A private mental health clinic
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You've got questions, we've got answers
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
We are located at 1000 W. Nifong Bldg 2, Suite 208.
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
We do not accept any insurance at Columbia Psychiatry. We are happy to provide an insurance-ready receipt that patients can submit to their insurance company for reimbursement. Each insurance company is different in the way it reimburses for these visits; please contact your insurance company for more information.
WHY DON'T YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
Our most popular question! Insurance companies reimburse poorly for mental health care. (Don’t get us started.) If we took insurance, we would have to have shorter appointments in order to keep the office going. 60-minute initial evaluations and 30-minute followup appointments allow us to listen more to you, learn more about you, and take better care of you. Unfortunately, that also means that we can’t accept insurance.
HOW WILL I GET REIMBURSED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY?
We don't know, and they won't tell us. We encourage you to check with your insurance carrier before your first appointment if reimbursement is a concern.
WHAT DO YOUR DOCTORS DO THAT MY PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR CAN'T?
Voodoo. Just kidding.
Your primary care doctor is indeed able to prescribe nearly any medication, including psychiatric meds. However, their training in psychiatry usually amounts to 2-4 months during residency, as opposed to a psychiatrist’s 4 full years of residency training in psychiatry. This focus on psychiatric training makes us better educated on, informed about, and familiar with psychiatric medications. We also have years of practice experience in psychiatry. Sometimes anxiety looks like attention-deficit disorder, and sometimes a manic episode looks like obsessive/compulsive disorder. A psychiatrist is much more likely to make the correct diagnosis, and therefore better able to prescribe the correct medication.
WHAT HAPPENS AT AN APPOINTMENT?
At your initial evaluation, we take a full psychiatric history, including both current and past symptoms. We also review your medical history, which can be very important. We will talk about your current situation, and whether that is affecting your mental health. Then we talk a with you about your goals and expectations for treatment, and work out a treatment plan.
Follow up appointments are much more focused; we discuss whether the prescribed medications are helping with your symptoms, whether you are having any problems or side effects, and whether changes need to be made.
CAN YOU TALK TO MY COUNSELOR/PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR/ONCOLOGIST/ASTROLOGER?
Absolutely. We would be happy to communicate with any other provider you wish, as long as you sign a release of information. If there is a particular provider with whom you would like us to establish contact, please mention that at your appointment and we will be sure to have you sign a release.
WHO CAN SEE MY RECORDS?
Our office is ideal for clients who value their privacy. Since we do not submit claims to insurance companies, and we are not affiliated with any other entity, your records never leave our office unless you sign a release of information to authorize sharing of information.
HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO BE SEEN?
Frequency of appointments varies greatly between patients. As a very general guideline, patients will usually be seen at least monthly for the first few visits. When you and your psychiatrist agree that you are stable on medications, the interval between visits can be increased if desired. As another general rule for long-term patients, you must be seen at least every 3 months if you take any controlled substances, including stimulants, and at least every 6 months for other medications. If you run out of medication between visits, you may be required to come to an office appointment before your medication will be refilled.
HOW DO I TALK TO YOU BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS?
Between appointments, you can reach your psychiatrist via phone or email. Please note that calls and emails are not answered at night or on weekends. If you feel at any time that you may be a danger to yourself or someone else, please call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room. Phone calls and emails are usually returned within 1 business day. Phone calls longer than 15 minutes may be considered appointments and charged accordingly.