The No Surprises Act

The No Surprises Act is a U.S. federal law that went into effect on January 1, 2022. Its main purpose is to protect consumers from unexpected medical bills, particularly those that arise when they receive out-of-network care at in-network facilities. Essentially, the law aims to limit the situations where clients can be unexpectedly billed for services they didn’t know would be out-of-network. It also includes requirements for those knowingly using out of network options.

Good Faith Estimate

The No Surprises Act requires me to provide a “Good Faith Estimate” (GFE) to any client who is uninsured or self-pay, detailing the expected costs of services. This GFE is provided to give you a clear understanding of potential therapy costs. Rates and fees may be subject to change if we discuss it together, and you will be notified of any adjustments prior to the session where those changes would be implemented. A GFE document will be provided to you for intake, after a cadence of regular therapy sessions is set, and any time we might increase frequency of sessions above a certain amount. My long-term GFEs last for a year, and will be updated on a yearly basis if we don’t change anything.

You will be able to sign and access your initial GFE and future estimates via your online portal, which you set up at intake. You can also request an updated GFE document at any point if you would like. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit the CMS website, the MD Attorney General website, or call 800-985-3059.