FAQ
For younger children (preschool or elementary age), you can share that the child will be meeting with a “talking doctor.” A talking doctor is different than a pediatrician. A talking doctor isn’t someone who checks how tall you are or checks your ears and eyes. They are someone who plays games and activities with you to help learn more about how your brain works to help you do the best that you can in school and at home.
For middle school and high students, it can also be important to share that the evaluation process is not designed like school exams or standardized testing like the MCAS. Rather than focusing on completing items right or wrong, the goal for the individual is to try their best and be honest about their thoughts, feelings, and concerns to help Dr. Travers capture the best snapshot of their strengths and challenges to help them succeed and reach their goals.
During our initial consultation, Dr. Travers can provide further individualized information to share with your child.
Is a neuropsychological evaluation still important even if my child has been or will be tested in school?
There are many advantages to a neuropsychological evaluation. Neuropsychological evaluations involve a more extensive battery of tests and assess a wider range of domains than what can be provided within a school setting. In addition to providing important information about your child’s strengths and challenges, neuropsychological evaluations can also lead to diagnoses, which are important for both academic and therapeutic services. These evaluations can also offer a neutral perspective and can include the viewpoints of all the important adults in a child’s life, including family members, teachers, therapists, and tutors. A neuropsychological evaluation often complements and builds upon school-based assessment by helping a child and their family better understand how their brain works and by offering targeted resources and referrals for school, home, and beyond.
Psychologists are not physicians and do not prescribe medication. An evaluation can help determine whether your child would benefit from medication, and area referrals to prescribers can be provided.
All fees are due on the date of service. Payment is made via credit card via a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record system called Simple Practice. For evaluations, a deposit is required to schedule. Deposits are refundable up to two weeks prior to the first date of service.
The practice does not accept insurance directly. To help you plan for the evaluation, Dr. Travers will provide you with a cost estimate following an initial consultation (this is known as a “Good Faith Estimate”). Some families choose to seek reimbursement from their insurance company on their own after the evaluation. Insurance companies vary widely in the types of evaluations they cover, and families are encouraged to contact their insurance company prior to the evaluation to learn more about their reimbursement for “out of network” services. Upon completion of the evaluation, Dr. Travers will provide a copy of a paid invoice (also known as a “superbill”) that includes information needed for obtaining any available reimbursement from insurance.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or how to dispute a bill, please visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.
We reached out to many people, and she was the most thoughtful psychologist we spoke with. She did a lot of research and worked closely with our child’s other providers to understand my child’s needs and create comprehensive and effective recommendations for the future.
– Parent