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Precious Stone

POLICIES

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Practice Policies

 

 

Welcome to Strive Psychiatry MD the office of Dr. Javen Valerie Cavazos MD. Please take the time to read the following information carefully about the practice policies. Your understanding of these policies will help you work most effectively with Dr. Cavazos.  

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Professional Services:

 

An initial appointment at strive psychiatry is a consultation to determine whether your needs as a patient fit with the services that Strive Psychiatry offers.    It is important that you provide accurate information during your consultation to ensure that the treatment being offered by Strive Psychiatry is the most important.

Services provided by Strive psychiatry is geared toward lower acuity cases of adult patients 18 and up. 

 

If a higher level of care is needed, inpatient psychiatric, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs are available in the surrounding area here in San Antonio will provide the most appropriate recommendations.

 

This practice focuses on the psychiatric treatment of Adults. Services include assessment, diagnosis, on-going medication management if indicated, and brief supportive and behavioral therapy.   The success, length, and course of treatment are affected by many things, including the severity of the problem and the motivation of the patient. The best outcome is achieved through collaboration between the patient and Dr. Cavazos. 

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Dr. Cavazos does not provide forensic services such as assessments recommended by probation, ability to stand trial, etc.

Dr. Cavazos does not perform disability determinations.

Dr. Cavazos does not give letters for an emotional support animal.

As your psychiatrist, it is important that Dr. Cavazos has a professional and therapeutic relationship with you and, therefore, not any other type of social or personal relationship.

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Treatment Participation: 

Treatment with Dr. Cavazos may involve taking medications and engaging in supportive psychotherapy. It is important that you take an active role in your treatment including the following:

  • Ensuring that medication(s) are taken as prescribed

  • Discussing any issues related to the medication with Dr. Cavazos

  • Being open and honest with Dr. Cavazos

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If after an initial psychiatric assessment, it is determined that your treatment involves medications, Dr. Cavazos will explain the important risks, benefits, and side effects and alternatives with you.  If the patient experiences any unexpected or concerning side effects, please contact me immediately.  You will also receive a medication consent form that will be sent via the patient portal asking for consent prior to medications have been sent to your pharmacy.

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Patient also have a secure hipaa compliant patient portal with luminello to communicate with Dr. Cavazos between appointments.

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Unused appointments: 

Dr. Cavazos does not overbook appointments. Your appointment time is a reservation just for you. Therefore, if an appointment is not cancelled or rescheduled more than 24 business hours ahead, the standard appointment fee will be applied to your account. Please note that these charges are not reimbursable by insurance companies.

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Please also be aware there may be circumstances where Dr. Cavazos may need to reschedule your appointment.  Dr. Cavazos will get you in as soon as possible in the event the appointment was canceled.

 

 

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Telemedicine:

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Dr. Cavazos sees patients exclusively via a telemedicine platform.   Consents and further information will be sent after scheduling.  If Dr. Cavazos sees a need for patient to be seen in person.   Dr. Cavazos will make arrangements and discuss it with you.  

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Scheduling

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Scheduling is done with the patient portal.  You may also ask Dr. Cavazos to schedule an appointment after your appointment. 

 

Insurance Policy: 

Dr. Cavazos does not accept insurance payment assignment. This means that your treatment with her is not part of your permanent medical record with your insurance company, unless you choose to notify them. In addition, Dr. Cavazos can spend more time with you as she is not restricted to a set allowable length of session or a set allowable number of visits that may be indicated by your insurance provider. Payment is made directly to Javen Valerie Cavazos MD, PLLC at the time of service. If you would like to submit your charges to your insurance provider for reimbursement, a detailed billing statement can be generated at your request. Reimbursement of the session fees is dependent on individual insurance agreements.  Insurance may still reimburse you through your out network benefits and Dr. Javen Valerie Cavazos will provide you with a superbill to provide to your individual plan.   Many patients have been receiving reimbursement from their insurance companies.  Also patients with a high deductible plan, the appointment fee goes toward the deductible.    

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FEES:  

 

  • The initial examination is a 60 minute assessment. Typically, medication management follow up visits will be 30 minute visits.

  • Psychiatric diagnostic initial interview examination, 60 min $350.00

  • Medication re-evaluation with supportive therapy, 25 min $175.00

Other services and fee schedule by Dr. Cavazos can be discussed on an individual basis.

Payment is due at the time of service. Dr. Cavazos accepts cash, credit cards, debit cards.  Overdue accounts may be referred to collection agencies as a last resort

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Confidentiality: 

Communication between a patient and his/her mental health provider is held in confidence and will not be revealed to an outside agency without written consent unless specifically required by law (for example: imminent threat of danger to oneself or others, court order, etc). Information released to insurance companies for reimbursement for services will be released only at your request.  For more information about your privacy please see the privacy portion of the website.

Please be aware that the audio or video recording of any session is not permitted secondary to therapeutic and privacy issues. If an unauthorized recording is made, it is grounds for termination of the therapeutic relationship.  

 

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Medication Refills: 

Dr. Cavazos ensures that you will have adequate medication until your next follow-up visit. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment, it is your responsibility to contact Dr. Cavazos if you need additional medication until your next visit. Dr. Cavazos will only refill medication for patients active in treatment. Dr. Cavazos may refuse to give a refill if she has not seen you recently and feels that an office appointment is clinically indicated. Please allow 48-72 business hours to process refill requests. Refills are not processed over weekends or holidays.

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Labs: 

At times Dr. Cavazos will need to order laboratory studies. Please be aware that the cost of labs is not included in your visit charge and is your responsibility.


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Medical Record Requests, Letter, and Forms: 

Session fees cover the cost of the visit and paperwork associated with completing the visit. This includes letters or records sent to your other doctors/therapists in regard to your direct treatment. Routine, brief forms are completed at no charge. Extended or complex forms, summaries, letters, or similar documents that are not related to your direct treatment will be billed at a rate of $300/hour in 5-minute increments. Medical record requests require a signed Release of Information Form. Records are sent directly from Dr. Cavazos office to the requesting physician’s office. Medical records requested for the patient’s own use carry a charge (35 cents per page, $300/hour in 5-minute increments) and may be provided in the form of a treatment summary at the discretion of the physician. Insurance does not cover these fees.

Court appearances /legal letters of medical opinions:

If a subpoena were to occur and the doctor needs to appear in court, the patient will be responsible for payment of applicable fees, which may include: $400 physician hourly fee, applicable charges for medical records copies/clerical work hour, and all legal fees incurred by the physician, staff or practice for the purpose of complying with the court subpoena or record request.

 

 

Discontinuation of Treatment: 

Dr. Cavazos may discontinue treatment with a patient only after a reasonable amount of discussion and usually for one of the following reasons:
1.  non-payment of your account

2.  canceling/missing appointments too often,

3.non-compliance with treatment recommendations.’

4. You engage in unprofessional, threatening, or intimidating behavior.

5. You see another psychiatrist or Physician/provider for management of the same (or related) conditions we are treating and do not notify us

6. Treatment is unproductive

7. You require a higher level of care of different treatment that we are not able to provide.

8. If you are  suspected of trading, selling, or giving away your medications

9. You make a request for me to misrepresent your diagnosis or level of functioning in order to obtain benefits you are not entitled to.

If you foresee problems in any of these areas, please let Dr. Cavazos know your concerns.

If you decide to discontinue treatment, you can do so at any time in person, by phone, or in writing.

As your treating psychiatrist, Dr. Cavazos would like the opportunity to confer with you about your decision and/or assist you in transferring your care to another provider. In the event that you discontinue treatment without notifying Dr. Cavazos, she will assume that your therapeutic relationship with her terminated 90 days after your last visit, unless you have an appointment scheduled for a future date, beyond which Dr. Cavazos carries no further responsibility for your care. You may re-enter treatment with Dr. Cavazos as long as your treatment ended in good standing.

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Thank you for reading through this important information. Dr. Cavazos looks forward to working with you.

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