Payments
To pay your balance, simply enter the amount in the box below and select "Pay."
Please make sure to include an email address in the billing information that we can reach you at if we have any questions about your payment.
Paying for Mental Healthcare
Paying for your mental healthcare can be one of the most confusing parts of the process. We have outlined a few common questions below to help make it easier to receive the care you need and to empower you to make informed decisions. There is a lot of information on this page because it is important to us to be as transparent as possible about our billing practices.
Do you take my health insurance?
Our clinic aims to serve as many members of the community as possible. As such, members of our group are enrolled with all the major payers in Minnesota. Providers may also be enrolled with some less common plans when requested. This means that we can submit claims to your health plan on your behalf and they will process them as In Network claims. Specific coverage information is determined by your plan. It is always recommended that you contact your insurance company for specific coverage information. Some common payers we participate with can be found here:
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BlueCross/BlueShield MN
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HealthPartners
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Medica (UBH)
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PreferredOne
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UCare
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Cigna
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Minnesota Health Care Programs (MA & MN Care)
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Medicare
How does the insurance billing process work?
1) When a patient establishes care with us, we will first collect demographic and insurance information which will be entered into our system.
2) Your provider will provide a service to you depending on your plan of care and what is required to help you meet your goals.
3) The provider will document the appointment and provide a code to the MHCS billing department that corresponds to the type of service you were provided.
4) MHCS will securely send that code, along with other data in your record, to your health insurance in the form of a claim.
5) Each service code has a set rate (cost) that is billed to every health plan. The information included in the claim tells your health plan who received the service, who provided the service, what was being treated, how it was treated, and what it cost. Your provider's documentation is the record of the service that backs up the claim.
6) Your health insurance company will then process the claim according to your specific benefit plan. It is always recommended that you contact your insurance company directly for specific coverage information as every plan is different.
7) They will securely respond to the claim with payment information, adjustments, and information on how they processed the claim.
8) Insurance companies have set rates that they determine services to cost. This is referred to as the Contracted Rate. Every insurance company's rates are different. This rate may be different than the rate we include on the claim. Your insurance company may make adjustments to a charge submitted to them to bring it to their Contracted Rate.
9) This information is applied to your account. If there is any balance remaining, this will be your responsibility. See the section Why do I have a balance? below for more information.
10) We will send out invoices once a month to notify you of any balances due. When payment is made in full the account is considered current.
How much will my appointment cost?
This is the most common question we receive and unfortunately it is not one we can answer.
Every insurance company, group, and individual enrollment is different. There are too many factors involved for us to provide accurate estimates. You must contact your insurance company directly to determine specific benefit information.
Since we are a specialty clinic, we bill for comparatively few services. This enables us to make it fairly easy for you to determine your coverage. The most common codes for services rendered by our group are listed below. You can use this list to contact your insurance company and inquire about whether a) a given service is covered under your plan, and b) what level of coverage is provided. This list of services is not comprehensive, but is useful to get a general idea of what your personal responsibility will be for the cost of our services.
An example of an effective way to ask this question to your insurance company is:
"I am calling to see what my personal responsibility will be for CPT code XXXXX."
90791 - Diagnostic Assessment (No Prescribing)
90792 - Diagnostic Assessment (With Prescribing)
90832 - ~30 Minute Therapy
90834 - ~45 Minute Therapy
90837 - ~60 Minute Therapy
99213 - Medication Management (Low Complexity)
99214 - Medication Management (Moderate Complexity)
99215 - Medication Management (High Complexity)
Why do I have a balance?
There are a few reasons why you might have a balance. They are outlined below:
Cost Sharing
Most benefit plans employ a technique called Cost Sharing. This is an arrangement between you and your insurance provider which outlines how much the insurance company will pay and how much you are required to pay. The three most common methods are listed below:
Copay - A set amount (e.g. $20, $35) that you will be required to pay for each service provided.
Coinsurance - A percentage (e.g. 10%, 15%) of the insurance company's contracted rate which you are responsible for paying for each charge.
Deductible - This is a set annual amount (e.g. $1,500, $3,500) which you must pay each year for the services you receive before your benefit plan kicks in. There is more information below in the section titled I have a high deductible health plan.
No Insurance
If we never received your insurance information, if there was a change in your coverage, or if you do not have/elected not to use your health insurance coverage your account will reflect the full cost for the services.
If no insurance is listed, please contact us to update your account with updated insurance information and we can resubmit any claims for your services, when appropriate. If you would like to private pay for your visits, notify us and we will update the charge.
If you had a lapse in coverage or have elected not to pay for your services using your health plan, your account will reflect the full amount of our discounted private pay rates. More information about our private pay discounts can be found in the section titled Do you offer a private pay option?
Billing & Accounting Errors
Health insurance billing is a big, complicated process. Occasionally errors are made, both by your health insurance company as well as MHCS. We want to resolve any errors as quickly as possible, so please review your statements carefully and notify us if you believe an error occurred. They are often very easy to resolve when we are made aware of them. Please contact us if you notice any issues!
How do I make a payment?
Payments can be made by cash, check, or electronically. Payments can be made in person at your appointments, can be mailed, taken over the phone, or submitted via the form at the top of this screen.
Mental Health Counseling Services
615 1st Ave NE STE 310
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 436-0295
I have a high deductible health plan.
High deductible health plans have become much more common. They typically have a lower monthly premium but require that you pay 100% of the cost for your services until you meet a certain annual amount determined by your benefit plan. These plans are typically advantageous for people who use very few healthcare services due to the low monthly cost, while also providing coverage in the event that you incur significant healthcare costs, such as hospitalization. Employers will often provide a high deductible health plan and pair it with a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Therapy in particular can take place regularly, for example every week or every other week. Due to its consistency it is very easy to accrue a significant balance in a relatively short amount of time. It is important for everyone to understand their benefit plan and plan accordingly.
All insurance companies are billed at our standard rate. This is important to consider because with a high deductible health plan you will be responsible for paying the full cost of the services you receive until your deductible is met. Every person's situation is different, so we strongly advise contacting your insurance company for specific benefit information. Our suggestions depend on your answer to the following question:
Will you hit your deductible during the calendar year?
No - This may be due to low utilization of health care services. In some situations it may not make sense to submit claims to your health insurance for the services you receive. For example, if your insurance company's rate is higher than our discounted private pay rate it may cost you less out of pocket to private pay rather than use your health coverage. It is important to know that any private payments will not be counted toward your deductible, therefore it would be wise to choose this method of payment only if your are certain you will not meet your deductible. Additionally, some plans require that all healthcare services are billed through the patient's insurance, so private pay may not be an option for you. More information on private pay options can be found below in the section titled Do you offer a private pay option?
Yes - In this case it would be advisable to make sure that all of your healthcare services are being billed through your health insurance. This will allow you to hit your deductible as quickly as possible and take full advantage of your plan. It may cost more up front, but can be balanced out by the services covered when your plan goes in to effect.
IF YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE APPLIES A CLAIM TO YOUR DEDUCTIBLE WE ARE NOT PERMITTED TO DISCOUNT THE COST FOR THE SERVICE IN ANY WAY. ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO AMOUNTS CORRECTLY DETERMINED BY YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY CONSTITUTES FRAUD AND IS PROHIBITED BY MHCS.
It is important that everyone understands the information outlined on this page. There are many rules governing the provision and payment of healthcare which we are obligated to follow. We do not want anyone to find themselves in a financial situation they did not anticipate. If you have any questions, please reach out to us and we will help guide you through this process as much as possible.
Do you offer a private pay option?
Yes. We are able to discount the cost for our services for patients paying privately due to the reduced cost of administration and claims management by anywhere from 30%-50%. For some people this discounted rate may make sense for their financial situation. There are other benefits to our private pay arrangement as well. For example, we are not obligated to release any information to your health insurance if you pay privately. Patients with Medical Assistance or Medicare must process their claims through their health insurance.
Our private pay rates are listed below for reference.
90791 - Diagnostic Assessment (No Prescribing)........................................................$150
90792 - Diagnostic Assessment (With Prescribing).....................................................$150
90832 - ~30 Minute Therapy...........................................................................................$50
90833 - ~30 Minute Therapy Add-On............................................................................$50
90834 - ~45 Minute Therapy...........................................................................................$75
90836 - ~45 Minute Therapy Add-On............................................................................$75
90837 - ~60 Minute Therapy.........................................................................................$100
90838 - ~60 Minute Therapy Add-On..........................................................................$100
90847 - ~60 Minute Family Therapy.............................................................................$100
99203 - Medication Management - New Patient (Low Complexity).........................$100
99204 - Medication Management - New Patient (Moderate Complexity)...............$125
99205 - Medication Management - New Patient (High Complexity)........................$150
99213 - Medication Management - Established Patient (Low Complexity)................$60
99214 - Medication Management - Established Patient (Moderate Complexity)......$80
99215 - Medication Management - Established Patient (High Complexity).............$115
I'm having trouble paying my bill.
Occasionally patients will find themselves in a situation where they have a balance due and are struggling to pay it. In these situations we offer the option to set up an interest-free repayment plan for a maximum of 24 months. Please communicate with our billing department and they will discuss a plan with you, gather payment information, and collect payment per your instructions.
I'm not sure I can afford these services. What should I do?
We never want payment for services to get in the way of someone receiving the care that they need. Our first recommendation will always be to talk with your provider. Our providers are sensitive to everyone's unique situations and will make adjustments to your treatment plan which take in to account your financial situation.
On occasion the MHCS billing department may be able make temporary adjustments to our private pay rates to accommodate an individual's needs. Contact the billing department for more information. They will gather proof of financial hardship and help coordinate a solution appropriate to your situation. Unfortunately MHCS cannot make any changes to rates set by your health insurance, but we can offer interest-free repayment options as outlined above.
The information on this page didn't answer my question. Where can I find more information?
Please contact our billing department by phone at (612) 474-1354 or by email at matthew@mhcs.online. We look forward to assisting you!