Client Rights & Billing Transparency
No Surprises Act & Good Faith Estimate Notice
Motivations Counseling is committed to clear, transparent billing for therapy, evaluations, and related clinical services.
This page explains your rights under the No Surprises Act, including information about surprise billing protections and your right to receive a Good Faith Estimate if you are uninsured or choosing not to use insurance.
Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
When you receive emergency care or are 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.
These protections are part of the federal No Surprises Act. This notice is provided so clients understand their rights and where to find additional information.
What Is Balance Billing?
Balance billing occurs when a health care provider bills a patient for the difference between what the provider charges and what the insurance company pays, after the patient’s copay, coinsurance, or deductible.
Balance billing can happen when services are provided by an out-of-network provider or facility.
What Is Surprise Billing?
Surprise billing can occur when a patient unknowingly receives care from an out-of-network provider or facility, such as during emergency care or certain services at an in-network facility.
Federal law provides protections in specific situations involving emergency care and certain non-emergency services.
Federal Protections
What Protections Are in Place?
The No Surprises Act protects patients from certain out-of-network emergency medical bills, including air ambulance services, and certain non-emergency services performed by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities.
In covered situations, a provider or facility may not bill you more than your in-network cost-sharing amount unless specific notice and consent requirements are met.
Under your health plan, you may still be responsible for cost-sharing amounts such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Good Faith Estimate
Your Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate
Under federal law, health care providers need to give patients who do not have insurance, or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You Have the Right to an Estimate
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services reasonably expected for your care.
Ask Before You Schedule
You may ask your provider for a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling a service. Make sure to save a copy or picture of any estimate you receive.
Written Estimate Timeline
Providers are generally required to provide a Good Faith Estimate in writing within applicable federal timelines before scheduled services.
Disputing a Bill
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill.
Motivations Counseling
How This Applies to Our Practice
Motivations Counseling provides counseling, EMDR therapy, immigration psychological evaluations, ESA evaluations, career assessments, and related clinical services in Sugar Land, Katy, and through telehealth across Texas.
We provide fee information on our Rates & Insurance page and can provide Good Faith Estimate information when applicable.
- Standard therapy fees are listed on our fees page.
- Evaluation fees are listed by service type when available.
- Clients may request cost information before scheduling.
- Clients who are uninsured or not using insurance may request a Good Faith Estimate.
Who to Contact
If You Believe You Have Been Wrongly Billed
If you believe your rights under the No Surprises Act have not been applied correctly, you may contact the following agencies for more information.
Federal Information
Contact the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit:
Texas Information
Contact the Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 or visit:
FAQs
Questions About Billing Transparency
What is the No Surprises Act?
The No Surprises Act is a federal law that protects patients from certain unexpected out-of-network medical bills in covered emergency and facility-based situations.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
A Good Faith Estimate is a written estimate of expected charges for non-emergency health care items or services for patients who are uninsured or not using insurance.
Can I ask Motivations Counseling for fee information before scheduling?
Yes. You may contact our office to ask about therapy rates, evaluation fees, telehealth services, and other expected costs before scheduling.
Where can I find your rates?
You can view therapy and evaluation rates on our Rates & Insurance page.
What if I receive a bill that is much higher than my Good Faith Estimate?
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill. Visit cms.gov/nosurprises for more information.
Questions About Costs?
Contact Motivations Counseling
If you have questions about therapy fees, evaluation rates, superbills, insurance reimbursement, or Good Faith Estimate information, our team can help.
