Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, both of our Psychiatrists are Diplomates of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in subspecialties.

Currently, we are offering Psychiatry services in the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

NOTE: ALL FIRST SESSIONS ARE DONE VIRTUALLY*

In-person is readily available at our Miami, FL location!

Select in-person is available at our Short Hills, NJ and Tampa, Florida locations!

Answer: MD Psychiatrists!

Our Psychiatrists are Physician MDs who attained a “Doctor of Medicine degree” amongst other advanced certifications and licensures!

They have spent 12-14 years being trained and combined hold over a decade of Attending physician experience to provide the best possible care you can receive!

If you would like to know more, please visit navigate through our site to their profiles!

• An Attending Physician is a fully licensed and certified doctor who has completed all required medical training, including medical school, residency, and often advanced fellowship training. They are responsible for overseeing and managing the care of patients in various settings, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, or private practices. They are known for their roles in clinical leadership, resident supervision, and teaching. They have full practice autonomy, practicing independently and bearing the full responsibility for their patients' care and overall well-being.

Answer: Yes!

Please keep in mind there is commonly a 4-6 week window from the date viewed to the first available date. All first sessions are on a rolling basis and the availability seen on the website is the most up to date.

Feel free to schedule the nearest appointment and if you would like to be notified of any sooner appointments, please indicate so on pre-screening paperwork! We will make every effort to accommodate your request!

Please keep in mind there is commonly a 4-6 week window from the date viewed to the first available date. All first sessions are on a rolling basis and the availability seen on the website is the most up to date.

Feel free to schedule the nearest appointment and if you would like to be notified of any sooner appointments, please indicate so on pre-screening paperwork! We will make every effort to accommodate your request!

We are currently in network with:

Aetna

BlueCross BlueShield (Horizon, Florida Blue, PPO/BlueCard)

Cigna

Humana

United Healthcare/United Behavioral Health (Optum, Oscar, Student Resources, UMR)

Insurance companies set limits on the frequency and length of psychiatric visits, and choose what they will reimburse for a given diagnosis. This can make it difficult for physicians to make decisions that they feel are in the best interests of their patients. This is why we also offer our services for patients who want to pay out of pocket.

If you do want to submit your visits as an out-of-network claim to your health insurance company (THIS IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO INSURANCES WE ARE NOT IN-NETWORK WITH), SK Lifestyle Psychiatry can provide the needed documentation in the form of a “Superbill” (itemized health care receipt), except those with Medicare/Medicaid. We cannot make any guarantees of insurance reimbursement, and some insurances may require additional information that we are unable to provide. Please note that we will not be able to provide any superbills if you elect to not utilize your insurance company and pay out of pocket. Please ensure you let us know if you have health insurance or if any changes with your health insurance at any point during your treatment.

We have listed the insurances we currently are in network with at this time.

If you have a more specific question about your insurance coverage, we would always recommend calling your insurance company as they will have the most accurate information with regards to overall coverage and any applicable co-pays, co-insurances, and deductibles.

We are currently in network with:

Aetna

BlueCross BlueShield (Horizon, Florida Blue, PPO/BlueCard)

Cigna

Humana

United Healthcare/United Behavioral Health (Optum, Oscar, Student Resources, UMR)

Insurance companies set limits on the frequency and length of psychiatric visits, and choose what they will reimburse for a given diagnosis. This can make it difficult for physicians to make decisions that they feel are in the best interests of their patients. This is why we also offer our services for patients who want to pay out of pocket.

If you do want to submit your visits as an out-of-network claim to your insurance, SK Lifestyle Psychiatry can provide the needed documentation in the form of a “Superbill” (itemized health care receipt), except those with Medicare/Medicaid. We cannot make any guarantees of insurance reimbursement, and some insurances may require additional information that we are unable to provide. Please note that we will not be able to provide any superbills if you elect to not utilize your insurance company and pay out of pocket. Please ensure you let us know if you have insurance or if any changes with your insurance occur at any point during your treatment.

All applicable copays, co-insurances, and deductibles will be charged up to 72 hours prior to your scheduled session.

**If you are aware of a specific deductible that you have with your insurance, we would always recommend notifying our front desk staff or Practice admin as this will prevent a delay in processing**

All payments will be processed to the card on file prior to the session. We would advise to not make payments on your specific insurance portal as that at times will lead to issues with billing (ie: Being incorrectly charged twice for the same amount)

**Please note: If you have a HSA/FSA already set up with your insurance plan, please let us know IN ADVANCE to avoid being mistakenly charged twice for the same amount**

**If you are aware of a specific deductible that you have with your insurance, we would always recommend notifying our front desk staff or Practice admin as this will prevent a delay in processing**

We do NOT accept Medicare or Medicaid.

Please note: We only accept MediCARE through Aetna and Humana**

At this time, we see Adults ages 18 and up.

On certain unique case-by-case situations, we can see teenagers from ages 15 to 17 years old. Please note that this is solely at the discretion of the Psychiatrist.

Yes

All patients who were seeing either a Psychiatrist, PCP, NP, or PA will need to submit their medical records prior to being confirmed for their scheduled appointment.

To ensure a seamless onboarding process, all necessary paperwork must be submitted prior to your first appointment. This includes consent forms, a photo ID, your insurance ID, and any medical records from your previous prescriber or provider.

If you are transitioning from another prescriber or provider, our team will review your records and notify you once your appointment is confirmed.

Please be aware of the following important considerations:

• In cases where patients have multiple medications, including controlled substances prescribed by previous providers, SK Lifestyle Psychiatry reserves the right to determine if we can meet your needs based on a thorough review of your records.

• All initial sessions are considered consultations. Scheduling a consultation does not guarantee the establishment of a continuing treatment relationship.

• The decision to proceed with ongoing care is made at the discretion of the psychiatrist following the initial evaluation. This determination will weigh the potential benefits and risks based on the level of care that SK Lifestyle Psychiatry can provide.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to provide the best possible care.

Forms of this nature are dealt with on a case by case basis and are ultimately at the discretion of your Psychiatrist. However, we do NOT offer assistance for long-term disability, legal evaluations/certifications or IEP/504 Plans.

We DO offer assistance with FMLA, work/school accommodation forms, and ESA letters (emotional support animal).

Please note that your health insurance does not cover for forms. All forms are associated with a $180.00 fee for paperwork/forms of average time/complexity but fees can range up to $300.00 for more complex forms that require extensive time and detail.

For any other forms not listed above, feel free to talk with your Psychiatrist and they will be able to let you know if the form can be completed by our practice!

Please note that payment is charged once our Psychiatrist receives and reviews the required paperwork.

• Please note that completion of any and all paperwork is at the sole discretion of the treating Psychiatrist. **

To ensure the best care to all our patients, we have the following cancellation policy.

• New patient Initial (First) session appointments must be cancelled 72 hours prior to the scheduled sessions date and time.

• Follow up appointments must be cancelled 24 hours prior to the scheduled sessions date and time.

Any appointment cancelled outside of the aforementioned time frame will result in the full out of pocket service fee being charged to your credit or debit card on file.

• Please note that your health insurance company will not provide any coverage for missed sessions, or late cancellations.

if you are in a crisis and need immediate evaluation (i.e. thoughts of suicide, thoughts of harming yourself or others, severe drug reaction, or any other emergency, including but not limited to medical or psychiatric), we recommend for you to call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room (ER) for prompt evaluation.

This is totally fine and we will recommend you see a therapist that can accommodate structured therapy sessions. We realize therapy can be effective on its own for many individuals!

Our approach involves the utilization of therapy along with other tools such as medication management combined with structured psychotherapy.

• We use a multitude of therapeutic techniques along with advanced psychopharmacology in our treatment approach.

Research consistently shows that a combined approach of medication and psychotherapy leads to the best overall outcomes compared to using either treatment modality alone.

If at any time during treatment your Psychiatrist determines that a more therapy intensive approach is needed, we will provide referrals to psychotherapists that may be available in your area!

Not all care is the same!

Psychiatrists are medical doctors that undergo an extensive and rigorous educational journey that typically spans 12-14 years, encompassing undergraduate studies, medical school, and specialized post graduate training in the speciality of psychiatry. Psychiatrists also have significant experience and knowledge in the speciality of Neurology along with ample time of their training in hospital level internal medicine. This includes four years of undergraduate education, four years of medical school, and four years of residency training in psychiatry. During their residency, psychiatrists work as medical doctors who evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients while gaining experience in medical disorders, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders. These cases range from mild to the most severe forms of psychopathology. This period includes a minimum of 36,000 to 40,000 hours of clinical training and supervised practice, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle complex cases and provide comprehensive care.

In contrast, nurse practitioners, including those specializing in mental health, follow a shorter educational path. They may begin with an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in nursing, which takes 2-4 years. They can then pursue a Master's degree in nursing, typically requiring an additional 2 years. Given the recent popularity of NP school, it should be noted that nurse practitioner training is not standardized and varies greatly. Many NP programs are now done online and do not require any clinical nursing experience for admission. This advanced practice education involves around 500 to 700 clinical hours, focused on developing practical skills in diagnosing and managing common conditions. Of note, most programs do not supervise or set up clinical hours for students, frequently resulting in large training variations amongst individuals. While nurse practitioners play a role in primary healthcare, their total clinical training hours and the breadth of their education are significantly less than those of psychiatrists. This difference highlights the extensive preparation and expertise psychiatrists bring to the field of mental health.

Due to the complex nature of addiction and the necessity for a comprehensive, collaborative approach, we do not offer addiction treatment services. At this time, we are unable to see patients who are actively using substances, are experiencing substance abuse, or are undergoing active or anticipated withdrawal.