Frequently Asked Questions

Providers at PAWC do not schedule intakes specifically for completing paperwork related to Worker's Compensation cases, disability claims, or ESA letters.

During your initial meeting with a licensed mental health clinician, you'll discuss your personal history, current symptoms, and treatment objectives. This session serves as an opportunity for mutual understanding and collaboration to devise a tailored treatment plan aligned with your goals. Some patients may require a second intake appointment for further assessment before finalizing the treatment plan. Moreover, if your needs extend beyond our expertise at PAWC, your clinician may suggest a referral to a specialized provider.

This determination will be made collaboratively with your treating clinician, based on their clinical assessment. However, we cannot guarantee that medication will be prescribed at your first appointment.

Similar to the question above, this is a decision that will be made in collaboration with your treating clinician and is up to their clinical judgment.

Our office requires two full business days' notice (48 business hours) to cancel or reschedule your appointment or your credit card will be charged a late cancellation fee. Saturdays, Sundays, and Legal Holidays are not counted as business days (i.e., if you have an appointment on Monday at 11:00 am and you wish to change it without penalty, you would need to call our office on the preceding Thursday morning before 11:00 am to avoid the late cancellation fee).

The late cancellation fee is $150 for a session with a psychiatrist or $100 for a session with a psychologist or master's level therapist.

A local mental health clinic assessment through Kaiser is required before a patient can be referred externally to PAWC. Please contact your local Kaiser Mental Health department to start this process. In order to be referred to our practice, please mention our Practice name, Psychiatric Alternatives and Wellness Center.

PAWC is in-network with the following Medi-Cal plans:

• Alameda Alliance
• Health Plan of San Mateo
• Kaiser Medi-Cal (Northern CA)
• Partnership Health Plan
• San Francisco Health Plan

PAWC is in-network with the following Medicare Advantage Plans:

• Anthem Medicare Advantage
• Kaiser Medicare (Northern CA)
• Optum Medicare Advantage

As PAWC is an insurance-based practice, the cost of the appointment will depend on your health insurance's Outpatient Mental Health Benefits. Please contact your insurance directly to inquire about your specific plan's benefits.

We collect your credit card information prior to your first appointment to ensure we can collect all co-payments, co-insurance, and deductible fees indicated by your specific insurance plan. PAWC takes care of billing after the session so your clinician can focus on providing care, rather than administrative tasks.

• Copay: A copay, short for copayment, is a fixed amount you pay for a covered service, such as a doctor's visit or prescription medication, at the time of service. Your insurance plan sets your copay amount.
• Co-insurance: Co-insurance is the percentage of the cost of a covered service that you are responsible for paying after you've met your deductible. For example, if your insurance plan has a 20% co-insurance rate for doctor visits and the visit costs $100, you would pay $20, and your insurance would cover the remaining $80.
• Deductible: A deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket for covered services before your insurance plan starts to pay. Once you've met your deductible, your insurance plan will typically cover a portion of your healthcare costs, and you will be responsible for any applicable copays or co-insurance. Deductibles vary depending on your insurance plan and may reset annually.

If you have specific questions about your copays, co-insurance, or deductible, it's best to refer to your insurance plan's benefits or contact your insurance provider directly.

PAWC's HIPAA-compliant, encrypted software keeps your personal data secure.