Does Medicare Cover The Psych Charges?
Medicare Part B covers mental health care. However, if a provider doesn't accept Medicare, I don't know if you can file a claim and get reimbursed for the cost. I'd call the 800-MEDICARE number and ask about that.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
on 9/19/13 1:32 am - NV
MAKE SURE THE PSYCH TAKE MEDICARE.. i search for three weeks trying to find someone.. i found one had to wait till he got back from vacation but Medicare paid 100% of it..... it also helps if you have Medicaid (state insurance like welfare insurance) to help with all other costs... medicaid will also pay your part B premiums each month.. they also covered my Nutritional eval.. I would search for a different Psych if i were you... evals can cost upwards of 3 grand... good luck keep us informed..
Who is charging over $3000 for a is ole pre-op psych eval?!? I am in the field and have NEVER heard of any kind of evaluation, even forensic ones, coating that much! I have seen $300-$500 if they do several standard assessments, but not $3000!
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
on 9/19/13 4:05 am - NV
the psych. charged medicare almost 3000 for my eval but only got paid 450... thats what the statement i got said..
on 9/19/13 4:14 am - NV
I'm sorry i was looking at something else.. i just checked it and it was 900.00 for psych eval...
| $900.00 | $323.03 | $64.61 |
323.03 is what Medicare paid...
I agree that you may want to find a different psych. If your provider refuses to bill insurance they also do not accept Medicare's assignment of costs. This means you will have a lot of out of pocket costs. It may not be easy, but call around find one that does take Medicare, you'll be thankful in the long run.
Yeah, you need to call Medicare because even if they are reimbursing you for part (or all) of the costs for a standard therapy session under the 90837 or 90818 CPT Codes, they may have different rules for a psych eval under the 90791 or 96150 CPT Codes.
Lora
(edited to add that the a several different codes, depending on whether it is a counselor or psychologist providing the service, so the codes used for you might be different)
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Mine is covered on Medicare all except 30.00 office co-pay which my Medicaid will pick up. I did have a very hard time finding one that would take my insurance as well and I was on a waiting list for almost a month. Now with my dietitian they didn't bill my insurance either and I called Medicare and told them the situation and they told me to send in my receipt, and a letter from my pcp that advised that I was referred to the dietitian and they would reimburse me for the services, I also had the dietitian to put the code on the receipt so that they would have it as well.
Jamie Nichols
HW:321 CW:263 GW:125
I am a tiger who is earning her stripes!!
