We understand that unanticipated events happen occasionally in everyone’s life. Business meetings, doctor’s appointments, flight delays, car problems, and illness are just a few reasons why you might have to cancel an appointment. In order to be fair to all of our clients and out of consideration for our therapists’ time, we have adopted the following policies:
FAQ
What is your cancellation policy?
- 24 hour advance notice is required when canceling an appointment. This allows the opportunity for us to accommodate someone else.
- If you are unable to give us 24 hours advance notice, or are a “no show,” you will be charged a cancellation fee for each visit, in the amount of half of the service fee. We are unable to bill insurance for this fee.
- If you have more than 3 canceled and/or “no show” appointments, you will be discharged from therapy. Often times we have a waiting list for clinicians or time slots, therefore we are unable to serve other patients when clients do not show up as expected.
- Out of respect and consideration to your therapist and other customers, please plan accordingly and be on time.
Depending on the type of session and the payer source, we are able to provide make-up sessions for holiday as long as there is room on your therapist’s schedule. Please talk to your therapist to inquire about the specifics for your situation.
NOTE: We reserve the right to terminate services at any time. This includes, but is not limited to: unavailability of funds, liability to others, and failure to comply with the terms agreed upon at the initiation of, or during, treatment services. In the event of such an occurrence, you will receive written notification from us. However, there may be time sensitive situations where Clear Speech and Language may need to take immediate action without advance notice.
Can my child still be seen if s/he is sick?
While we understand that illnesses can be unexpected and unpredictable, the safety and health of our staff and clients is a priority to us. Therefore, if your child is visibly sick upon arrival to their session, the session will be canceled and parent or guardian will be charged the cancellation fee. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone’s health condition we deem to be compromised.
Should my child be seen for a half of an hour or an hour session?
The answer depends on several things. First, the clinician and you will discuss whether or not your child would be productive for longer periods of time. Many children need 30 minute sessions due to their short attention span or behavior. Second, if you plan to file with a private insurance or Medicaid they may not cover the entire session if it is a full hour (this will be based on the diagnosis and actual therapies being performed). Finally, if there is available time with the clinician, insurance is not an issue, and your child would be productive during that time, then it should not be a problem.
Where will therapy be performed?
We are available to provide services in the home or in an agreed-upon public location that is convenient and conducive to therapy, such as a public library. Tele-therapy is also available.
Can I sit in on the therapy sessions?
Although each case is different, generally we do not encourage parents to be in the room while therapy is in progress. We find that many children perform better when their parent is not directly in the room. Time is allotted at the end of each session for family counseling and education, including training of strategies to be utilized at home.
When do I pay?
Our financial policy is as follows: Payment is due at the time of service unless arrangements have been made in advance.
Clear Speech and Language does not accept payments for Easter Seals of Southern California patients; please contact your therapy service manager for any payment inquiries.
What forms of payment are accepted?
We accept cash, Visa, and MasterCard.
Which insurance plans do you accept?
Tricare, CHOC, Easter Seals of Southern California, Blue Shield of California, Blue Cross Blue Shield
NOTE: Please contact your insurance carrier for specific therapy plans.
Can my child still receive private therapy if they are already being seen through Early Intervention?
Yes, additional private therapy can be beneficial to children under 3 years of age, as this is a critical stage for language development. Most insurance companies will cover both Early Intervention and private speech therapy services simultaneously.
If my child has a current IEP or evaluation report does s/he still need to undergo an evaluation at CSL?
In order to target current needs, we honor evaluations from other organizations that have been conducted within the past six months. If you have an evaluation from another organization or school district, one of our clinicians will review the information provided. If we feel that additional information is needed, or if standardized testing was not part of the information you provided, we will recommend that additional information be gathered through an evaluation.
What if my child has behavior issues?
It is our mission at Clear Speech and Language to provide quality services to children in need. As such, safety is a priority for us. While we understand that many children’s diagnoses are accompanied by adverse behaviors, we need to ensure that all involved are kept safe during each session. In order to maintain the high quality of service one would expect, we have adopted the following practices:
- If a child is determined to be aggressive during a session (e.g., spitting or hitting behaviors), we will ask that the parent or caregiver join the session.
- If the negative behaviors continue for at least 3 sessions, we will ask that the services be suspended and that the child return to services accompanied by an ABA therapist.
- If the child comes to therapy without their ABA therapist, the session will be canceled and parent or guardian will be charged the cancellation fee.
Do you work with clients who wear cochlear implants?
Yes, we do! We have years of experience servicing children and adults who have cochlear implants. Please note that in order to provide quality service, we have adopted the following practice:
- If the client attends his or her therapy session without their cochlear implant, the session will be canceled and parent or guardian will be charged the cancellation fee.
Do you work with clients who utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)?
Yes, we do! We have years of experience servicing children and adults who use a variety of AAC. Please note that in order to provide quality service, we have adopted the following practice:
- If the client attends his or her therapy session without their AAC device, the session will be canceled and parent or guardian will be charged the cancellation fee.
What if my child speaks a language other than English?
At this time, we currently offer services in English and Spanish. If your child’s dominant or preferred language is neither English nor Spanish, we do recommend that you find a therapist that can provide services in your child’s language, as it is to your child’s benefit that s/he receive services from a therapist who can fully communicate with your child. Please keep in mind that being bilingual or learning English is not a speech or language disorder.