FAQ
A Few Things To Know
We want you to feel informed and confident in your care. Below you’ll find answers to common questions about our services, appointments, insurance, and more.
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What is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)?
A PMHNP is an advanced practice nurse with graduate-level training in psychiatric care, board-certified to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions — including prescribing and managing psychiatric medications. In Oregon, PMHNPs are licensed to practice independently and carry national board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
How do psychiatrists and PMHNPs differ?
Psychiatrists and PMHNPs both evaluate and diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and manage medication, and provide ongoing psychiatric care. In Oregon, PMHNPs practice with full independent authority: we evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, and manage your treatment from start to finish.
What differs is how each provider gets there. Psychiatrists complete four years of medical school and four years of psychiatric residency, nearly a decade of training grounded in medicine. PMHNPs come to psychiatry through nursing: years of clinical nursing practice, followed by graduate or doctoral education specializing in psychiatric mental health, supervised clinical hours, and national board certification. Both are demanding paths, and both produce clinicians who specialize in mental health care.
The clinicians at Claris Mental health bring years of experience in the mental health field, in a range of psychiatric settings including inpatient care, community mental health, and outpatient practice. That range means we've seen a wide variety of presentations and treatment histories, and we bring that perspective to every appointment.
What differs is how each provider gets there. Psychiatrists complete four years of medical school and four years of psychiatric residency, nearly a decade of training grounded in medicine. PMHNPs come to psychiatry through nursing: years of clinical nursing practice, followed by graduate or doctoral education specializing in psychiatric mental health, supervised clinical hours, and national board certification. Both are demanding paths, and both produce clinicians who specialize in mental health care.
The clinicians at Claris Mental health bring years of experience in the mental health field, in a range of psychiatric settings including inpatient care, community mental health, and outpatient practice. That range means we've seen a wide variety of presentations and treatment histories, and we bring that perspective to every appointment.
Are you accepting new patients?
Availability varies by provider. The easiest way to find out is to complete our new patient inquiry form. We will respond promptly with current availability.
How soon can I get an appointment?
Appointment availability varies by provider and may change from week to week. We do our best to offer new patient appointments as promptly as possible. The easiest way to check current availability is to complete our new patient inquiry form and we’ll follow up with available options.
What if I’m not sure whether I need medication?
That's a completely valid reason to book an evaluation. A psychiatric assessment doesn't commit you to medication. It gives you an informed picture of what's going on and what your options are, including non-medication options. Some evaluations end with a recommendation not to start medication at all.
Do you offer therapy?
Claris Mental Health primarily provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Appointments often include supportive and behavioral guidance, but when ongoing psychotherapy is indicated, we generally recommend establishing care with a dedicated therapist. We're glad to collaborate with your existing therapist or help you find one. For many psychiatric conditions, medication and therapy work better together than either does alone.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
No. You do not need a referral to schedule an appointment with Claris Mental Health. You can contact us directly to request care. If you plan to use insurance, we recommend checking your specific plan, as some plans may have their own referral or authorization requirements.
How do telehealth appointments work?
All appointments happen by secure video. Before each visit you'll receive a link. Then, at your appointment time, you join from any private space in Oregon with a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera. Most patients find telehealth appointments feel just as personal as office visits, without the commute or waiting room.
How long are appointments?
Initial psychiatric evaluations are longer, in-depth appointments, typically 60-90 minutes, so we have time to genuinely understand your history, symptoms, and goals. Follow-up appointments are usually 25 minutes, with enough time to review how things are going, make any adjustments, and answer your questions.
How often will I have appointments?
It depends on your treatment. When starting or changing medication, follow-up appointments are typically more frequent. Once treatment is stable, appointments are usually spaced further apart when clinically appropriate.
Can I be seen if I live outside Oregon?
Not currently. Telehealth regulations require you to be physically located in a state where your provider is licensed at the time of your appointment. We currently serve patients located in Oregon.
Do you do appointments outside of normal business hours?
We offer some early morning and evening appointments, depending on provider availability. Appointment times may vary, so please contact us if you need a time outside of standard business hours and we’ll do our best to find an option that works for you.
Can I bring a support person to my appointment?
Yes. With your permission, a family member, partner, or other support person may join part of your appointment when it would be helpful. We may also spend some time speaking with you individually so you have space to discuss concerns privately.
What happens after my first appointment?
By the end of your evaluation, or sometimes at a follow-up visit if more information is needed, your provider will discuss their impressions and recommendations with you. Next steps may include starting or adjusting medication, obtaining lab work, recommending therapy or other services, or gathering additional information before making treatment decisions. If ongoing care is recommended, we’ll also discuss when to follow up.
What insurance plans do you accept?
We are currently in network with [xyz] and are actively working to establish contracts with additional insurance plans. Please visit our Pricing & Insurance page for the most up-to-date list.
How do I know if you’re in network with my specific plan?
Insurance networks can vary between plans, even when they are offered by the same insurance company. We recommend contacting your insurance company before your first appointment to confirm that both Claris Mental Health and your specific provider are in network with your plan. You may also want to ask about your outpatient mental health benefits, telehealth coverage, deductible, copay or coinsurance, and whether prior authorization is required.
We may verify your eligibility as a courtesy, but verification is not a guarantee that your insurance company will cover or pay for a service.
We may verify your eligibility as a courtesy, but verification is not a guarantee that your insurance company will cover or pay for a service.
How does using insurance work?
If we're in network with your plan, we will bill your insurance for covered services. Depending on your benefits, you may be responsible for a copay, coinsurance, deductible, or services your plan does not cover. Your portion of the cost, including any applicable copay, is due at the time of service.
Because benefits vary considerably between plans, we recommend confirming your mental health and telehealth benefits directly with your insurance company before beginning care.
Because benefits vary considerably between plans, we recommend confirming your mental health and telehealth benefits directly with your insurance company before beginning care.
Can I see you without using insurance?
Yes. You are welcome to receive care as a self-pay patient whether you do not have insurance, we're not in network with your plan, or you simply prefer not to use your insurance for your care. Self-pay patients are responsible for the full cost of services at the time of the appointment.
What are your self-pay rates?
Our current self-pay rates are:
Initial Psychiatric Evaluation
60-90 minutes — $450
Standard Follow-Up
25 minutes — $225
Extended Follow-Up
45–60 minutes — $350
Extended appointments may be recommended when additional time is needed for complex concerns, significant treatment changes, or multiple issues.
Initial Psychiatric Evaluation
60-90 minutes — $450
Standard Follow-Up
25 minutes — $225
Extended Follow-Up
45–60 minutes — $350
Extended appointments may be recommended when additional time is needed for complex concerns, significant treatment changes, or multiple issues.
Do you offer out-of-network care or superbills?
Yes. If we're not in network with your insurance plan, you may still see us as a self-pay patient. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement.
Upon request, we can provide a superbill, which is a detailed receipt that you submit directly to your insurance company. Reimbursement depends on your individual plan and cannot be guaranteed.
Upon request, we can provide a superbill, which is a detailed receipt that you submit directly to your insurance company. Reimbursement depends on your individual plan and cannot be guaranteed.
Do you accept Medicare or Medicaid?
Claris Mental Health does not currently participate with Medicare or Medicaid. If you have Medicare or Medicaid coverage, please contact us before scheduling if you have questions about whether self-pay care may be available to you.
What is confidential in our appointments?
What you share in our appointments stays between us, and your records are protected by federal and state privacy laws. We don't share your information with anyone including family members, employers, or other providers without your written permission.
There are a few legally required exceptions, which apply to all healthcare providers: if there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else, if there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or vulnerable adult, or if records are ordered by a court. If one of these situations ever arises, we will do our best to talk with you about it first.
Also, if you plan to use insurance, your plan requires certain information in order to pay for your care. This typically includes your diagnosis, dates of service, and the type of appointment. Insurance companies do not receive your session notes or the details of what you discuss, though they can request records in limited circumstances such as an audit or review. If keeping your care entirely outside of insurance is important to you, our self-pay option is always available.
There are a few legally required exceptions, which apply to all healthcare providers: if there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else, if there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or vulnerable adult, or if records are ordered by a court. If one of these situations ever arises, we will do our best to talk with you about it first.
Also, if you plan to use insurance, your plan requires certain information in order to pay for your care. This typically includes your diagnosis, dates of service, and the type of appointment. Insurance companies do not receive your session notes or the details of what you discuss, though they can request records in limited circumstances such as an audit or review. If keeping your care entirely outside of insurance is important to you, our self-pay option is always available.
Do you prescribe controlled medications?
When clinically appropriate, our providers may prescribe controlled psychiatric medications. Prescribing decisions are always made after a comprehensive evaluation and are never guaranteed before assessment. Patients receiving controlled medications may be asked to complete regular follow-up visits, provide vital signs or laboratory testing, participate in prescription-monitoring review, provide prior treatment records, or complete toxicology screening when clinically indicated. Early replacement of lost, stolen, or prematurely used controlled medications is not provided. Additional requirements may apply based on the medication and individual clinical circumstances.
What is your policy on medication refills?
The best way to avoid running out of medication is to keep your scheduled appointments, where we’ll make sure you have enough medication until your next visit. If you need a refill between visits, ask your pharmacy to send a request or contact us directly. Please allow 3–5 business days for processing of refill requests.
Some medications, including controlled substances, have additional requirements and may not be refilled early or without a recent appointment. If it has been a while since your last visit, we may ask you to schedule before issuing a refill so we can make sure your treatment remains appropriate and effective.
Some medications, including controlled substances, have additional requirements and may not be refilled early or without a recent appointment. If it has been a while since your last visit, we may ask you to schedule before issuing a refill so we can make sure your treatment remains appropriate and effective.
Do you help with disability forms?
We're happy to discuss paperwork needs on a case-by-case basis. For established patients, we can often complete forms such as FMLA, short-term disability, or accommodation requests once we've had enough appointments to know you and your condition well. We do not complete disability paperwork at a first appointment, and some forms may involve an administrative fee due to the time required. If you have paperwork you know you'll need, bring it up early so we can plan together.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask for advance notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations within 48 hours of appointment time and missed appointments may incur a fee, which is always disclosed in advance.
What if I’m having a mental health crisis?
Claris Mental Health is an outpatient practice and does not provide emergency or after-hours crisis services. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are concerned about your immediate safety, call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. You can also visit our Resources page for additional crisis and mental health support options.
How do I contact my provider between appointments?
You can contact us between visits through our secure patient portal or by calling the office. Messages are reviewed during regular business hours, and we’ll respond as soon as we’re able. The portal is appropriate for routine questions, updates, scheduling needs, and refill requests, but it should not be used for urgent or emergency concerns.
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