Introducing... Courtesy Billing!

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.

What is Courtesy Billing?

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.

How is courtesy billing different from a superbill?

​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.​

​Will I always get reimbursed for services?

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.

​I’m a client at PST and I want to give courtesy billing a try!

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.

     - Alana