At Spectrum, I do all of the testing personally. I believe the psychologist must take the time to get to know you/your child as a unique person in order to accurately interpret the test data. A psychologist's observational skills are essential to creating customized recommendations for you/your child. Therefore, I never use students, techs, or psych associates. In my practice, you/your child will never be passed around from person to person. I strive to make testing a personalized and superior experience.

• The first step is a free 20 minute phone consultation where I will answer any questions and we will work together to determine what type of testing is needed for you/your child.

• Once you decide to move forward with testing, I will schedule the intake, testing, and feedback appointments with you. I will send you secure online forms to complete at that time as well. Completing the forms will finalize and reserve your appointment series. 

• In addition to the intake and testing sessions, and with your permission, I will consult with the important professionals in you/your child’s life such as teachers, doctors, advocates, or therapists.

• After all testing is completed, we will meet for the interactive feedback session. My reports include a "road map" and an action plan with specific recommendations for meeting you/your child's unique support needs. 

Psychological testing should be a positive experience for your child. Parents are often more nervous about the process than their children. It is critical for your child to feel comfortable so that they can give their best performance during testing. I strive to make testing for teens and adults an empowering experience that enhances their ability to advocate for themselves. You might want to tell your child that they will be spending the day with  someone who wants to help figure out how they learn best in order to make school (or other relevant situations) easier. Tell a young child that this is not the type of doctor who gives shots (but like a physician, I do have a prize box for the end of the appointment). Let your child know they are going to work hard, but that it will be a positive experience, and there are no grades or right/wrong answers. The more comfortable you are feeling about the testing, the more your child will feel at ease.

The direct testing session with the client typically takes between 2-6 hours, depending on age and the amount of testing that needs to be completed. In general, testing for young children takes less time than testing for older children and adults. I will give you an idea of the time involved in testing during your initial consult call. 

Testing activities might include:    

• Hands-on tasks like drawing, looking at pictures, solving puzzles, and building

• Verbal activities like listening, answering questions, and sharing what you know

• Problem-solving tasks like discovering a pattern, or figuring out how two things are alike

• Learning and memory activities like retelling a story or learning a list of words

• Giving me your perspective by telling me about school or work, talking about  family and friends, sharing  favorite activities and what you/your child is good at, and filling out paper-and-pencil questionnaires

• Technology activities like completing a test on a computer or iPad

• Academic tasks like reading, writing, and math problems

• For young children, we might play together using specific toys designed to assess play skills and social skills

On the day(s) of testing, try to make sure you/your child has had a good night's rest, has had breakfast, and has glasses, hearing aids, communication devices, etc. If you typically take medication, make sure to take all medications as prescribed, prior to the appointment(s). Many individuals want me to see their true behaviors without medication; however, not taking medication that you typically take could negatively impact other areas and result in an underestimate of one's true abilities on intellectual or academic tests.

I caution my clients that I cannot control what your insurance company will decide to do. I am an out of network provider, meaning that clients are responsible for the full balance for all services rendered. I cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you for psychological services, or that they will honor their pre-authorization decisions. When you schedule your appointment, I can provide you with the procedure codes you need (also listed below) in order to arrange for pre-authorization from your insurance company. This does not guarantee reimbursement from your insurance company. Please be aware that pre-authorization does not mean your insurance company will accept your claim, or reimburse you for any of your expenses, and I cannot assume any responsibility for your insurance company’s decisions.

Upon request, I will send you the Superbill and CMF form you need to file a claim with your insurance company, within 30 days after your services are rendered, and you have taken care of your balance in full. Again, I cannot accept any responsibility for your insurance company’s decisions regarding your claim. Be aware that many claims for psychological testing are rejected the first time, and insurance companies may keep asking for more and more documentation (despite the fact that everything needed to process the claim is contained in the Superbill/CMF forms).

While I don't bill insurance directly, many families who see me do get some reimbursement for the evaluation from their insurance company. Contact your insurance and ask about "Out of Network Coverage" for a neuropsychological evaluation.

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Here are the questions you should ask your insurance when you contact them:

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• What are my out-of-network benefits?

• How much is my deductible?

• After I meet my deductible, what percentage of the visit cost will I be reimbursed for?

• Up to how much can I be reimbursed for:

  • 60 minute intake appointment (CPT Code 90791)

  • Neuropsychological Testing (CPT Code 96136 for the first 30 minutes, CPT Code 96137 for each additional 30 min)

  • Neuropsychological Services (CPT Code 96132 or the first 60 minutes, CPT Code 96133 for each additional hour)

  • 60 minute feedback session (CPT Code 96133)

• Do I have a limit of how many units of 96137 or 96133 I can get reimbursed for?

• How do I submit a claim with the superbill my psychologist gave me?

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