Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

•  You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

 For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call Rachel at Passionate Life Counseling, (616) 208-5256

​Beginning January 1, 2022, federal laws regulating client care have been updated to include the “No Surprises” Act. Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services called a “Good Faith Estimate” (GFE) explaining how much your medical care will cost.

This new regulation is designed to provide transparency to patients regarding their expected medical expenses and to protect them from surprises when they receive their medical bills. It allows patients to understand how much their health care will cost before they receive services.

There are a number of factors that make it challenging to provide an estimate on how long it will take for a client to complete therapeutic treatment, and much depends on the individual client and their goals in seeking therapy. Some clients are satisfied with a reduction in symptoms while others continue longer because it feels beneficial to do so. Others begin to schedule less frequently, and may continue to come in for “tune ups” or when issues arise. Ultimately, as the client, it is your decision when to stop therapy.

​At Passionate Life Counseling, we must provide a diagnosis for all clients for both ethical, legal, and insurance reasons -- as well as required by the "No Surprises Act". A formal diagnosis occurs after an assessment has been completed. That will take place 1-3 sessions after beginning psychotherapy. If you choose to decline a formal diagnosis, we will not update the GFE. It is within your rights to decline a diagnosis per state and federal guidelines. 

​​Passionate Life Counseling recognizes every client's therapy journey is unique. 
How long you need to engage in therapy and how often you attend sessions will be influenced by many factors including

• Your schedule and life circumstances

• Therapist availability

• Ongoing life challenges

• The nature of your specific challenges and how you address them

• Personal finances

You and your therapist will continually assess the appropriate frequency of therapy and will work together to determine when you have met your goals and are ready for discharge and/or a new "Good Faith Estimate" will be issued should your frequency or needs change.

​According to the American Psychological Association, “on average 15 to 20 sessions are required for 50 percent of patients to recover as indicated by self-reported symptom measures”. Additionally, they state that through the working relationship between the client and counselor sometimes the preference is for “longer periods (e.g., 20 to 30 sessions over six months), to achieve more complete symptom remission and to feel confident in the skills needed to maintain treatment gains”.  

So, it depends on several factors because everyone has unique counseling goals. Like any other relationship, it takes time to develop a therapeutic relationship with your counselor and identify your treatment goals, establish a plan of action, and work towards accomplishing them. Whatever your number of sessions will be, we will work together to meet your needs.  

​Common Services at Passionate Life Counseling

• 90791: Intake session ($165)

• 90834/90837: 45-50 minute/53+minute psychotherapy session ($140)

• 90847/46: Family/Couples psychotherapy session ($140)

​Where services will be delivered. 

• Passionate Life Counseling provides services in the office and via teletherapy

Passionate Life Counseling office locations

• 2922 Fuller Ave NE, Suite 116, Grand Rapids MI 49505

​Provider Information

• Provider Name: Passionate Life Counseling. NPI: 1184051633 TAX ID: 36-4882578 Email: Rachel@passionatelifecounseling.com Phone #: 616-208-5256

We look forward to talking with you and answering any questions you may have about the “No Surprises” Act and Good Faith Estimates.