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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. Abound Psychological Services, PLLC is in-network with Aetna and Blue Cross & Blue Shield (and all of its affiliates). Insurance can be used for therapy sessions and for certain types of psychological evaluations when medical necessity is clearly established.

However, it is very important to know that insurance does not cover:

court-ordered psychological evaluations
forensic or legal evaluations
evaluations requested by attorney or the court
any evaluation that is not strictly for medical/clinical diagnostic purposes

Court-ordered and legal evaluations fall outside the scope of health insurance because they are requested for legal reasons - not for diagnosis or treatment - so they must be billed directly to the client or referring party.

For clinical psychological evaluations (non-legal), insurance may cover part of the service, but coverage is not guaranteed. Insurance companies typically require:

A clear mental-health related reason for testing
Documentation showing why testing is medically necessary
A diagnosis that justifies the testing
Prior authorization for some plans

Please remember your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. We are not party to that contract. As a courtesy to you, our office provides certain services including verification of your in-network benefits and a pre-treatment estimate. You will be expected to pay the full allowable amount your insurance lists for us at the time of service. This varies per insurance and policy. It is impossible for us to have the knowledge and keep track of every aspect of your insurance. It is up to you to contact your insurance provider to verify potential benefits, deductibles, and out-of-network responsibilities. If you have any questions regarding the pre-treatment estimate and/or fees for service, it is your responsibility to have these answered prior to treatment to minimize any confusion on your behalf.

For all other insurances that we are out of network, you will be required to pay the private pay rate in full. We will provide a receipt of services, upon request, that you may submit to your insurance company. You may need prior approval for mental health services, or you may not. It is advised that you call your insurance company to verify your out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health services.

Regardless of any insurance status, ANY BALANCE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. You are responsible for any and all professional services rendered.

What are your fees?

At Abound Psychological Services, PLLC, fees vary based on the type of service provided (therapy, clinical evaluations, and court-involved evaluations).

PRIVATE PAY/CASH RATES

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

Therapy packages are now available for individual client sessions only. Due to the nature of reserved time and professional services, packages are non-refundable once purchased. Packages are intended to be used within a reasonable time frame. Unused sessions expire after the designated time period and are not transferable. See Therapy Plans & Pricing for more information.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS

Psychological evaluations are used to clarify diagnoses, identify strengths and needs, and guide treatment, accommodations, or legal decisions. Evaluation length varies depending on your concerns, but most testing sessions last 3-4 hours, with additional time spent on scoring, records review, and report writing outside of your visit.

COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION (CLINICAL)

Used to clarify concerns such as mood, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, autism spectrum, or overlapping symptoms.

$2,500 FLAT FIXED FEE
Includes: diagnostic interview, test selection and administration, scoring and interpretation, review of relevant records, input from third-parties (when indicated), a detailed written report with diagnostic impressions and recommendations, and a feedback session to review results.

ADHD EVALUATION

Focused assessment of attention, executive functioning, and related symptoms to support accommodations and/or medication management.

$1,200 FLAT FIXED FEE
Includes: diagnostic interview, ADHD rating scales and other standardized measures, third-party input as needed, interpretation of results, and a written report with recommendations.

DISABILITY EVALUATION

Used to determine intellectual and adaptive functioning to support disability services or needed accommodations (e.g., Social Security, Medicaid waiver, academic or workplace supports).

$600 FLAT FIXED FEE
Includes: administration and scoring of an IQ test and an adaptive behavior measure, interpretation of results, and a written summary.

COURT-ORDERED PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

Court-related evaluations require additional time, extensive records review, and a report suitable for legal settings. Because of the added complexity and liability, these are billed differently from standard clinical evaluations.

$3,500 BASE FEE (covers up to 6 hours)
Includes: intake interview, test administration, initial records review, scoring and early interpretation, and limited collateral contact

Additional time: $250 per hour
For extended records review, collateral interviews, integrated report writing, attorney consultation, and other case-related services

Complex case surcharge: $500
For cases with extensive documentation, CPS involvement, or multi-system complexity

Court testimony and depositions are billed separately

See Evaluations Plans & Pricing to purchase.

Why did evaluation fees change?

Evaluation fees had not been increased in over 13 years. During this time, the amount of records review, test interpretation, reporting, and professional responsibility involved in psychological evaluations - especially court-involved evaluations - has grown significantly. The updated fees ensure evaluations remain thorough, accurate, sustainable, and aligned with current professional and market standards.

Can I make payments?

PAYMENT POLICIES

Abound Psychological Services PLLC requires certain payment arrangements to be completed prior to scheduling or providing services. ALL clients are required to provide and keep a valid payment method on file. Both the Financial Policy & Agreement and Payment Authorization forms are required and must be signed prior to your first appointment. Failure to do so will result in cancellation or rescheduling of appointment and a cancellation fee.

PRIVATE PAY CLIENTS:

All private pay services must be purchased in advance through this website prior to scheduling.

INSURANCE CLIENTS:

Insurance clients may schedule directly but are required to pay a deposit at the time of scheduling an appointment:

$50 deposit for therapy sessions
$250 deposit for psychological testing or evaluations

Deposits are applied toward copays, deductibles, coinsurance, or any non-covered services. Deposits may also be applied to late cancellation or no-show fees, in accordance with practice policy. If insurance ultimately covers the full cost of the service and no balance is due, the deposit will be credited or refunded as appropriate.

In the event of an overpayment, the new credit on account will be automatically applied to future sessions. Clients, however, may request a refund in writing. Please note that if you request a refund, a 3.5% reprocessing fee will be deducted from the total refund amount.

Clients are responsible for any balance not covered by insurance, including denied claims.

We reserve the right to assess a monthly finance charge, in accordance with Arkansas Law, for any balance not paid in full after 30 days. An unpaid balance over 90 days old is considered delinquent. The client is responsible for payment of collection, attorney's fees, court costs, and administrative fees associated with the recovery of the debt on the account.

*If you are unable to pay your balance in full, please call the office at 501-868-4900 to discuss your options.

PAYMENT METHODS:

Cash, debit or credit card
Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App (for deposits and client responsibility only)
A small processing fee of 3.5% is applied to card payments.
A $35.00 fee will be charged for each returned check or debit card overdraft in addition to the owed amount.

When paying electronically, please include your name and appointment date in the payment notes. Do not include clinical or personal health information.

Why is a deposit required if I'm using insurance?

Insurance coverage varies by plan and does not guarantee full payment. Requiring a deposit helps ensure that client responsibility is addressed, allows appointment times to be reserved fairly for all clients, and reduces missed appointments.

Deposits do not replace insurance billing and are not prepayment for covered services. They are applied only to the portion of the visit that insurance does not cover.

What if my insurance denies the claim?

If a claim is denied or partially paid, YOU are responsible for the remaining balance. Any deposit collected will be applied toward that balance.

Does insurance cover court-ordered psychological evaluations?

No. Insurance does not cover court-ordered or forensic psychological evaluations.

This includes evaluations requested by:

The court
Attorneys
CPS/child welfare
Probation or parole
Immigration or legal cases

Health insurance only pays for services that are considered medically necessary and directly related to diagnosis or treatment. Court-ordered evaluations are requested for legal purposes, not for medical treatment, and therefore fall outside of insurance coverage - even if you are insured and the provider is in-network.

All court-ordered and forensic evaluations must be paid directly by the client or referring party and in full prior to scheduling.

You are welcome to use a flexible spending (FSA/HSA) account if your plan allows it, but insurance companies will not reimburse or pay for these evaluations.

What if I miss my appointment or need to cancel?

There is a fee of $100 per scheduled hour for any appointment cancelled with less than 24 business hours notice as well as any appointment missed. This fee will be automatically charged to the valid payment method on file without further notice.

If you must cancel or reschedule your appointment, for any reason, please 1) call our office at 501-868-4900 with at least 24 business hours (1 business day) advance notice and leave a message or 2) email angela@aboundpsych.com and write "Cancel Appointment" in the email subject line.

Clients who have paid a deposit will receive NO REFUND OR CREDIT ON ACCOUNT with less than 24 business hours notice provided. Exceptions may be made for serious illness or medical emergencies.

Clients arriving 15 minutes late or later will be regarded as a no-show and will be charged the cancellation fee.

Clients with history of 3 "No-Shows" or repeated cancellations will be discharged. He or she will be required to pay a $150 deposit to schedule again.

While we do not like implementing such a policy, it is necessary to ensure that Ms. Etchison's limited availability is not wasted.

NOTE: Insurance will NOT pay for missed appointments.

Is my information kept confidential?

The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be shared or disclosed without your written permission. Exceptions to this, however, include:

Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse.
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself.

How long do I need therapy?

It depends. The length of time a client participates in therapy depends on their unique challenges, goals, and personal progress. Everyone is different.