How long does therapy last?

The length of treatment differs depending on the severity of the presenting concern and each individual patient. However, a fair expectation is between 3-5 months. Short-term treatments, such as CBT, work best when patients are engaged, rarely miss appointments, and actively apply what is learned in session in their day-to-day lives.

I'm not sure if I really need therapy. How can I know for sure?

Dr. Goldfine is happy to perform a diagnostic consultation to evaluate for any significant mental health concerns and, if necessary, discuss a preliminary treatment plan. This usually takes about 2 hours and there is no obligation to continue. Many parents and individuals find it comforting to know that what they or their child is going through is "normal" or that there is a simple short-term solution to ease their distress. Generally speaking, if your or your child's anxiety, mood, or behavior issue is causing significant distress or impacting social, academic, or occupational functioning, then reaching out to a therapist like Dr. Goldfine may be a good idea.

Can therapy meet more frequently than once a week?

While Dr. Goldfine does, on occasion, see certain patients multiple times a week, weekly meetings are typically preferred. This allows time for patients to practice their coping strategies and apply new skills between therapy sessions. Meeting more than once a week may occur in cases that require intensive treatment for particularly severe distress or when there is a firm time deadline (e.g., leaving for college).

Does Dr. Goldfine accept insurance?

Dr. Goldfine is an out-of-network provider, which means that he does not participate on any health insurance panels. However, he will give you all the paperwork to submit to your health insurance company to receive any out-of-network reimbursement. Since each individual plan is different, Dr. Goldfine recommends contacting your health insurance company before your first appointment to discuss reimbursement. Many patients are pleasantly surprised at the reimbursement rates and, since they do not have to pay a co-pay, find therapy sessions with Dr. Goldfine comparable to an in-network provider.

Can Dr. Goldfine speak at my school or community center?

Dr. Goldfine is frequently involved with local and national media outlets. Additionally, he conducts numerous talks to parents and families in the community and training workshops to teachers or mental health professionals. If you would like to learn more about having Dr. Goldfine conduct a lecture, workshop, or question-and-answer session, please contact Dr. Goldfine.

I am a therapist looking to learn more about using CBT or other treatments (e.g., Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, exposure therapy), can Dr. Goldfine consult with me?

Dr. Goldfine has trained and consulted with many therapists in various stages of their professional development. As a former assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center, teaching and training students and therapists continue to be one of his passions. For more information on having Dr. Goldfine's professional consultation services, please contact him.

What are my rights under the No Surprises Act?

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

•You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, andhospital fees.

•Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

•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, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-877-696-6775. Dr. Goldfine's professional consultation services, please contact him.

Are there any additional notices to be aware of under the No Surprises Act?

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network. “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providersmay be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.”This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit. “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an innetwork facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:
•Emergency services: If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

•Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed. If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
• You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
• Your health plan generally must:
o Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
o Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
o Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
o Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at 1-877-696-6775. You can also visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.