Terms of Service
Thank you for choosing Freedom360 for your counseling needs. We are committed to giving you the best care possible. To acquaint you further with our professional services and business policies, we are providing the following information pertaining to both counseling services and program offerings as Freedom360/Counselor/Therapist (us) and Client (you):
I. CONSULTATIONS & APPOINTMENTS
Free initial counseling consultations are 30 minutes in length. The purpose is to determine if an individual, couple, or family counseling, with our organization, is a good fit for your needs, enrollment and to discuss the next steps. Only one consultation is allowed per client, couple, or family.
Counseling sessions are standard 45-55 minutes in length. The number and frequency of sessions needed depend on many factors and will be discussed after our initial meeting. Counseling appointments are made in one of the following ways:
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Submit an appointment request online with your desired Therapist. Appointments will be confirmed/denied within 24 hours of the request. You will receive contact via email if the request is denied to coordinate the next steps.
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At the end of a therapy session, you and your Therapist can secure your next appointment.
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By phone at (775) 773-6588. Due to our schedules, we are not always available to answer immediately, please either leave a voice mail with a description of your request or send a text message for an appropriate response and we will respond as soon as possible.
Freedom360 programs are pre-determined based on a weekly format. Enrollment constitutes an agreement that Freedom360 will provide face-to-face telehealth sessions and resources based on the program's weekly structure and the client. Program session duration, number of sessions, weekly time commitment, and provided resources vary by program and the client's movement through the material.
To enroll in a Freedom360 Program, request the free 30-minute initial consultation and specify the program's interest. During the consultation, your Therapist will review the program outline, terms, duration, and pricing to ensure the program is appropriate for the client's needs. Not all Freedom360 Counselors/Therapists offer program services.
Recurring counseling or program sessions are an established agreement between Freeom360 and the client's agreement to the session dates and times unless otherwise discussed and adjusted, rescheduled, or canceled in advance. To modify, reschedule, or cancel your recurring sessions, contact us via email at hello@iamfreedom360.com. Please note, cancellation/rescheduling policy below applies to recurring counseling and program session.
II. CANCELLATION/RESCHEDULING POLICY
Cancellations and/or re-scheduled sessions will be subject to a full charge if NOT RECEIVED AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE for counseling sessions and weekly program sessions. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time.
Any appointment canceled or rescheduled inside of the 24-hour time frame, will be charged 100% of the service fee. Also, if you are late for a session, you may lose some of that appointment/session time. In the case of an emergency, please contact as quickly as possible via phone call/text at +1-775-773-6588 to discuss necessary accommodations for your session.
We strive to accommodate our clients to the best of our ability. To formally request a cancellation or to reschedule, please do so through The Freedom360 Client Portal. All cancellations and reschedule requests are confirmed via email/text.
For potential clients, please also contact via phone/email at least 24-hours in advance to cancel or reschedule your consultation. If you fail to attend 2 consultations without notice you will not be approved as a counseling client for Freedom360. This will be confirmed via email with detailed information, and referral resources to support your healing journey.
If your Counselor/Therapist cancels your session for any reason, you will not be charged.
III. CONTACTING FREEDOM360
The best way to contact us is by or email at hello@iamfreedom360.com or call/text +1-775-773-6588. Due to your Therapist's work schedule, we are often not immediately available, therefore the telephone is answered by voicemail. We will make an effort to return your call/email within 48 business hours.
Social media contact via Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube is not considered a formal, secure nor reliable means of contact. Please use the forms of contact previously mentioned.
In the case of an emergency, however, contact your family physician or the nearest emergency services and ask for the psychiatrist on call.
IV. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Your Therapist can receive brief email/text message communications related to appointments, homework submission, and specific brief informational exchanges. However, we do not perform therapeutic services via email/text nor do we respond to therapy-related topics outside of scheduled therapy appointment times.
We may communicate via email or text messaging for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations. While we attempt to return messages in a timely manner, we cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.
The Freedom360 business email account hello@iamfreedom360.com is not monitored outside of business hours or on weekends with only some exceptions and should not be utilized or relied upon to communicate any therapy-related issues for that reason.
Please note email and text messages are not considered secure forms of communication. Also, social media contact via Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube is not considered a formal, secure nor reliable means of contact. Please use the forms of contact previously mentioned. Personal social media accounts of the therapists and staff are strictly prohibited as a means for communication.
V. ONLINE TELEHEALTH SESSIONS
Online telehealth sessions are treated the same as in-person therapy sessions in terms of time duration, effectiveness, and billing. The use of the SimplePractice Telehealth platform is a HIPAA compliant and confidential platform. The use of any other platform, such as FaceTime, Google MeetUp, or Skype, is not guaranteed to be secure connections but may be used as an alternative, with clients consent, to the SimplePractice Telehealth Technology if connectivity issues are experienced. Your Therapist's standard hourly rate will be applied and it will be your financial responsibility.
Services by electronic means, including but not limited to telephone communication, the Internet, facsimile machines, and e-mail is considered telemedicine/telehealth, broadly defined as the use of information technology to deliver medical services and information from one location to another.
In choosing to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that:
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You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.
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All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable.
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Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.
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Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent.
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There are potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine/telehealth. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to improved communication capabilities, providing convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs.
Effective therapy is often facilitated when the therapist gathers within a session or a series of sessions, a multitude of observations, information, and experiences about the client. Therapists may make clinical assessments, diagnoses, and interventions based not only on direct verbal or auditory communications, written reports, and third-person consultations, but also on direct visual and olfactory observations, information, and experiences.
At Freedom360 we only utilize video conferencing for therapeutic services. Please note that online face-to-face telehealth sessions are highly preferable to phone sessions. However, in the event that you are out of town, sick, or need additional support, phone sessions are available and the same fee will be applied.
VI. SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATION
Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, we do not accept friend/contact requests from current or former clients on any personal social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc). We believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.
However, if you so choose you may follow the @iamreedom360 Instagram account, follow the Freedom360 Facebook Business page, or join the online forum to comment on blogs in which I can not assure you anonymity.
VII. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
You are fully responsible for all services rendered. Full payment is expected at the time of service unless other arrangements are made in advance. You will automatically receive an invoice for your service at the end of the day containing your appointment.
Freedom360 programs are charged by weekly session completion. Only upon settling the session's balance will the client receive the resources for the next week to continue the program.
You will be automatically charged your session fee whereas your receipt is immediately available on the Freedom360 Client Portal on the Billings & Payments tab.
Payment options include credit/debit card, Healthcare Saving Account (HSA) card, or Flexible Spending Account. Freedom360 is considered an Out-of-Network Provider and therefore does not accept insurance at this time. The full fee for your counseling service is due at the time of service.
Your Therapist will not be able to move forward with your next scheduled session until your balance is completely satisfied. Freedom360 will make every effort to settle your balance. We attempt to process your form of payment at least 3 times, before reaching out via email to make alternative payment arrangements. Please contact us at hello@iamfreedom360.com if you need assistance or to discuss a payment plan.
Counselor/Therapist fees are subject to change without warning.
VIII. INSURANCE
Coverage can depend on your benefit plan. Freedom360 is considered an “out of network” provider which means our counseling services may or may not be covered in full/part by your health insurance but we do not work directly with your provider to file claims or accept co-pays.
Here are some options that apply in most situations with health insurance:
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If you have a PPO policy…You’re in luck! You can choose to work with any counselor you like—including us. Payment is still required at the time of service; however, you can access your receipts, at any time, to submit to your insurance company so that you can get reimbursed for all or part of that fee. The amount reimbursed is dependent on the exact coverage of your insurance plan.
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If you have HMO insurance it will not pay for counseling services with Freedom360. You may decide to pay out-of-pocket. I accept credit/debit card payments.
Reimbursement can depend on the exact coverage of your insurance plan. Call the 1-800 number on your insurance card and ask the following questions:
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Do I have mental health benefits?
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What is my deductible and has it been met?
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How many mental health sessions per calendar year does my insurance plan cover?
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How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network mental health provider?
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Are online therapy/telehealth services covered?
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How do I obtain reimbursement for therapy with an out-of-network provider?
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What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
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Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Your fee is automatically charged on the evening of your session. At that time you will immediately receive access to your receipt via the Freedom360 Client Portal on the Billings & Payments Page.
IX. THE NO SURPRISES ACT & GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE
In January 2022, The U.S. government passed The No Surprises Act which states that all healthcare providers be transparent about the cost of care and requires that we send all uninsured clients a Good Faith Estimate. The Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.
Since Freedom360 does not accept insurance, we will provide all active clients with a Good Faith Estimate upon initiation of this process and prior to your first consultation or when reactivating sessions going forward. The Good Faith Estimate will show the costs of items and services expected for your counseling sessions or programs for the remainder of the calendar year from when initially provided. Active clients will receive a new Good Faith Estimate statement in the Freedom360 Client Portal for each calendar year.
No additional fees will be added to your bill unless out of compliance with the agreed-upon Terms and Services. Any changes to sessions that affect the price, or you incur a fee violating our Terms of Service, we will provide you with a new Good Faith Estimate. You can request a new Good Faith Estimate at any time by emailing the office at hello@iamfreedom360.com.
The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract between clients and therapists and does not obligate or require the client to obtain any of the listed services from the therapist.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged a different amount than listed on your Good Faith Estimate statement if complications or special circumstances occur, additional sessions are scheduled, cancellations, starting a new program, document requests, or a change to counseling service fees. If this happens, please contact us at the office via email at hello@iamfreedom360.com. However, if needed, federal law allows you to appeal the bill.
To learn more about The No Surprises Act, please refer to the link from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: No Surprises: Understand your rights against surprise medical bills.
Disputing the Bill
If you believe that we have overcharged you or charged outside of the Good Faith Estimate without being out of compliance with our Terms of Service, please contact our office first either via email at hello@iamfreedom360.com or by phone at +1(775)773-6588 to discuss the charge and work toward resolution. However, if needed, federal law allows you to dispute the bill. Please refer to the directions provided below if further actions are required.
You have the right to start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if need be. If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.
To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call HHS at (800) 368-1019.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.
Please keep a copy of this Good Faith Estimate in a safe place or take pictures of it. You may need it if you are billed a higher amount. A record of your GFE statements will also be retained in the Freedom360 Client Portal for you to reference at any time.
X. CONFIDENTIALITY
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), is a federal law that provides privacy protections and patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (PHI) used for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations.
The law protects the privacy of communications between a patient and counselor. Everything about your care will be held in the strictest confidence. In most situations, I can only release information about your treatment to others with your written consent. Possible exceptions to confidentiality include, but are not limited to the following situations:
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Suspected or reported child abuse or abuse to elderly or disabled persons
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Imminent/serious threat of injury by you to yourself or others
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Court-ordered legal proceedings
Couple's/family counseling maintains the confidentiality of both individuals in couples sessions. In the case of individual counseling, individual confidentiality is upheld unless written consent is on file.
If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, it is important that you bring them to your Therapist's attention for further discussion.
If you follow/join and participate in social media accounts, Facebook business page, or the Instagram business page you are hereby agreeing to waive confidentiality on that platform as we are not able to maintain your anonymity on third-party sites.
In addition, it is important for you to know that you and your Therapist's relationship will be a professional and therapeutic relationship only. In order to preserve this relationship, it is imperative that you and your Therapist not have any other personal or business relationship in any capacity. Personal and/or business relationships can undermine the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship and are not permissible by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
XI. COURT APPEARANCES, TESTIMONY OR DEPOSITIONS; RESPONSES TO DEPOSITIONS OR REPORTS FOR EMPLOYERS OR THE COURT:
Freedom360 does not currently provide professional expert witness services. In the event that a Therapist is required to provide records, testimony, or depositions you (the client) will be charged for all preparation, travel, and court time at the therapist's standard hourly bill rates in force at that time. All records preparation and requests are charged $30/hr.
In the event that any type of special report or assessment is required, by the court system or an employer, you will be referred to external professional and assessment centers. In addition, you (the client) will be responsible for any assessment consultation required of your Therapist by that professional.
XII. MINORS
For minors (under the age of 18-years-old), one or both parents or legal guardians may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. As required by Texas law, a parent/legal guardian is required to have access to the Freedom360 Client Portal (provided by SimplePractice) for each minor to view and manage scheduling and billing.
Parents/guardians will only have access to client notes and therapy resources upon request or court requirement. Contact your Therapist directly if you have additional questions about parent/guardian access to the information for a minor.
XIII. TERMINATION
Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. Your Therapist may terminate treatment after an appropriate discussion with you and a termination process if I determine that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment.
Your Therapist will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, Freedom360 will provide you with a list of external referrals to help treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.
Your access to your Freedom360 Client Portal remains available for you to access as an inactive client.
XIV. CONTACTING US:
If there are any questions regarding these Terms of Service, you may contact us using the information below.
Last Update on March 28, 2022