New Client Information
Welcome to Behavioral Medicine Specialists. BMS is an independently owned and operated group of mental health counseling providers serving Wichita, Kansas and the greater South Central Kansas area.
New Client Forms
New clients cannot be seen until they have filled out the required new patient forms. Please download, print and complete the required new client forms listed below before your first appointment. If you’d like to fill out the forms at out office, please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
The following forms are available to download and fill out before your visit.
Psychotherapy Services
The procedures of psychotherapy vary depending on the personality and orientation of the therapist and the particular problem the client has. While there are no guarantees therapy will be successful, the more active clients are in addressing their problems, the higher the likelihood of a positive outcome. Psychotherapy has both risks and benefits. Risks include experiencing uncomfortable feelings like sadness, anger and helplessness. Benefits can include resolving problems and achieving an increased feeling of well-being. A collaborative treatment plan will be determined by the therapist and the client. If you have questions or concerns, you are encouraged to discuss these with your therapist. If you decide you are not benefiting from psychotherapy, this should also be discussed with your therapist and appropriate decisions may be made. Please be advised that as social worker/psychologists we are not able to prescribe medication or admit for hospitalization. A psychiatrist or physician assistant will be able to handle medical intervention. If these services are needed, appropriate referrals will be made.
Sessions are usually scheduled for 45-50 minutes. Most often these are scheduled weekly but a more or less frequent interval may be used depending on the needs of our clients.
Professional Fees and Billing
Our fees are $275.00 for the initial consultation and $200 per 40-50 minute session. $250.00 for 51-60-minute sessions. Additional charges may include phone conversations, writing letters, court preparation and appearance. All FMLA forms are $50.00 to complete. It is our policy to charge for appointments that are not canceled 24 hours in advance and for appointments that are not kept. Insurance does not pay for missed appointments. Please ask your therapist for his/her “no show/late cancel charge” policy.
This office provides insurance filing and will help you determine if your insurance company provides coverage and /or requires any specific referrals or authorizations. You are asked to pay your share of the charge (co-pay or coinsurance) at the time of service. If your insurance requires you to pay a deductible (a specific amount to be paid by the patient at the beginning of the benefit period before insurance will pay) this will also be collected at the time of service.
Regular payments are expected. If your account is delinquent and suitable arrangements have not been made to pay on the account we have the option of utilizing a collection agency to collect on your account. In such cases, only the client’s name, the amount due, and the service rendered are disclosed. Please be advised that any claims that are left unpaid by your insurance company become your responsibility after 45 days. It is then the responsible party/patient’s responsibility to either pay the amount due or to contact the insurance company for payment.
For any questions regarding billing information, call between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Office Hours and Emergencies
Office hours vary by therapist. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Behavioral Medicine Specialists, PA does not provide crisis services. In an emergency, please reach out to your county mental health crisis center. Sedgwick County is (316)660-7500. You may also call your family physician or go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.
Professional Records
Both the standards of our profession and the law require keeping appropriate treatment records. If you have questions about or wish to review your records, you are encouraged to discuss this with your therapist. No one has access to your records without your permission unless under the conditions outlined under confidentiality rules.
Confidentiality
If you are under 18 years of age, your parents must sign for consent to treatment in our office, and are entitled to receive some feedback about your treatment. Usually we provide parents of older children only general information unless there is a significant risk of harm to yourself or others. Any sensitive information that needs to be shared with your parents will be discussed with you first.
Minors
The law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and mental health provider.
With a few exceptions, information about your treatment can only be revealed with your written permission. There are situations, such as a child custody hearing, where a judge may order treatment records be released to the court, and your confidentiality may not be able to be protected. In cases where a child, elderly person, or disabled person is suspected of being abused, we are required by state law to file a report with the appropriate agency. If a client is threatening bodily harm to another, we are required to take protective actions, including notifying the potential victim, notifying the police, or seeking appropriate hospitalization. If a client threatens to harm himself/herself we are also required to seek hospitalization or appropriate protective treatments as well as contact family members who can help.