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All sessions are by scheduled private appointment only. The pricing for telehealth or in-person evaluations is the same.
In-person visits will be conducted based on the latest guidelines as it relates to social distancing and mask-wearing.
Dr. Patel is fully vaccinated and boosted.
This is a very precarious and sensitive time in healthcare, particularly for our mental health and addiction services providers and those seeking treatment themselves. In the Pre-COVID-19 era, there was already a growing concern about the cost of healthcare, and problems with accessing affordable psychiatric and mental health services. After the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 and over the last two years, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for high-quality mental health and addiction services, given record-breaking incidences of suicide, violence and opioid overdoses in the US, continued staff shortages in the private/public sectors, and the shrinking pool of in-network providers, many of whom are not accepting new patients. The need is unprecedented and the margins widening. Cost and affording quality care is a sensitive topic for many. I humbly respect and appreciate that.
I also understand, as a small business owner, providing specialized treatment, providing high quality, customized care, taking the time to evaluate you, really getting to know you as a human, being an active listener and advocate supporting you along your journey, which may not have a “finish line” or “end date,” and providing meaningful psychotherapy and insight—all takes time. I truly believe the more quality time invested in your treatment will ultimately benefit you with improved clinical outcomes. Leading back to our core mission statement—one size does not fit all. Treatment must be customed and tailored. Something spanning a quick 15 or 20-minute insurance-reimbursed medication management visit isn’t going to work for everyone seeking psychiatric care. Many insurance companies prefer psychiatrists to focus on brief medication management visits like this (already paid at a record low reimbursement rate), while preferring other mental health clinicians to focus on providing the therapy aspect of treatment. While this can and has worked in many cases, and I collaborate regularly with many talented mental health professionals who see my patients for extended therapy sessions, our medical education and residency training in psychiatry expands my skills well beyond simply just prescribing medications.
As a psychiatrist I am a problem solver, gatekeeper, often have direct oversight in evaluating and integrating all spheres of clinical knowledge, from medical, psychiatric, social, psychological, family and addiction perspectives. I often incorporate and integrate psychotherapy modalities in the sessions (CBT, relapse prevention, supportive). In fact, I firmly believe psychotherapy can be life-changing and has a compounding enduring effect in helping people change and shape out maladaptive behaviors and develop healthier ways to cope and live life on life’s terms. Psychotherapy works and psychiatrists should be able to offer it and get appropriate reimbursement for it.
Historically, most patients in the practice are evaluated for both medication management and psychotherapy in 30, 45, and 60 minutes allotted sessions. Most patients, once clinically stable, are evaluated periodically, every 2-4 months in the practice. There is also a sizable portion of patients in the practice who could benefit from medications, but who decided, out of personal preference, against it (I completely respect patient autonomy and choice), and are not actually taking medications at this time, but prefer I monitor/assess them regularly for this potential need in the future. Other patients see me for psychotherapy sessions only, although the role of medications, if clinically appropriate, may come up in session and be discussed, if needed. Each patient is different as is their treatment plan and overall goals.
Going back to our core mission: “One size or philosophy does not fit all.” The perception behind seeing a psychiatrist only when medications are needed, needs to go. Times have changed. We do more than just prescribe medications. Our role is quite multidisciplinary as problem solvers, as scientists, as thinkers, given any number of medical conditions (Stroke, Heart Attack, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Asthma) can present with psychiatric symptoms or manifestations, and psychiatric conditions (Untreated Addiction, Untreated Depression) can lead to debilitating medical complications and consequences. As a dual medical and mental health professional serving in the role of the psychiatrist, I thoroughly review mental health, addiction and medical histories, update the clinical information, and make pertinent changes to the treatment plans accordingly.
None of this, given the time commitment needed in being thorough in our clinical approach, embracing the multidisciplinary nature of psychiatry altogether, in my professional opinion, is adequately reimbursed or our skillset respectfully acknowledged or recognized by insurance companies as adding value to the treatment model or the patient experience, which is why, I specifically do not accept or contract with insurance companies in my practice today.
I believe in the value of being emotionally aware and intuitive in my practice as it relates to the whole patient experience. When I use to accept insurance in the practice years ago, obviously reimbursement was lower, and to maintain a practice meant seeing more patients and hence more patient volume just to pay the bills and stay afloat. There was often a very “rushed, crunching the numbers” feeling about it. I really didn’t feel as though I knew my patients very well. When I chose to eventually drop the insurance panels and went “out of network,” it was a complete transformation for the practice.
My work as a psychiatrist was more meaningful because I felt I got to know my patients better, had more autonomy in setting up my practice, didn’t feel as though I was dependent on a volume-based practice model to survive, and my patients felt the treatment was of better quality and enjoyed their sessions and most stayed sober and/or their symptoms significantly improved. I believe that spending more time providing quality treatment that is focused and individualized, and offering psychotherapy in my sessions, was responsible for better patient outcomes and also made my work feel more meaningful and helped me embrace a better sense of purpose in psychiatry.
In retrospect, I remember when seeing my own internist who accepted my insurance years ago. He was a thoughtful and smart doctor, but realistically, in the office he worked out of, my patient experience often felt rushed, it was often hasty, choppy, you could tell he was watching the clock, because he probably had no choice with 28 patients still waiting to be seen, “who’s in the waiting room,” his voice would have a “termination pitch” to it towards the end of the sessions. Did he know anything about me other than what medication I was taking or my allergy profile?? Hello? It was a sad and often disappointing patient experience for me. When I eventually found my new internist, who was not dependent on the insurance process, he happened to be out of network, the experience was very different, and I actually felt as though I was healing because the sessions were not rushed and the treatments more tailored to what’s clinically relevant and important to me as a patient versus reading off a script and checking the boxes so that he could bill my insurance for the visit. The entire experience was quite different when working with an out of network provider. Better quality care made a difference in my life. Thank you, Dr. S!
Mentioning these experiences with noteworthy reflection, the fact remains, seeking treatment with any “out of network” provider or specialist such as myself in private practice is a personal choice. Only you can weigh the options and decide what’s best for you. Costs are a consideration, so is leveraging to find high-quality psychiatric care when you need it, that best aligns with your short and long-term goals in treatment.
I encourage you to review all your options. Inquire about any out-of-network benefits, if available to you, and weigh all potential treatment costs. Talk with your insurance company. Get a sense of what numbers could actually look like for your situation. Some insurances may provide decent out-of-network benefits. You won’t know unless you ask them. If you chose to work with us and get treatment here, we can provide you with paid invoices you can directly submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. In retrospect, about half my patients get some type of reimbursement back directly from their insurance companies. Most find it helpful in balancing out the overall cost of treatment.
Keep in mind, early intervention is key, and getting into treatment early can make a huge difference in the outcome. Mental health and addiction issues can certainly get worse, if not adequately treated. Oftentimes, if your clinical condition worsens, you may possibly need inpatient treatment, which may actually cost more than receiving treatment in a less intensive setting, such as our practice. Inpatient treatment can also be quite disruptive to everyday routines. Studies have shown, that for some people, consistently engaged in treatment in a less intensive setting over a longer period of time, may have better clinical outcomes as it relates to overall mental and physical health. This may even offset the cost burden shared in addressing chronic diseases in America, of which, mental health and addiction are no exception.
Our practice is focused on providing individualized treatment for a variety of addiction and psychiatric conditions in a private setting.
