Alana and Sarah at PST are excited to announce that beginning January 1st, 2022 all clients will be able to opt in to courtesy billing. Some savvy people out there already know what courtesy billing is, but for those of us who can’t be bothered with the ins-and-outs of our healthcare system (because it’s crazy and no one person can handle all that information) here is a handy guide to what it is and how it could help you get more benefit out of your time with Alana and from your insurance company.

Courtesy billing is when an out-of-network provider (like Alana) charges you for services rendered up front and then submits a claim form to your insurance company on your behalf. Any eligible reimbursement then gets sent directly to you.

​With a superbill, clients are provided with a receipt for services that they are then required to submit to their insurance company with the appropriate claim form. With courtesy billing, all of that is done for you! The courtesy we do you is taking the submission of all that paperwork off of your plate.​

Sadly, no. Reimbursement from your insurance provider depends on a few factors:

• Do you have out-of-network benefits for mental health treatment? Alana is considered an out-of-network provider so only folks with this benefit are eligible for possible reimbursement. HMO plans do not usually provide out-of-network coverage.
• Do you need to meet your deductible first? A lot of plans have what is called a deductible which is the amount for medical or mental health services you need to pay for before your insurance will kick in and reimburse you for most of the costs incurred.
• Is couple’s therapy covered under your plan? If you are seeing Alana as a couple and your insurance provider allows you to bill for CPT code 90847 (the 45-50 minute family/couples therapy code) then you are more likely to be reimbursed for sessions.

It is also worth mentioning that even if you do meet all of the criteria for reimbursement, insurance companies may only cover a portion of the fee for service. This is because insurance companies calculate what they call “usual, customary and reasonable” (UCR) rates and your reimbursement will be based on these rates, not on the amount paid. Each insurance company has their own way of calculating what is “reasonable,” but it is often based on geographic location, the amount they typically pay their in-network providers and what other clinicians are charging in the area for the same services.

Great! In order to get you set up you will need to provide us with your insurance information and a copy of your insurance card. That information is located in the Demographics form so Alana or Sarah will need to send you the form again in order to get this information. Once we have your information on file we will be able to enroll you in courtesy billing and we’ll go from there.

If you’re not sure you want to try it out or don’t feel comfortable making the switch just yet, no worries! You are under no obligation to engage in courtesy billing with PST. But again, if you are, get in touch with Sarah or Alana about getting started.

We look forward to helping you achieve your sexual potential in the new year.

It is with a deep sense of grief that I write this update for all of you. At the time of this post, California, Oregon and Washington are experiencing devastating wildfires that have been minimally contained and are contributing to terrible air quality across the West Coast.

People are losing their homes, their livelihoods, many are experiencing acute symptoms of smoke inhalation and are unable to evacuate.

Despite these circumstances, Portland Sex Therapy will be operating normally to the greatest extent possible (as all clients are being seen online). However, I understand that online accessibility is only one component to being able to engage with me.

If you are a current client being impacted by the fires, or you fear you will soon be impacted by the fires, please let me know. I am waiving all cancellation fees for clients at this time and would be happy to work out a reduced rate for clients who want to continue to see me but no longer have financial stability.

Above all, your safety and security is my number one concern. 

Wishing everyone safety in these trying and scary times.

Telehealth Appointments:

• I am happy to switch your in-person appointment with me to a telehealth appointment for any reason. If you would like to do telehealth with me, the client portal will send you a link to the platform for your telehealth appointment where we will be able to connect securely. You will need a strong internet connection and a private space free from distractions for our appointment. For my couples and relationship groups know that you can connect from multiple locations using the same link should you need to. You are also able to request telehealth appointments through the client portal. It will be listed as "Video Office" under your location options.

Changes to My Cancellation Policy:

• If you are ill or believe it would be best to cancel your appointment because you have been exposed, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can cancel your appointment. 
• During this time I will be waiving the late cancellation fee in the event of illness, regardless of when you cancel. If you believe you have been exposed but are not ill, our first option would be to switch to telehealth over cancelling. If you have been exposed, are not ill, and would still like to cancel please know that my late cancellation policy will remain in effect - please cancel your appointment through the client portal or provide me with 24 hours notice. Any cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment that are not due to illness will be charged the full amount, per my policy.

As always, you will not be charged for any sick days taken or cancellations made by me.

​Some Further Precautions:

• Both of my in-person offices have soap for handwashing in the restroom and I have hand sanitizer upon request.
• I will be sitting further away from you while we are in the office to practice social distancing
• I will also be wiping down frequently touched surfaces in my office between clients and all surfaces at the end of the day.
• Remember to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze to avoid transmission of germs! A tissue that you then throw away is preferred, the inside of your elbow is your next best option.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about our sessions or the above changes.

Yes, I am still open at this time and I am both adding new folks to my wait list and letting people know when I have a spot open in my practice.

Due to the CDC's recommendation that we practice social distancing, I would prefer to see potential new clients via video. When a spot opens up in my practice I will provide you with instructions on how we can access the video platform that we will use to connect. I understand that for some this is not the ideal situation and meeting a therapist over video may feel strange, but these are strange times.

​I would much prefer to see if I can be the right therapist for you, while protecting our community from the exponential spread of the coronavirus, than to contribute to the pandemic or to not see you at all!