Patient Resources //
Frequently Asked Questions //
How many offices do you have?
We currently have two office locations: Encino and Agoura Hills.
What insurances do you accept?
Our practice is contracted with Aetna, GEHA (Government Employee Health Association), Meritain, Blue Shield of California/Magellan, and ComPsych. A few of our providers are also contracted with Medicare.
How do I know if my insurance is in-network with you?
If you work for certain large employers in the area that provide Aetna (such as City of Santa Monica, Fox, Amgen, Costco, Bank of America, Quest Diagnostics, Six Flags, etc.), GEHA (federal agents, Veterans Affairs employees, etc.) or Meritain (Kaiser Permanente physicians and their family members) to their employees, then we are most likely in-network. Generally, if your primary insurance is Blue Shield of California, their behavioral health coverage is typically carved out to Magellan. However, for certain plans where Blue Shield of California administers their own behavioral health benefits, we are unfortunately out-of-network (we are technically Magellan providers, not Blue Shield of California providers). Please verify with your insurance companies ahead of time. We will also do a courtesy inquiry from our end before your first appointment.
What other insurance plans do you work with?
Due to the complexity of the healthcare insurance system, we do submit claims to all major PPO insurance plans including Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, United HealthCare/Optum, HealthNet, etc. Depending on the exact out-of-network benefits, many patients are able to afford to see one of our physicians. Due to our well trained staff, there is no need for our patients to submit super-bills, which is an outdated practice in this era of electronic claim submission. The lack of need for our patients to submit super-bills saves our patients from the anxiety of having to deal with their insurance companies directly.
Do the doctors prescribe medication on the first visit?
Ordinarily, the doctors do not prescribe controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or stimulant medications, within the first two visits.
How long is the initial appointment?
The initial appointment is between 45 minutes and 90 minutes, depending on urgency of the request and the available time slots on that day.
How long are follow-up appointments?
Follow-up appointments are generally between 30 minutes and 45 minutes.
What should I do if my insurance or credit card number changes?
Please let us know as soon as possible in order to avoid any future payment complications.
What psychiatric services are offered?
- Complete Psychiatric Assessment
- Individual Psychotherapy
- Medication Management
- Couples Psychotherapy
- Supportive Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Reproductive Psychiatry Consultation