Does private pay change confidentiality?

Private pay means there is no third-party payer receiving billing information. I still follow the same responsibility to protect your privacy, and I do not routinely communicate with your department or employer.

I reach out on my own and pay privately | Who Finds Out?

Who finds out?

How you get here doesn't change how I treat your privacy. Whether you contact me yourself, use insurance or an EAP, or come through another route, I don't treat the therapeutic relationship differently based on who is paying.

If a third party requires limited information for payment, authorization, or documentation, I will explain that to you. If information needs to be shared beyond ordinary administration of your care, we will discuss the appropriate authorization or applicable confidentiality exception.

I reach out on my own and pay privately

Private pay keeps the arrangement between us.

When you contact me yourself and pay privately, there is no third-party payer receiving billing information.

Who I talk to

You and I are the people involved in the therapeutic relationship. I do not routinely communicate with your department or employer.

What they’re told

There is no insurance or employer billing process requiring information to be sent to a third party. We can talk directly about your care and the practical details of scheduling and payment.

What they are never told

I do not communicate the content of therapy to your department, employer, family member, or another outside party without an appropriate authorization or release from you, unless an applicable legal or ethical exception requires or permits disclosure.

The exceptions — the situations where I’m legally required to act

If an applicable legal or ethical exception applies, I will discuss what is happening with you whenever circumstances allow.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Requirements can vary by arrangement and situation.

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Questions about privacy?

Susan Rhoads, MSW, LCSW · Peaceful Healing, LLC

(417) 414-0869