Insurance | Kranz Psychological Services

Evaluation/Counseling FAQ

Q: What insurances can you take?

A: We takes several private, medicaid, and medicare policies. If you do not see your policy listed, please contact the office.

Private Policies

90 Degree Benefits

Aetna/Boon-Chapman

All Savers (UHC subsidiary)

Allegiance Benefits (Cigna)

Anthem (BCBS)

BCBS PPO

BCBS TN

Beacon Health Options

Bind Benefits

ChampVA

Christus Health Plan

Christus Medicare

Cigna

EMI Health

Humana

Magellan (BCBS HMO)

Medicare

MultiPlan/PHCS

Tricare East

TriWest (with VA referral)

United HealthCare

UMR Wasau

Web TPA

Medicaid Policies

Amerigroup

Molina

Superior

Texas Children's Health Plan

TX Medicaid

UHC Community Plan

Not Accepted

Regional Medicaid

Texas Healthy Women

Q: What if I don't have insurance?

A: We offer the following cash pay rates:

Counseling

$90 LPC/LCSW/LPA/LMFT (individual therapy)
$100 LPC/LCSW/LPA/LMFT (marriage/couples therapy)
$120 LPC/LCSW/LPA/LMFT (family therapy with 3 or more family members)

$65 LPC-A/LMSW
$20 Graduate Student Intern

Evaluations

$500 - $980 LPA
$750 - $1400 Ph.D.

Medication Management

$225 First Visit
$120 Follow Up Visits

Q: Why is mental health so expensive?

A: For a standard psychological evaluation, it takes at least 8 hours of time to conduct the interview, complete testing instruments, and analyze all of the information. Some types of evaluations are even longer. The testing and assessments generate anywhere between 85 and 160 pages of data - it takes time, training, and skill to understand how to interpret the information. It also takes time to type up a 15 to 25 page report! When broken down by cost per hour, a psychologist often charges less than your auto mechanic or painter.

Q: What is the process of an evaluation?

A: There are several steps:

You will provide your name, DOB, your child's name and DOB (if needed), and a copy of the front and back of your insurance card. Our scheduling department will reach out to schedule, and our insurance department will check benefits and provide a good faith estimate of your costs. We require a $200 deposit at the time of scheduling. This deposit is non-refundable if you miss your first appointment, although the appointment can be rescheduled.
On the first visit, which takes approximately one hour, you will discuss your concerns, and the practitioner will decide what tests need to be completed to answer the referral questions.
On your second visit (sometimes this step takes more than one visit), you will complete testing with a practitioner and fill out several assessments on a computer or paper.
After all of the testing is complete, we put the information in a report for you. It will take about two weeks from the final testing appointment to the final visit.
On the final visit, you will get the results. You will be given a copy of the report. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want!

Q: What instruments do you use?

A: Take a look HERE

Q: What is the purpose of a psychological evaluation?

A: A psychological evaluation can help identify the underlying causes of symptoms in order to determine appropriate treatment. Psychological evaluations are used to diagnose a wide variety of things. At KPS, we don't want know what is occurring, we also want to know why, so that treatment can be tailored specifically to a client's needs.

Q: What do all those initials after the providers' names mean?

A: Take a look at this VIDEO created by our clinical director. You can also read the information in this BLOG POST.

Q: What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychological associate?

A: Please see the information from the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council HERE.

Q: What is the difference between a psychologist and a counselor?

A: A counselor is trained to provide counseling services. A psychologist is trained to provide counseling services and psychological evaluations.

Q: What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication. A psychologist cannot write a prescription for you.

Q: What types of counseling are available?

A: We have several counselors available, each with different strengths, expertise, and training. We accept clients between the ages of 2.5 and 90 for a wide variety of issues. We have practitioners trained in play therapy, TBRI, EMDR, solution focused brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy, and more. We offer individual counseling, group counseling, child counseling, adult counseling, marriage counseling, family counseling, and much more.

Q: How does counseling work?

A: Counseling involves more than just "talking." It works because the counselor is able to stay present with the client (emotionally and physically) regardless of how "shocking" the subject matter is. A counselor does not judge. The goal is to help the client figure out how and why he or she came to the place of needing help, not to shame the client for it. Counselors know how to listen with understanding, experience emotion with you without being overwhelmed by it, and have the education to help the client develop tools for whatever their current circumstance is.

Q: Will the counselor tell anyone what we talked about?

A: No. The client can speak freely in the session and expect that the information will remain confidential. There are a few exceptions:

If you are a danger to yourself
f you are danger to others
If you are involved in the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child
Court order

Q: Will the counselor tell me what to do?

A: A counselor’s role is not to give advice. A counselor's role is to assist the client in finding solutions that fit their circumstances based on available resources.

Q: How is counseling better than talking to friends or family?

A: The counseling relationship is different from relationships with friends. Many times, with good intentions, friends and family give advice geared toward stopping pain or "fixing" you. Friends and family aren’t always able to offer objective perspectives. Counseling offers a judgement-free setting with an objective person who is well-trained to help you develop appropriate solutions and identify barriers preventing you from moving forward when you get stuck.

Q: Can I text my provider between sessions?

A: Technology provides a convenient and easy means for connecting. However, due to the nature of counseling and HIPPA requirements the practice of using text messaging can put the client and counselor at risk. Professional boundaries should be expected and practiced when managing communication using technology to protect the client’s privacy and the maintain ethical professional boundaries. At KPS, counselors are prohibited from using their personal devices to communicate with clients, and all communication occurs via email, our portal messaging system, or the main office number. If you have an emergency, please call 911 or go to the local emergency room.

Q: Can I bring my service animal?

A: Service animals are welcome at any time. They must be under your control and up to date on vaccinations and flea/pest treatments.

Q: Can I bring my emotional support animal?

A: Emotional support animals (ESA) do not have the same protections as a service animal. Your ESA is welcome with letter from a licensed medical or mental health professional showing that the animal is necessary. As with a service animal, they must be under your control and up to date on vaccinations and flea/pest treatments.

Q: Will you write a letter for my emotional support animal?

A: We do not write emotional support animal letters. Please check with your primary care physician.

Q: Will you testify in court?

A: We do not accept clients when services are court-ordered or when the purpose of services is for your clinician to appear in court. Our counselors do not, under any circumstances, make custody recommendations.

Q: What if my clinician is is asked to appear in court, even if that is not why I came?

A: Your clinician’s involvement in legal proceedings (e.g., court appearances, custody hearings, etc.) related to patient care is often harmful to the therapeutic relationship. As a result, we respectfully request that you do not involve your clinician in any type of legal proceedings if such proceedings become relevant during your treatment at KPS. If we are required to be involved in legal affairs (e.g., via subpoena), please be aware that you will be held responsible for all fees issues by KPS for such services. Payment of all relevant fees is due prior to services being rendered. Current fees for KPS involvement in legal affairs are as follows:

For any deposition or court appearance, whether commanded by you and your lawyer, or by an adversarial lawyer or party, you agree to pay $250 per hour (LPC/LPC-A/LCSW/LPA) / $500 per hour (Licensed Psychologist). This includes time spent travelling to and from the office.
You agree to pay the following retainer at least 10 days prior to any appearance. This retainer covers six hours’ appearance and two hours’ preparation. The retainer is fully refundable until five days before the scheduled appearance. Half of the retainer will be refunded if the appearance is cancelled fewer than five days but more than forty-eight hours in advance of the scheduled appearance. With less than forty-eight hours’ notice, any retainer balance is non-refundable.
- $2500 per day of required court appearance/testimony for a LPC/LPC-A/LCSW/LPA
- $5000 per day of required court appearance/testimony for a Licensed Psychologist
Additional hours are billed at the hourly rate noted above.
For written or verbal consultation/communication with your attorney or other legal representative, you agree to pay the following fees:
- $22.50 per 15 minutes of time spent communicating with your attorney or other legal representative, whether in verbal or written format for a LPC/LPC-A/LCSW/LPA
- $35 per 15 minutes of time spent communicating with your attorney or other legal representative, whether in verbal or written format for a Licensed Psychologist

In addition to the contracted fees for your provider’s time and appearance, if your provider believes it is necessary to retain an attorney to represent his/her interests, you agree, by your signature, below, to reimburse our office for your provider’s attorney fees, up to a maximum of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).

Q: What if someone requests a copy of my records?

A: Clients are provided a copy of their results at the follow up appointment, and results are sent to any requested party free of charge at that time. For any additional records requests, KPS requires a written release and charges $25.00 for the first 30 pages of records and $0.50 per page thereafter, plus the actual cost of shipping if the client requests that the records be mailed. If an affidavit is requested to certify that the information is a true and correct copy of the requested records, a fee of up to $15.00 may be charged for executing the affidavit.

Q: Who can get a copy of my records?

A: Per our office policy related to client confidentiality, we do not communicate with ANY individual for whom we do not have a release to do so. This includes step-parents, extended family, and lawyers. We do not confirm or deny to ANY individual without a release that a client has or has not been seen/scheduled with our office. Any adult client or biological/adoptive parent is able to request a copy of records. Should a biological parent prefer to communicate with our office via their attorney, KPS must have an authorization on file.

Q: What if my child's other parent and I are no longer together?

A: With regard to evaluations, we strive to obtain the exact same information from each parent in order to create the most comprehensive evaluation report possible. When the child is the client, we assume a neutral position where parents are concerned. We do not choose sides. Each parent is responsible for communicating to the other parent the information related to the child's medical appointments in a way that conforms to whatever legal orders are in place, and KPS will not referee between parents. Interpretations and initial visits are generally conducted with both parents and the child together. Parents are able to schedule separate interpretation visits but will be responsible for the full cost of those visits in the case that they are not covered by insurance. If a disruption arises in the office or during any appointment due to conflict between parents, the visit will be immediately terminated, and both parents rescheduled separately.

ABA FAQ

Q: What ages can you serve?

A: Ages 18 months to 75 years.

Q: What can you use ABA to treat?

A: Anyone with behavioral, functional, social or cognitive differences.

Q: Do I have to have a specific diagnosis?

A: Specific diagnoses are not required to be eligible for the outlined services, unless funded by major health insurance providers. An Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis (F84.0) is required to receive insurance funding for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy.

Q: Do I have to bring my child to your office?

A: Services may take place in a variety of settings based on the client’s behavioral need, though sessions typically occur within the treatment facility. The nature of the following services is completely individualized, providing clients with unique and empirically researched interventions to their specific needs.

Q: What is the ABA enrollment process?

A: There are several steps:

Step 1. Initial Consultation: We spend an hour with potential families going over parents' concerns & goals, how ABA works, what the next few steps in the process will look like, insurance details, etc. Then we plan for the assessment!

Step 2. Behavioral Assessment: This is 1:1 time spent with your child, assessing their strengths, deficits & the function of their behaviors! We are able to look at where each child falls in comparison with their same-aged peers & what treatment intensity would make them most successful! From this appointment, we formulate a treatment plan. This part can take about 10-12 days to perfect, but it's worth the wait! ️

Step 3. Interpretation Meeting: After the assessments are scored and the treatment plans are written, we sit back down with the families and discuss our findings! Our treatment team and the families solidify the plan & ship it off to the child's insurance company & wait for approval.

Step 4. APPROVAL & Treatment! 🥳 Insurance companies take anywhere from 2-14 business days to get back with an approval, depending on the time of year. When we finally get the okay to move forward, we work with the families to build a schedule based on the number of hours recommended from the assessment & then the fun really starts! 🧩

YOU CAN REACH THE ABA TEAM DIRECTLY BY EMAIL (paige.vanmeter@kranzpsychservices.com) OR PHONE (903-258-9279). We would love to hear from you!