I have an appointment scheduled. what should i expect?
Neuropsychological evaluations typically take 3-4 hours. First, the neuropsychologist obtains a detailed history from you and your loved ones for the first hour. In the remaining 2-3 hours the neuropsychologist will work one-on-one with you to complete a wide range of tests assessing different aspects of your thinking. The tests are largely paper-and-pencil, and you may feel like you are back in school again.
After the appointment, the neuropsychologist will write a detailed report summarizing the results of the evaluation, and will include information regarding diagnoses (if applicable) and recommendations for the future. A separate one-hour appointment can be conducted where the results of the report are reviewed in-person, and you can have your questions answered directly. You will be provided with a copy of the report, and additional copies can be sent to whomever you like.
How long will my evaluation last?
Appointment times range. The first appointment is an interview, lasts for around an hour (depending upon complexity of symptoms) and this appointment is generally conducted over Zoom or telephone.
In the second appointment, you will come into the office for testing. In this appointment, you will complete generally 1.5 - 2 hours worth of cognitive testing, though again this can be shorter or longer depending on the nature and needs of the evaluation.
The third appointment is a feedback appointment where we review your test results, discuss any possible diagnosis, and help come up a plan for you moving forward.
What should i do to prepare for the appointment?
Get a good night of sleep
Take your medications like normal (unless directed otherwise)
Eat breakfast the morning of the appointment
If you wear hearing aids or glasses, please bring them
Please bring all relevant medical records to the appointment, including reports from previous neuropsychological evaluations
Bring a small snack if you will need it
Allow for plenty of time to travel to the appointment and to use the restroom before the appointment starts, if needed.
HOW MUCH DOES AN EVALUATION COST?
Evaluations range in cost depending on the nature and extent of assessment required. Please contact us directly to learn more about our pricing.
Do You take insurance?
At this time, California Brain Health Center formally contracts with Medicare, Meritage Medical Network, United Healthcare, and Anthem Blue Cross (**importantly, while we are in network with most Anthem plans, not all Anthem plans will consider us in network . If you have questions about the specifics of your policy, contact your insurer.).
If you have a PPO plan from a different insurance company, you may still be eligible to receive partial or full reimbursement for a neuropsychological evaluation. While California Brain Health Center cannot be responsible for collecting payment from your insurance company directly, we can provide you with the necessary information to submit to your insurance company to facilitate the reimbursement process.
In general, you should be prepared for the possibility that your insurance company will reimburse you no more than 50% of the fee they allow for a neuropsychological or psychological evaluation. However, some policies pay 80–100% of charges. We strongly recommend that you speak directly to a representative of your insurance company to confirm the nature of your coverage for the neuropsychological evaluation.
For step-by-step instructions on contacting your insurance company regarding reimbursement, please read our suggestions here.
who SHOULD I BRING TO THE EVALUATION?
We encourage you to identify one or two friends or family members to accompany you to your appointment. Your loved ones will join you for the first hour of the evaluation (the clinical interview portion). We can conference call family members or friends who cannot be with you in person, and you can share the Zoom link with whomever you choose.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel, please do so at least 48 hours before your scheduled appointment so we can allow a patient on our wait list to have the opportunity to be seen during that appointment time. Last-minute cancellations have a significant impact on the clinic's workflow.
Cancellations within the 48-hour period will be charged a no-show fee equal to two hours of our hourly rate. This retainer fee will be charged at the time of scheduling the appointment, and will be reimbursed after the initial appointment is completed. No-show fees are not be covered by your insurance company.