Contact/Scheduling:

Feel free to contact me at (415) 742-1788 for a free initial 15-minute consultation to explore whether I may be of service and a good match for you prior to scheduling a first session. Please note that due to the limitations of electronic transmissions, email communication may not be secure.

If it is determined we are not a good match, please consider the following as possible referrals. Psychology Today is an excellent resource to find psychotherapists and psychiatrists. The San Francisco Behavioral Health Plan is another resource to access a network of community behavioral health programs, clinics as well as private psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists.

Fees:

Fees are based on the services provided and are comparable to other practitioners in the area.

Payment Methods:

Cash, Check and Venmo-(@Joseph- Szlamnik). Please use the Privacy Setting.

Gambling:

I am an authorized State of California and UCLA Gambling Studies Programs treatment provider. This program has authorized me to provide treatment to gamblers, and affected family members and loved ones, beginning with a block of eight free sessions.

Insurance:

I am currently an in-network authorized provider with Optum behavioral health insurance, Lyra Health, and Medicare. I do not accept any other insurance.

Please note that if you decide to use your Optum to cover mental health services, a formal diagnosis must exist for insurance to consider providing coverage. Billing statements to document the diagnosis is sent to the insurance company and that diagnosis will become part of your permanent medical record, and it may affect you such as you having a mental illness or being mentally ill.

Co-pays must be provided prior to or on the day of service. Also my practice is not responsible for the reimbursement due the client from their insurer nor cannot guarantee such reimbursement or the amount of the reimbursement.

If you have behavioral health insurance other than Optum, I am considered an out of network provider. This means that you are responsible for the full amount at the time of service.

I can provide to you a statement of services for you to submit to your insurance carrier or Health Savings Account (HSA) for their review and consideration for reimbursement. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance company preferably beforehand to determine mental health benefits as well as to determine their policy for out-of-network providers.

Good Faith Estimate:

Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or the dispute process, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1- 800-985-3059.

Telehealth/In Person Sessions:

Normally, I only offer telehealth sessions once we have an established, continuing relationship. However, given Covid-19 Shelter in Place guidelines, I currently provide telehealth sessions-this includes telephone and video. I also offer socially distanced outdoor sessions.

Confidentiality

Unless you provide me with written authorization to disclose information to another individual or agency, anything that you share with me is confidential with the following exceptions under California State law:

· Danger to self or others

· An incident of suspected child abuse or neglect occurs

· Suspected elder abuse or neglect occurs

· A Court order is issued

· Actions are necessary to collect payment

· An insurance company requests information for reimbursement of services.

Cancellations

There is a 24-hour notice to cancel. Cancellation within 24 hours of the appointment time will be subject to the full session fee. Insurance companies do not reimburse for missed sessions.