You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your mental health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have certain types of health care coverage or who are not using certain types of health care coverage an estimate of their bill for health care items and services.

You are entitled to receive a Good Faith Estimate of your potential charges for psychotherapy services provided to you. While it is not possible for a psychotherapist to know, in advance, how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, a Good Faith Estimate provides an estimate of the cost of services provided. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you. A Good Faith Estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to obtain any services from the provider(s) listed.

A Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist.  You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time.

You have a right to initiate a dispute resolution process with U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if the actual amount charged to you substantially exceeds the estimated charges stated in your Good Faith Estimate (which means $400 or more beyond the estimated charges). If you choose to utilize this dispute option, you will be required to submit your claim within 120 calendar days from the date of your first bill.

You are encouraged to speak with your provider at any time about any questions you may have regarding your treatment plan, or the information provided to you in a Good Faith Estimate. Please visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information or to start a dispute claim.