Hello again, I hope this post finds you well.
We wanted to update you on our plans going forward.
On March 16, the President and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines limiting the size of group meetings to ten people or fewer to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). South Carolina’s Governor McMaster followed by announcing that all schools would be closed until the end of April; and today subsequently announced that schools would not reopen this term.
Considering the guidelines and school closures, Beauty for Ashes Counseling has decided to continue to provide all services via telehealth through May in order to protect our clients and staff from this highly contagious virus. We expect to reevaluate at the end of May and will communicate with you then our tentative plan going forward.
We also want to be sensitive to those of you who are unable/unsafe receiving services via telehealth or those not in a place where internet is available. If you need special accommodations, please do not hesitate to call our office, or communicate with your therapist directly. We do not want anyone to be without services due to telehealth/safety limitations.
We continue to advocate on your behalf with your insurance carriers for ongoing telehealth coverage. At the beginning of March, Congress passed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.(www.congress.gov) which allows us to bill Medicare fee-for-service for services delivered by telehealth during this public health emergency. We also have temporary approvals from South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services regarding temporary policy changes for telehealth coverage with SCMedicaid, Molina, Select Health, Cigna, United Healthcare, and BCBS/PAI.
We do plan to provide telehealth services for as long as your insurance company will allow during this pandemic, and we will continue to monitor and advocate for these appropriations to remain in place for as long as we need them to ensure that our clients remain safe—but understand that these policy changes are temporary. Once the restrictions are lifted, we will not be able to provide telehealth services unless your insurance carrier approves it, or it is paid as an out of network service at your therapist’s hourly rate.
Also, please understand that all insurance deductibles and co-pays will be charged at the time services are rendered. These have not been waived by the government.
We appreciate your ongoing patience with us as we strive to support you and each other. I hope this goes without saying, but if you need anything at all, please feel free to call the office at (864) 501-3633 or email us at: office@beautyforashescounseling.org with any needs, questions, comments, or concerns. We are all here for you. Stay home—stay safe—but know you are not alone.
Hugs to you (with a mask) from a safe distance, and washed (sanitized) hands,
The Beauty for Ashes Counseling Team
Simple Practice only requires a device with video and audio (phone, tablet, computer) with an internet connection of at least 10mbps. You can start an appointment directly from your client portal on your computer or tablet or from your mobile phone by downloading the mobile app. You’ll automatically receive an email reminder that includes a link to join the video call. Once they you the call, we’re all set.
For more info on Simple Practice’s TeleHealth follow the link below.
https://support.simplepractice.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003183011-Telehealth-FAQs-for-clients
