INSURANCE AND PAYMENT OPTIONS
Dr. Batista is an out-of-network provider for all insurances. If you have insurance with out of network benefits please feel free to inquire about whether you can utilize your insurance to access care.
Please feel free to write us with your insurance info and we can contact your insurance company and review your insurance benefits with you – or submit it through the chatbot to the right (her name is Wendi!) and we will reach out once the insurance plan details are returned to us.
A: What is Telepsychiatry?
Telepsychiatry is the practice of psychiatry-specific telemedicine. The field of psychiatry is inherently well-suited to using telemedicine techniques as there is generally no physical exam component involved during appointments. These days, most telepsychiatry is done via real-time televideo-conferencing methods very similar to a Skype or FaceTime session. As long as you are at a location with reasonably fast internet access, you can see an online psychiatrist for your appointment.
Why See An Online Psychiatrist?
Convenience and comfort. No more battling congested traffic just to arrive at your appointment late. No more sitting in uncomfortable waiting rooms reading outdated magazines and trying to make awkward small talk with other patients. With telepsychiatry, there’s no need to leave your home or office. Just sit down in front of your computer, smartphone, or tablet at your appointment time and start your appointment. Then go back to whatever you were doing once your appointment is over. All you need is a broadband internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone, smartphone, or tablet. If you can use Skype or Google Hangouts, you can conduct telepsychiatry appointments. Our practice uses a secure, HIPPA compliant platform for videoconferencing.
Accessibility. Telepsychiatry has increased access to care, enabling people to receive treatment sometimes where it was not previously possible due to time constraints, office hours, or physical limitations including physical mobility issues, or living in a rural area with limited access to specialists locally.
Efficient high-quality care. Research has shown that patients receiving telepsychiatry care are just as comfortable with their psychiatrists as patients receiving in-person psychiatric care, with similarly positive treatment outcomes. And because telepsychiatry appointments can be conducted from the patient’s home or office, hundreds of hours can potentially be saved each year from no longer needing to travel to and from the psychiatrist’s office or sitting in waiting rooms.
Where does Dr. Batista see patients?
Currently, we exclusively offer telehealth services to our patients. Dr. Batista provides treatment to adults only.
We provide treatment in the following states: New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
More states may be added in the future as our practice grows.
A: Dr. Batista provides treatment to adults only.
The following services are currently offered virtually:
- Initial or New Patient Consultation Session
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation – this may take place over 2-3 sessions, culminating in the development of a personalized treatment plan tailored to your symptoms and goals
- Psychopharmacology – individualized medication management
- Psychotherapy – individualized plans that may consist of cognitive behavioral, supportive and psychodynamic psychotherapies. Most commonly psychotherapy sessions will take place weekly, but may be more or less frequent and are determined on a case-by-case basis
- Collaboration with other members of your treatment team when appropriate, including treatment team meetings and family meetings
- Family sessions
Please see this page (embed link here to specialties/treatments page) for more detailed information about some of the conditions and treatments Dr.Batista specializes in.
About Prescriptions via Telemedicine: Commonly used non-narcotic medications are prescribed in states in which Dr.Batista is licensed.
About Controlled Substances: Please note that controlled substances are only prescribed in states where it is permissible by law and where clinically appropriate. If this is of concern for your treatment please contact us and we can answer any questions you may have. Alternative treatment options will be explored for patients in states where controlled substances cannot be prescribed.
Are There Services or Treatments Not Provided?
Yes. Due to the increased regulatory requirements, we do not prescribe any controlled medications (aka, narcotic medications) in states in which this is not allowed by law. These medications are often used to treat the following conditions:
- ADD/ADHD (often treated with stimulants like Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Vyvanse, etc)
- Anxiety/Panic (often treated with benzodiazepines like Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, etc)
- Insomnia (often treated with controlled sleep medications like Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, etc)
- Substance abuse disorders including opiate dependence
The law varies state by state so if you have a concern about treatment for any of the above it is best to inquire with us so we can help to navigate your specific situation.
Some conditions require a higher level of care than can be safely provided by us via telepsychiatry, such as:
- Actively having thoughts or urges to self-harm or attempt suicide
- Actively having thoughts or urges to harm someone else
- Severe Eating disorders (anorexia, binging/purging)
- You will need to be medically stable in order for treatment to be safely provided
- Alcohol or drug addiction/abuse
- Any other condition or set of symptoms deemed by Dr. Batista at any point to be severe enough to need a higher level of care
We do not provide any legal evaluations / certifications, including but not limited to: disability, FMLA, school/work accommodations, nor emotional support animals.
A: At Balanced Psychiatry, we are committed to providing personalized and patient-centered care.
Here are some key aspects of our approach:
- Individualized Treatment Plans: We believe in tailoring treatment plans to meet the unique needs and goals of each patient. During your comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, we will work collaboratively to develop a personalized plan that considers your specific symptoms, circumstances, and preferences. Dr. Batista practices outside the insurance-based system. Freedom from insurance contracts permits her to spend as much time with each individual patient as necessary, and to keep her practice size small so that she can be available to individual clients when needed. Rather than the standard “15 minute visit” so often covered by insurance companies, a typical session with Dr. Batista is 30-45 minutes, or more, depending your individual treatment plan.
- Holistic Approach: We take a holistic approach to mental health, considering various aspects of your life, including physical health, relationships, and lifestyle factors, to develop a comprehensive treatment strategy.
- Collaborative Care: We value collaboration and believe that effective treatment often involves working together with other members of your treatment team, such as therapists, primary care doctors, and specialists. We are dedicated to fostering effective communication and coordination among all involved healthcare professionals.
- Patient Education: We believe in empowering patients through education. We take the time to explain your diagnosis, treatment options, and any potential side effects of medications or therapies. We encourage questions and strive to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your treatment journey.
- Therapeutic Alliance: We prioritize building a strong therapeutic alliance with our patients based on trust, empathy, and respect. We create a safe and non-judgmental space where you can openly discuss your concerns and feelings, knowing that your privacy and confidentiality are strictly upheld.
- Ongoing Support: We are committed to providing ongoing support throughout your treatment journey. We regularly monitor your progress, adjust treatment strategies as needed, and remain accessible for questions or concerns that may arise between sessions.
How do you customize treatment plans to fit my specific needs?
We understand that each individual’s mental health needs are unique. To customize your treatment plan, we follow a comprehensive and personalized approach that includes:
- Thorough Assessment: We conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, taking into account your medical history, symptoms, goals, and any previous treatment experiences. This evaluation helps us gain a comprehensive understanding of your individual needs.
- Collaborative Goal-Setting: We work closely with you to identify your specific treatment goals, whether they are related to symptom management, improving daily functioning, or enhancing overall well-being. Your goals guide the development of your personalized treatment plan.
- Evidence-Based Treatments: We draw upon a range of evidence-based treatment modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, and psychopharmacology, to address your unique needs. We tailor the treatment approach to ensure it aligns with your goals and preferences.
- Flexibility and Adjustments: We understand that treatment needs may evolve over time. As you make progress, we will continuously assess and make adjustments to your treatment plan to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
- Open Communication: We encourage open and honest communication, where you can freely express your concerns, preferences, and feedback. Your input is essential in shaping the treatment approach to best meet your needs. We actively solicit feedback from our patients regarding their care.
I already have a therapist, but I think I might need to see a psychiatrist too. Is that ok? Can I stay in treatment with my therapist while I work with Dr. Batista?
Yes – and this is very common! Dr. Batista takes pride in providing the best quality treatment to suit your needs. If you are already working with a therapist, Dr. Batista is able to coordinate with your current therapist to assist with your treatment, for example in providing consultation for medications or a second opinion regarding your diagnosis or treatment plan.
You do not need to end treatment with your therapist in order to work with Dr. Batista.
Given the importance of physical health to your mental health, Dr. Batista will also coordinate your treatment with any other medical professionals who are working with you, such as your primary care doctor.
A: Do You Take Insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid?
We are NOT in-network with any insurance, Medicare, nor Medicaid.
Dr. Batista will help you to seek reimbursement to the full extent possible and also help you to understand your medical benefit eligibility. Insurance reimbursement varies from one plan to the next so there is no way to provide a general estimate of reimbursement for our services that would apply to everyone on this website. If you have insurance with out-of-network benefits and would like us to verify the details of your insurance benefits and review them with you, please submit your insurance information through our website. Once on the site, Wendi, a helpful chatbot usually located in a popup window on the lower right hand corner, will guide you through the process. Kindly input your email and phone number on the contact form if requested, as it will enable us to follow up with you more efficiently. After receiving your insurance benefits information, we will contact your insurance provider and provide you with a detailed explanation. Please note that the chatbot will also try to assist, but it may not always have all the necessary information in which case we will call your insurance to clarify the details of your benefits and get back to you with that information.
If your health insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits for mental health services, you may request that we submit electronic claims for fully paid dates of service on your behalf as a courtesy or we can provide a statement (aka, a superbill) with all of the information needed for your insurance to process claims for your care. In some cases we may be able to bill your insurance and charge you the applicable out of pocket responsibility. In most cases, the patient will be responsible for the cost of treatment and our billing team will instruct all insurance companies to send reimbursement checks directly to the patient.
Please note that if an insurance company does not provide satisfactory reimbursement, it is the patient’s responsibility to handle any claim disputes. Certain insurance companies may require authorization requests or other forms/appeals to be sent before releasing certain benefits to members. It is the responsibility of the patient to alert the office of these conditions and any expirations associated. Patients must alert Balanced Psychiatry that they would like claims submitted on their behalf before applicable filing period closings. Failure to alert the office of insurance claim submission requests may result in late filing claim rejections. Patients may opt out of courtesy insurance submissions at any time.
How Much Does A Session With Dr.Batista Cost?
We try to make treatment accessible by offering different options to accommodate patients who are seeking more or less intensive treatment approaches, or who have additional treatment already in place and require our services as a supplement to their current treatment.
Please find our private pay fees below (if no insurance reimbursement applies):
- New Patient Consultation/Initial Evaluation Fee: $750 (for 60min)
- Follow-Up Session Fees:
- >30min Medication Management: $575
- 45+ min Psychotherapy Session with or without Medication Management: $575
- 20-30min Medication Management Visit: $400
- Missed appointment/No show/late cancellation fee: $250
We do have a strict No-Show policy and you will be charged the missed appointment fee if you are a No-Show. If you are more than 10 minutes late for any appointment, you will be considered a No-Show and charged accordingly.
Please note that fees and insurance acceptance are subject to change, and encourage patients to contact your office for the most up-to-date information.
A: We are accepting new patients on an ongoing basis. There are a few steps to becoming a new patient in our practice:
- Complete our new patient paperwork:(below)
If our private pay fees are agreeable to you and you do not need to check insurance benefits prior to scheduling, or if you already understand how your insurance benefits work, and you would like to proceed with becoming a new patient in the practice, please complete our new patient treatment consents, medical history form and other paperwork. (Please click here for the link to the forms)
Because we value providing coordinated care:
Please complete our release of information form so Dr. Batista can coordinate your treatment with any medical professionals you are working with including therapists, primary care doctors and/or specialists. Please also complete this form if you have previously seen any psychiatrists so that we can gather pertinent medical history in support of your treatment. You can click the link as many times as needed to fill out the form for each clinician or treatment center. **Please note: On line 8/section 8 of this form please include name of the person, their email (If they use one) and phone number if you can – feel free to squeeze that all on the same line of text.
- If you are ready to schedule a new patient consultation appointment please use this link to view our available times and request an appointment.
- Upon receiving your completed new patient paperwork, we will reconfirm your appointment and provide you with the Zoom link for your initial consultation.
Kara, our dedicated office manager, is available to assist you with scheduling appointments and is also available to address any general questions you may have about our practice, policies, insurance reimbursement process (if applicable), and fees. You can reach Kara at officemanager@balancedpsychiatry.com.
I believe that physical and mental wellness in mind is essential, which is why I specialize in treatment for eating disorders and body image concerns.