~ Scheduling and Insurance at Positive Outcomes ~

• Flexible Scheduling
• New Clients Welcomed
• Payment Plans Devised
• Accept Most insurance and Private Pay

• Medicaid
• BCBS/PPO
• Tricare
• Athens Area Health Plan Select

Office Hours and Phone Consultations

Appointments are scheduled from 9:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday and from 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Friday. Individual, couple or family sessions are typically 50 minutes long, while group therapy sessions are 90 minutes long.

The best time to contact the office is during office hours. If Dr. Gayer is not available, he will call you back as soon as he can. If your consultation is extensive, there may be a charge for it. If your problem is complex, he may suggest that you discuss it at your next appointment.

If you call after office hours, leave a message and your call will be returned on the next regular business day. If, after office hours, you have an emergency (i.e., severe distress, child abuse, or family violence), call the community 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-357-9774.

Payment and Insurance

You're expected to pay at the time of each visit. We will provide a receipt that, if you choose, can be used to file for reimbursement with your insurance company.

Most insurance policies have mental health benefits. Some insurance companies do not cover marriage counseling; some companies require that you be pre-certified for mental health outpatient services; some companies reimburse only for therapists on a particular list; and some companies reimburse a different amount if you choose a therapist that is not on their preferred list. We, therefore, suggest that you check with your insurance company claims' representative about your benefits.

Non-reimbursed expenditures for therapy are considered medical expenses for tax purposes. Talk with Dr. Gayer if you have any concerns regarding payment. Payment plans have been devised for current and past clients.

Confidentiality

All conversations between you and Dr. Gayer are strictly confidential, and are protected under Georgia law. Therefore, he will not reveal the content of his communication with you to anyone (including other family members) without your written consent, unless specifically required by law (for example, child abuse, or the imminent threat of danger to you or others). Parents or guardians have the right to be briefed regarding their children's progress.

With your permission, the information provided to insurance companies for reimbursement for services includes only a diagnosis, type of treatment, the dates of services and charges. If additional information is requested (for instance, if you have managed care), Dr. Gayer will discuss any released information with you first.

Cancellations and Completing Therapy

We will assist you in accommodating any schedule changes. After office hours, you may leave a message on our answering machine. After the second time, if we do not receive 24 hour cancellation notice, you'll be charged for the visit.

Let Dr. Gayer know when you think you're near the end of your therapy. You'll then be able to review your progress and discuss your transition so that you'll have a satisfactory completion of your therapy.

If you decide to discontinue therapy without discussion, your therapeutic relationship with Dr. Gayer will be ended thirty days after your last visit.

Discontinuation of therapy does not mean that you cannot later resume therapy.

For directions, call the office at 706-546-8440.