Practice Policies

Medication Refills

Medications will be refilled during your appointment to ensure you don’t run out before the next appointment. If you miss an appointment and run out of non-controlled medications, they will be refilled one time only until your next available appointment, provided it’s clinically appropriate. ” Controlled medications will be refilled only during your appointment.  An in-person appointment is required for both established patients and new patients to assess the need and appropriateness of a controlled medication. Medication refills are not available after office hours, over weekends, during holidays, for individuals who repeatedly miss appointments, or if there’s suspicion of medication abuse.

Appointments

You can request appointments through the phone, patient portal, or email. While we provide appointment confirmations through text or email, it’s your responsibility to remember them. If you are more than 15 minutes late, your appointment may be cancelled and you will be responsible for the full fee.

Cancellations/Missed Appointments

If you cancel an appointment less than 2 business days in advance or miss the appointment altogether, you will be charged a $25 no-show fee.

Charges & Payments

Payment for services is due at the time of the service, and we accept cash and credit cards only. For self-pay patients, the current rates are $380 for new patient visits and $180 for follow-up visits. Please note these rates can change, but you will be informed when scheduling an appointment. There may be additional charges for services rendered outside regular appointments, such as records requests, letters, and forms.

Payment Policy

We are committed to providing quality care, and while we file insurance claims as a courtesy, you are ultimately responsible for all charges. You should understand your insurance benefits and provide proof of valid insurance at the time of service. If you fail to provide insurance information, you will be considered a self-pay patient and required to pay the full charge upfront. While we participate in most insurance plans, please check if we are in-network with your specific plan. We file claims to health insurance companies, not to automobile, general liability, homeowner’s, or workman’s compensation insurance companies.

If you have HMO/POS insurance, you will need to secure a referral number from your primary care provider (PCP) before your appointment. If you don’t have the referral, you will be responsible for the bill and the full charge must be paid upfront.

Payment is due at the time of service. If you can’t pay your copayment, your appointment will be rescheduled, and you’ll be billed a rescheduling fee. You are also responsible for updating us on any changes in your billing information. We accept cash and major credit cards, but not CARE CREDIT. Past due accounts may be sent to collections and could result in dismissal as a patient. Charges may apply for the completion of forms, letters, and disability or FMLA paperwork, which our office staff will inform you about.

Prior Authorizations

We will assist with Prior Authorizations as needed. It can take up to a week after provider approval to receive a response (approval or denial) from the insurance company.

Forensic Policy

We are not forensic psychiatrists and do not consider ourselves experts in a court setting. If legal consultation is necessary, our services will be billed at $900 per hour, in half-hour increments, with a minimum of 1 hour. This fee must be paid to Empower Psychiatry & Sleep LLC prior to the services being rendered.

Using Email

Using email carries risks, so we encourage you to use our secure patient portal for communication. However, if necessary, you can also email us at [email protected]. Avoid sending emails to any other email address you may find. Here are some risks associated with sending patient information through unsecured email:

• Emails can be forwarded, stored, and accessed by multiple people in various forms.
• Emails can quickly reach unintended recipients worldwide.
• Email addresses can be easily mistyped.
• Emails are more susceptible to forgery compared to handwritten or signed documents.
• Even after deletion, backup copies of emails may still exist.
• Emails can be intercepted, altered, forwarded, or used without permission.
• Emails can introduce computer viruses.
• Emails can be used as evidence in court.

We cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of email communication. We are not responsible for any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information unless it is due to our unintentional misconduct. We may forward emails within our organization for necessary treatment and patient-related purposes, but we will not forward them to third parties. Please note that all emails related to diagnosis or treatment will become part of your medical record and accessible to authorized staff and counselors.

By Telephone

For urgent clinical questions, please call us directly. We aim to return calls within 48 hours. In the event of an emergency, do not leave a voice message. Instead, refer to our emergency procedures.

Emergency Treatment

In an emergency, if you can’t reach us directly, call 988 or 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for immediate assistance. You can also call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 or the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-SUICIDE).

Confidentiality

Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. We follow strict confidentiality guidelines and will not disclose your information without your written permission, except in specific circumstances.

Conduct and Dress Code

Patients are required to follow clinic policies and dress appropriately. Disruptive or aggressive behavior may lead to dismissal from the clinic.

Items Not Allowed

Tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, are not permitted on clinic grounds. Weapons and firearms are also strictly prohibited.

Consent to Provide Treatment

Empower Psychiatry & Sleep LLC may provide a variety of treatments, such as medication therapy, psychotherapy, laboratory testing, diagnostic procedures, and alternative treatments. You have the right to be informed about these treatment methods and to participate in selecting them.