As of January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act (H.R. 133), health care providers are required to provide clients who are uninsured/not using insurance an itemized billing estimate of the bill for items and services that may be used for the duration while under their care. 

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• This estimate gives the consumer an example of the price of items and services that are to be reasonably expected for your health care needs. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was established. 

• Your rights include receiving a Good Faith Estimate for total expected costs for any non-emergency services/items such as medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. 

• The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unassessed costs related to your health care, and you have the right to initiate a dispute resolution process if the actual amount charged to you substantially exceeds the estimated charges stated in your Good Faith Estimate (which means $400 or more beyond the estimated charges).

 

Responsibilities of Health Care Provider

The provider is required to provide a Good Faith Estimate within the following timeframes:

• Scheduled service is 3 business days or more before appointment date, no later than one business day after scheduling;

• Scheduled service is 10 business days or more before the appointment date, no later than three business days after the date of scheduling; or

• If the uninsured or self-pay client requests a Good Faith Estimate (without scheduling the service), no later than three business days after the date of the request.

• A new good faith estimate must be provided, within the specified timeframes if the client reschedules the requested item or service.

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Actions You Can Take

• Contact the provider to dispute the charges, let them know the billed charges are high than the Good Faith Estimate. Request that the health care provider update the bill, negotiate the bill, or ask for a payment plan. 

• Contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin a dispute resolution process. This must be done within 120 days of the date of the bill in dispute. There is a $25.00 fee associated with using the dispute process. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, you will have to pay the original price of the Good Faith Estimate. If the dispute is resolved and HHS is in agreeance with the provider, you will remain responsible for the higher amount. 

 

​What this means for your counseling sessions

You are entitled to receive a Good Faith Estimate of what the charges could be for psychotherapy services provided to you. While it is not possible for a counselor to know, in advance, how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person,  it provides an estimate of the cost of services provided. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you. This estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to obtain any services from the provider(s) listed, nor does it include any services rendered to you that are not identified here. 

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This Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist.  You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time.

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For further information about your rights, please call 1-800-985-3059 or visit  www.cms.gov/nosurprises 

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