHY DO I NEED TO FILL OUT ALL OF THE FORMS BEFORE SEEING YOU?
Having all intake forms completed, BEFORE your appointment, helps both of us.
YOU: It helps save you money in the sense that you get to use your time (paid for by you) more productively. Instead of going through the questions at your appointment, I have more time to ask for clarification, to listen to you, to your goals, and to what you hope to get from the visit.
ME: It helps me to have enough time to thoroughly review your relevant health and background information, such as past medical history, and family history that may impact what medications could be or should not be prescribed to you, to learn about previous hospitalization, and course of treatment, adverse reactions to certain class of medications, what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past. In summary, it helps guide your treatment plan.
*Please have all forms filled out completely at least 2-3 days before the visit and uploaded to your patient portal.
Take a moment to also upload any recent blood work, and a complete list of all prescribed and self-prescribed medications, including over the counter medications, and supplements, with the exact doses.*
AM I REQUIRED TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT?
We are required to have at least one in-person visit per year.
Certain medications require that I see you in person before initiating any treatments. Follow ups may be done via telemedicine after the initial visit, for up to a year after the initial visit.
WHAT ARE YOUR POLICIES FOR CANCELLATION, TARDINESS, OR RESCHEDULING?
I reserve a set time especially for you. If you cannot keep your appointment, I respectfully ask that you let me know in advance so that I can offer it to someone else.
If you cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours prior to your appointment, there is no charge.
If you miss your appointment without providing notice, you will be charged.
HOW DO I GET MEDICATION REFILLS?
I strive to always prescribe enough medications to last until your next follow- up appointment. But, if for any reason, you found that you’re running out of your medications, please request refills early. I cannot get to every refill immediately.
Requests made at least a week before you run out will prevent you from missing doses. If you have not been consistent with follow-up visits and labs, and it’s been 4-5 months since your last follow-up visit, as per the legal standard of care, I may do only a 30 day supply.
No additional refills will be possible until you are seen for a complete evaluation. The clinic is closed Saturday and Sunday, late Friday afternoon request will be taken care of on Monday morning.
PLEASE NOTE
I evaluate each patient individually. I review medical records, labs, and presenting symptoms, and then discuss a plan of care that is in the best interest of each individual patient.
I DON’T
routinely prescribe benzodiazepine medications such as Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, etc
I DON’T
manage chronic pain or prescribe opioid medications such as morphine, oxycontin (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), etc.
CRISIS/EMERGENCIES?
Please get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text HELLO to 741741.
All calls are confidential. Available 24/7, free of charge. The deaf and hard of hearing contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as their family members and friends.
Confidential, toll-free hotline, online chat, or text messaging service. Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder. You can also start a confidential online chat session at veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat.
NO SURPRISE ACT
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059