FAQs

• Proactive Child Care requires a 24-hour notice for any cancellation. Canceling with less than 24 hours notice will result in being charged the full fee.

• Sessions are paid by credit card or cash on the day of the service. All clients are required to maintain a credit card on file through Proactive Child Care's HIPAA-compliant client portal.

• All therapy services are available via HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing (telehealth), even at short notice. 

• If anyone in your household has a fever, COVID-19, influenza, or RSV, we respectfully request that your in-home session take place virtually to avoid exposure and spreading illness. Please wear a face mask during in-person appointments if you notice any developing symptoms, such as sore throat or runny nose.​

• Clients/legal guardians can request their own super bills in order to pursue out-of-network reimbursement for services received. Please note that insurers require any applicable ICD-10 diagnoses be listed on this document for your insurance records.

*Additional policies, consents, and procedures will be provided to all new clients at the time of enrollment.

Fees

45 minute telehealth session $250

90 minute telehealth session $450

45 minute in-home session $285

90 minute in-home session $485

For clients who are committed to the process of therapy and facing financial limitations, sliding scale fees can be arranged as needed. Please don't hesitate to reach out so we can discuss this further.

Private Pay & Super Bill Information

Proactive Child Care does not accept insurance at this time and is considered an Out of Network (OON) provider. Clients with a PPO plan are often able to receive reimbursement for some of the cost of sessions through their insurance company. To determine if your insurance coverage includes outpatient therapy sessions with an out-of-network provider, contact your insurance company directly by calling the customer service number found online or on the back of your insurance card. Proactive Child Care will provide you with a monthly "super bill" that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. 

A super bill is a detailed receipt for health services that are paid out of pocket. It includes the date of services, procedure (CPT) codes to clarify which exact services you received, amount paid, and any diagnosis that you/your child have been diagnosed with by the provider. We provide monthly super bills to any client who requests them.

When using OON benefits, you pay treatment fees directly to the provider at the time of service, and then pursue reimbursement from your insurance carrier. To learn more about your potential OON benefits, you call your insurance carrier and ask these questions:

• What is my Out of Network coverage?

• Do I need to meet a deductible before using Out of Network coverage, or can I start now?

• If I were to pay $250 for a 45-minute therapy session, how much would you reimburse? (common therapy CPT codes to ask about are 90847, 90846, & 90834)

For a more detailed explanation of why so few mental health providers work with insurance and how to explore your OON options, consider reviewing this article. Another resource to consider is the Reimbursify app, which helps streamline the experience of submitting super bills for reimbursement.

Proactive Child Care/Rachel Kavanaugh, PsyD does not provider 24/7 crisis support. During the course of treatment and even after it ends, if you or someone you know are in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, service options are provided below to more immediately address your needs at this time:

• 988 Lifeline (available 24/7)

Call or Text 988

Website: https://988lifeline.org/ 

• Call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Room

LA area Pediatric Emergency Departments:

1. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department

   • Call 310-825-2111

   • 757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

2. Kaiser Permanente Emergency Care in Southern California

   • Panorama City

   • Los Angeles

   • West Los Angeles

   • Woodland Hills

3. Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (note: no emergency child psychiatry services)

   • Call 323-660-2450

   • 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027

4. Harbor-UCLA Emergency Services

   • Call 424-306-4000

   • 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, CA 90509

• Crisis Text Line

Text "HOME" or "SCHOOL" to 741741 

Website (Chat Online or via WhatsApp): https://www.crisistextline.org/ 

• LA County Department of Mental Health Help Line 

Call 800-854-7771

Website: https://dmh.lacounty.gov/get-help-now/ 

• Services provided by LACDMH Help Line staff include:

Option 1: Access Center for Service Referrals, Crisis Assessments and Field Deployments (available 24/7)

1. Mental health screening and assessment

2. Referral to a service provider

3. Crisis counseling

4. Mobilizing field response teams

5. Linkages to other services and resources

Option 2: Emotional Support Warm Line with Trained Active Listeners (available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily)

• Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services

Child Protection Hotline 800-540-4000

Website: https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/

• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline - Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse

Call or Text "HELP" to 800-422-4453

Website: https://www.childhelphotline.org/ 

• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Hotline 800-843-5678

Website: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline 

• National Domestic Violence Hotline

Hotline (800)-799-7233

Text "START" to 88788

Website: https://www.thehotline.org/ 

• The Trevor Project

Call 866-488-7386

Text ("START" to 678-678)

Website (Chat Online): https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/ 

• Peptoc Hotline

Call (707-873-7862) for pre-recorded life advice and encouraging messages from K-6 students at West side Elementary in Healdsburg, CA

Website: https://www.peptoc.net/hotline 

There are a variety of practicing mental health providers in California, which can be distinct from what is or is not provided in other states and, in turn, can be confusing to consumers seeking mental health services. As specified by the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, below are some details and descriptions that might help explain and distinguish between common different providers in the field. Additional information about the roles below as well as others can be explored through other organizations, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness or Mental Health America.

Psychologists (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.): These are professionals licensed by the Board of Psychology — (916) 574-7720  https://www.psychology.ca.gov/ 

These providers have a doctoral degree, have completed pre- and post-doctoral supervised associateships and fellowships, and have passed the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and California Psychology Law and Ethics Examination (CPLEE) to become licensed to practice in California. They help individuals understand and resolve various psychological experiences or challenges, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. They may provide treatment to individuals (adults and children), couples, families, groups, organizations, or businesses using behavior modification, psychotherapy, hypnosis, or consultation. They provide these services in in-patient psychiatric hospitals, day treatment programs, and out-patient offices. They develop, give, and interpret psychological assessments. For example, they perform intelligence and achievement evaluations, disability evaluations, workers’ compensation evaluations, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and child-custody evaluations. They cannot prescribe drugs.

Some states have become members of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which "is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries." Currently, California is not a member state of PSYPACT.

Psychiatrists (M.D. or O.D.): These are physicians licensed by the Medical Board of California — (800) 633-2322 or (916) 263-2382  www.mbc.ca.gov 

They must have doctoral degrees in medicine, serve four-year residencies, pass the California State Board examination, and be board-certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. They are authorized to prescribe drugs.

Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT):  These are professionals licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences — (916) 574-7830 www.bbs.ca.gov 

They must have at least a master’s degree, some may have a doctoral degree, serve a two-year internship, and pass the Board’s written examinations. They can provide counseling regarding marriage, family, and relationship issues. They cannot prescribe drugs and have limitations in doing psychological testing.

Clinical Social Workers (LCSW): These are professionals licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences — (916) 574-7830 www.bbs.ca.gov 

They must have at least a master’s degree, some may have a doctoral degree, and 3,200 hours of supervised experience, and pass the Board’s examinations. They use psychotherapeutic technique, with individuals, couples, families, and groups to improve the clients’ quality of life. They cannot prescribe drugs.

Psychological Assistants (M.A., M.S., Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.): These are professionals registered by the Board of Psychology — (916) 574-7720 https://www.psychology.ca.gov/ 

They are authorized to provide limited psychological services only under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist or a board-certified psychiatrist. Often these individuals are earning hours of supervised professional experience toward meeting licensing requirements. They must have at least a master’s degree in psychology and are not allowed to prescribe drugs.

Registered Psychologists (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.): These are professionals registered by the Board of Psychology — (916) 574-7720 https://www.psychology.ca.gov/  

To work at nonprofit community agencies that receive at least 25 percent of their funding through some government source it is required to be a Registered Psychologist. They must have doctoral degrees in psychology and have completed at least one year of supervised professional experience. They are not allowed to prescribe drugs.

Under a recent Federal law, health care providers need to give clients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services in advance.

This law, called the No Surprises Act, is intended as consumer protection against unexpected/unauthorized hospital bills. However, it is written in broad language as to potentially include mental health therapists in private practice. 

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment.  You may request a list of available therapy services and costs up front, so that you are fully aware of what you will be charged.

If you receive a healthcare bill that is at least $400 more than the prices indicated on your estimate, you can dispute the bill. Rest assured, Proactive Child Care will always be transparent in our costs and bill for services same-day to eliminate the possibility of a "surprise bill."

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, see your Estimate, or visit the CMS website.

Notice to Consumers: The Department of Consumer Affairs’ Board of Psychology receives and responds to questions and complaints regarding the practice of psychology. If you have questions or complaints, you may contact the board by email at bopmail@dca.ca.gov, on the internet at psychology.ca.gov, by calling (866)503-3221, or by writing to Board of Psychology, 1625 N Market St, Ste N-215, Sacramento, CA 98534