FAQ's Q. How do I make an appointment at Solutions? A. For new patients please contact the office during business hours by email (rsmedcorp@yahoo.com) or telephone (408.402.0450) or by filling out the contact form on this website.
Q. What happens if I need to cancel an appointment? If unable to keep your appointment, please provide our office with a one week notification and please be sure your cancellation is confirmed by an office staff or doctor's response. The time is specifically set aside for you and we request this cancellation notice so that we may reschedule the doctor's time. Do not assume your visit has been cancelled by simply leaving a voice message. We require cancellations to be confirmed. Although we do generally provide a courtesy reminder call 1 to 2 business days prior to your appointment, this is a courtesy only and we urge you not to rely on this contact. It is your responsibility to come to your appointments and, if necessary to cancel within the requested time period. Appointments missed without the full one week (seven day) cancellation will incur the full regular fee.
Q. Do you handle insurance billing? A. We do not take any form of insurance nor are we providers for any insurance companies. We provide services only on a fee for service basis and all fees are due prior to service being provided. We do, however, provide a receipt of service or superbill which may be submitted to most insurance companies and which many of our patients use to obtain some reimbursement of fees.
Q. What forms of payment to you accept? A. We accept cash, check and all major credit cards. Solutions Psychiatric Associates patients keep a credit card on file with our office. The credit card information is stored electronically and in a secure encrypted file. Each visit is billed one business day prior to the appointment. If a patient wishes to pay by cash or check they simply inform the office not to bill the credit card and bring payment with them to the appointment. If an appointment is missed or late cancelled the credit card will be billed if appropriate.
Q. What happens if I do not pay my bill? A. All fees are due prior to the provision of service. In general this prevents the development of unpaid medical bills. However on occasion, if this does happen, you will receive bills by email that may include an administrative billing fee in the amount of $25 each time we are required to send out another invoice. No further appointments will be scheduled while an an outstanding balance is on account and accounts may be referred for collection.
Q. What are your business hours? A. Solutions Psychiatric Associates is open 10am to 5pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. We are closed Tuesdays and all major holidays.
Q. How do I get my medications refilled between appointments? A. Every effort is made to provide necessary refills at your appointments. However should you require refills in-between appointments please contact your pharmacy to request that they initiate the refill process. Since we use an electronic prescription service, we are not able to intimate that process. It must come from the pharmacy. For certain medications (your doctor can tell you if you are on one of these) electronic prescription is not allowed. In this case a paper fax or paper prescription will be required monthly. Depending on your individual situation your doctor may require monthly visits to fill that medication prescription or may allow you to receive paper prescriptions between visits.
Q. Is there a fee for prescriptions written in-between visits? A. There is no fee for electronic prescription refills transmitted between visits during office hours. However prescriptions requiring additional work by physicians including writing out paper prescriptions and reviewing and faxing paperwork will be charged a minimum $60 fee. Also, all prescriptions transmitted after-hours and on weekends will incur regular after-hours fees.
Q. How do I reach my doctor after hours? A. Your doctor will provide you with a confidential direct email access account that you may use after hours and on weekends for urgent clinical issues. Although you may contact your doctor at any time and for any issue we recommend you try not to use the email access for routine issues such as scheduling and medication refills. Email correspondence incurs a fee at the physician's regular hourly rate of $695/hour in 1/10th hour minimums.
Q. What is your cancellation policy? A. Please be aware that all new patients are required to make a $500 nonrefundable deposit in order to book a first appointment. This deposit is held in order to cover the cost of the first appointment should a new patient decide to cancel or fail to come for the visit.
Our office also adheres strictly to a ONE WEEK cancellation policy. All appointments cancelled with less than ONE FULL WEEK notice will be subject to the billing of the full fee for that appointment. Because the time set aside for each appointment is so extensive, we do not make exceptions to this policy.
What is a psychiatrist? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) who has completed education and training in general medicine, with additional specialized training in psychiatry and neurology. A psychiatrist's educational background and medical training include an undergraduate college degree, four years of medical school, and four years of specialized training in psychiatry. A board-certified psychiatrist is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
A psychiatrist can provide treatment for psychiatric illnesses, which may involve the use of medication and individual therapy. As an MD, a psychiatrist can prescribe medication as well as make any necessary medication adjustments. Please click here to learn more about our principal clinical staff.
What is a psychologist? A psychologist is an individual who has completed an undergraduate college degree as well as a Ph.D. or PsyD in Psychology. A psychologist is a professional who practices all types of psychotherapy from individual, groups, family, and couples therapy. Please click here to learn more about our principal clinical staff.
What is a pediatric psychiatrist? A pediatric psychiatrist is a doctor with a medical degree who specializes in treating children with psychiatric illnesses. A child psychiatrist has completed at least four years of undergraduate college to obtain a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school to receive a doctor of medicine degree, a one-year medical internship, three years of general residency training in psychiatry and two additional years of fellowship training in pediatric psychiatry. Pediatric psychiatrists are capable of providing both talk therapy and medications to their patients. Please click here to learn more about our principal clinical staff.
What is a psychopharmacologist? A psychopharmacologist is a psychiatrist (an MD) who specializes in the use of psychiatric medications to treat patients with psychiatric illnesses. Please click here to learn more about our principal clinical staff.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in psychiatry and can prescribe medication or provide psychotherapy. A psychologist is a professional that has obtained a Ph.D. in Psychology and can provide all types of psychotherapy and psychological testing but cannot prescribe medications.
