Healthcare costs are confusing.

While medical billing is complex, we aim to be as transparent as possible. Bay Children’s Services utilizes a billing model based on Medicare, a federal government insurance program. For each of your visits, one or more billing or CPT (current procedural terminology) codes are selected to signify the services provided in session. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assign a cost to each of these codes based on the duration, complexity, or difficulty of each service.

 

Frequently asked questions:

HOW LONG ARE APPOINTMENTS AND WHAT DO THEY TYPICALLY COST?

For appointments with a therapist:

  • 60 minute initial assessment - $350 to 440

  • 30 minute individual follow-up - $150 to 190

  • 45 minute individual follow-up - $200 to 250

  • 60 minute family session - $195 to 245

For appointments with a psychiatrist:

  • 60 minute initial assessment - $690

  • 30 minute individual follow-up - $580 to $720

  • 45 minute individual follow-up - $645 to $785

  • 60 minute family session - $745 to $885

*These are approximate costs. What happens in each session is different and may result in different costs based on the specific services provided. Click here to download our full charge sheet.

*These are out-of-pocket, full fee costs (not our contracted insurance rates).

WHY CAN’T YOU TELL ME THE EXACT COST OF EACH SESSION AHEAD OF TIME?

Billing codes are selected based on what happens in a given session. Therefore, we can typically give a range or an estimate, but cannot give you an exact amount until after the session and necessary documentation occur.

WHY DO VISITS WITH PSYCHIATRISTS COST MORE THAN VISITS WITH THERAPISTS?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors. Due to their unique training, they offer both medical expertise and psychotherapy services during each visit. Therefore, two separate billing codes are used for each session:

one of the E&M (evaluation and management) codes

  • 99213 - $337.10 (low complexity) - (with self-pay discount: $235.97)

  • 99214 - $474.36 (mid complexity) - ($332.05)

  • 99215 - $660.86 (high complexity) - ($462.60)

AND one of the psychotherapy add-on codes

  • 90833 - $243.95 (16-37 minutes) - (with self-pay discount $170.77)

  • 90836 - $309.10 (38-52 minutes) - ($216.37)

  • 90838 - $408.99 (53+ minutes) - ($286.29)

DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?

We do accept several commercial insurance plans - currently Aetna, Blue Shield and Cigna - and are always working to increase our panel of insurance providers. If you have insurance, but we are not in-network with your insurance provider, we will still submit a claim to your insurance and they may provide partial reimbursement.

DO YOU OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?

If you elect to pay out of pocket (that is, not to use a health insurance plan), we offer an automatic 30% discount on our rates. Additional financial assistance is available on a case-by-case basis, with an effort to make affordable treatment available to those with the highest need and fewest resources. As a non-profit organization, we rely on grants and donations to help us provide equitable care to all members of our local community.