Office Hours

By appointment only. Please note that the Practice does not maintain 24/7 access to telephone or electronic communication. Regular business hours are Monday to Thursday 10 am - 5 pm.

Insurance

The Practice only accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield directly and does not accept other insurance plans directly (termed an “out-of-network” or “non-PPO” provider). Some insurance companies may reimburse patients for a portion of out-of-network expenses. The Patient should check with their insurance company directly about these benefits. The Practice can provide the Patient with a statement (“superbill”) containing the information needed to file for out-of-network benefits.

Initial Consultations

Initial Consultation appointments are comprehensive evaluations in which concerns, symptoms, medical history, psychiatric history, past treatment history, and current treatment goals are discussed. Often, and especially for children and adolescents, more than one initial consultation appointment or an extended consultation period is necessary. An initial consultation does not guarantee any specific medications, treatments, or letters to be provided by the Practice. Medications, including controlled substances, may not be prescribed. Disability or other similar paperwork will not be completed. I will not be available for family court/legal matters. At the end of the initial consultation, diagnostic assessment and treatment recommendations will be provided. At that point, the doctor and the Patient will decide whether to proceed with a course of treatment, thereby establishing a doctor-patient relationship. Either the Practice or the Patient may decide to terminate treatment at any time.

Appointments

After the Initial Consultation, the doctor and the Patient will decide whether to proceed with a course of treatment, thereby establishing a doctor-patient relationship. Follow-up appointments will be made on the following schedules:

Medication Management with or without psychotherapy - every week to every three months

Professional Fees

New Patient Evaluation (one to two 90 minute sessions): $600 per 90 minute session

Medication Management (+/- Therapy) Follow-Up (45 minutes): $300

15 Minute Initial Phone Consultation: Free

Other Fees

Prescription send-in fee requested after hours/outside of scheduled appointment time: $25

School Medication Authorization Form (for school nurse to administer medication; only if requested outside of a scheduled appointment): $25

There will be a prorated charge (billed in 15-min increments) based on the rate of $400/hr for the following services:

- All phone calls and e-mail/patient portal communication over 10 minutes -

Letter writing, form completion, consultations with other professionals at your request/authorization, preparation of records or treatment summaries or the time required to perform any other service.

• Please allow 7 - 10 days turnaround time for document requests.

• A rush fee of $50 will be assessed for documents requiring less than 2 business days turnaround time.

  • After-hours is defined as before 10:00am and after 5:00pm on weekdays (M-Th) or anytime on weekends, holidays, or the doctor’s vacation.

Payment

To book the initial consultation appointment, the Patient is required to provide the Practice with a debit/credit card number that will be left on file.

Please note: Payment may be made by debit card or credit card that will be left on file, by personal check, or by cash. There is a $50 fee for returned checks.

No Show/Cancellation

If patients need to cancel or reschedule appointments, they must give 2 business days (48 business hours) notice to avoid being responsible for the no show or late cancellation fees. Business days do not include weekends or holidays.

The no show fee is equal to the full session fee and the late cancellation fee is $100, except in situations in which a child or parent is unable to come due to illness, at the Practice's discretion. For an established patient, a first-time cancellation within two business days of the scheduled appointment will not incur a no-show or late cancellation fee.

Emergencies

In an emergency, please call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room. Another option is to call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Do not call, text message, or send electronic communication during an emergency situation.

Appointment Changes / Cancellations

If an appointment is canceled by the patient with more than two business day’s notice, the patient/guarantor will not be penalized. For an established patient, a first-time cancellation within two business days of the scheduled appointment will not incur a no-show or late cancellation fee. If, for any reason, the doctor must cancel an appointment, the patient will be advised at the earliest possible time and offered alternate date and times.

Email and Telephone Communication

Telephone and electronic communication should be limited to non-sensitive and non-urgent issues, such as initial inquiries, scheduling, and reporting of self-monitoring data. The Patient agrees that the Practice has permission to exchange e-mail and patient portal communication. If the Patient chooses to communicate patient identifiable information by e-mail, his/her/their privacy may be at risk. E-mail is not a secure form of communication and may not remain confidential. The Practice is not responsible for the confidentiality of e-mail messages or other electronic messages that are lost.

Dr. Abusrur, is often not immediately available by telephone if he is with another patient. When unavailable, the Patient may leave a voicemail. Every effort will be made to return the call on the same day with the exception of weekends and holidays. However, please allow 48 - 72 hours for a return call.

Medication Refills

Please request medication refills during appointment times, before running out. Medication refills will not usually be provided without an in-person/video appointment. Please do not use e-mail to initiate discussion about medication refills or adjustments.

Prescription send-in fee requested after hours/outside of scheduled appointment time: $50

Termination Policy

Patients are under no obligation to continue services should they decide to terminate at any time. However, we strongly urge that the doctor be notified in person regarding this decision so that it can be discussed openly and we can assist with next steps. Dr. Abusrur/Maple Psychiatry PLC retains the rights to discharge a patient from the practice at his discretion. If/when this occurs, Dr. Abusrur will communicate this as well as the reason and provide referral information for follow-up care as well as a bridge prescription, if applicable. Patients who do not maintain appointments on at least a quarterly (every 90-day basis) are subject to discharge. They may be able to reestablish care but may have to complete a new intake at Dr. Abusrur’s discretion.