FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Cedar River Counseling Services…
(click on the question  to scroll down to the answer on this page)

• • Do I need a referral to be seen at Cedar River Counseling?

  • What should I expect on the first visit?

  • What should I tell my child about the reason for the first visit?

  • Is my visit confidential?

  • Do you see patients in the hospital?

  • Does Cedar River Counseling provide emergency services?

  • How do I get records from another provider forwarded to CRC?

  • Does Cedar River Counseling provide “Second Opinions”?

  • Can I obtain a medication evaluation or have my prescriptions refilled by a clinician at CRC?

  • What do you charge for appointments?

Q: Do I need a referral to be seen at Cedar River Counseling?

A: You do not need a referral from another provider to be seen by one of the providers at CRC. However, this may be a requirement by your private insurance company. To make an appointment, simply call the office at 507-433-6482 and inform the receptionist that you would like to schedule your first appointment. If you do have a referral from another provider, it is always helpful for your provider(s) to share information with our providers. A formal request to share confidential information will be discussed with you upon your first visit.

Q: What Should I expect on the first visit?

A:We ask that you plan to arrive about 20 minutes early for your first visit at CRC. This allows time to fill out necessary paperwork prior to the first visit, and allows time for unexpected difficulties getting to our office. If you are bringing your child for a first visit, the provider will want to meet with you with your child for part of the Intake Visit, and may also want to talk to you alone and your child independently. At the end of the first visit, you and your provider will arrive at a plan for the next step(s) in your care.
If you are bringing an adolescent to the office, we ask that you stay for the entire visit in our office area, even if the provider elects to utilize most of the visit with the teenager. In all likelihood, you and your teen will spend time with the clinician together and individually but the provider may choose to spend more time with one party than another for clinical reasons. Most first visits are between 50 and 75 minutes, depending on clinical needs and ability to cover desired information. If all the important information cannot be covered in the first visit, plans will be made for additional visits to cover the other related issues. If you have records from any prior evaluation elsewhere, you may have such records forwarded to our office prior to your initial Intake Evaluation. We may also obtain a release of information from you to secure such records at the time of your appointment.

Q: What should I tell my child about the first visit?

A: Please feel free to explain to your child the reasons for the visit, at the level that you believe your child will understand. If you feel you need more guidance about how to discuss this with your child, you may call the office for additional help. Additionally, if you feel that your child will not understand the reason for the visit, please consider telling your child that you are going together to a provider who is an expert in understanding children and their emotions, behavior, learning, family and/or school situations.

Q: Is my visit confidential?

A: Yes! While our office is compliant with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), we will not share any information about you or your visit(s) unless you authorize such release or transfer of information. If you would like your records sent to another clinician, we ask that you either fill out one of our “release of records” request forms or that you otherwise execute a written release of information. We take confidentiality very seriously and strive to follow the legal definitions and parameters of keeping your information private. If you have specific questions about the legal limits of confidentiality, please ask your provider at CRC.

Q: Do you see patients in the hospital?

A: While we do collaborate with the local hospitals, psychiatric and non-psychiatric, our practice is an outpatient practice only. Whether you are coming out of the hospital, or going in to a hospital, our providers are available to work closely with your provider for your in-patient needs. For psychiatric hospitalizations, our clinicians are willing to work closely with the inpatient provider to maximize the efficiency and benefits of your stay. Our goal is to make your continuity of care seamless and as comfortable and efficient as possible. We have the necessary forms in our office to permit exchanges of records and information at your request.

Q: Does Cedar River Counseling provide emergency services?

A: Our clinicians are on duty to provide emergency services during regular business hours and on an availability basis only. Your provider will explain how to utilize emergency services from CRCES and from the community. Additional community resources include:
• Mayo Clinic 24 Hour Emergency Hotline: There is no appointment necessary and this is provided to the community as a valuable service to individuals in need of emergency mental health assessment. To reach the program by phone, call 507-433-8827 or 1-800-422-1295.
• Mayo Clinic Health Systems: 507-433-7351 (Austin) or 507-373-2384 (Albert Lea)
• Your local emergency room: You may utilize your local hospital and emergency room for medical and/or psychiatric emergencies. All hospitals have the capability to evaluate psychiatric emergencies and provide an acute plan for needed services.
• Your Primary care provider or 911 for emergency assistance
• Your local law enforcement agency at 911
• Your County Department of Health and Human Services

Q: How do I get records from another provider forwarded to CRC?

A: Most providers will not release your confidential medical or mental health records without your permission. To have records sent to CRC, simply specifically request that your pertinent records be sent to our office. It is best to make this request in writing and either delivered or faxed to the sending office. Feel free to utilize our “Release of Information” form which you can download from this website or obtain from our office. There is generally no charge for this service when records are sent directly from one provider to another.
Records should be sent to:
Cedar River Counseling and Educational Services, Inc.
810 W Oakland Ave.
Austin, MN 55912
507-433-6482.
Our fax number is 507-433-0097.

Q: Does Cedar River Counseling provide “Second Opinions”?

A: Yes. A second opinion is simply another provider doing a separate, independent evaluation. This second evaluation will result in an “opinion” from the provider about the diagnosis and treatment plan that can be compared to any prior evaluation(s). It is not uncommon for many of our clients to have been treated elsewhere prior to coming to CRC. It is up to you to decide if you want our provider to have the information from any prior evaluation(s) at the time of your Intake Evaluation at CRC. It is usually more helpful to have all prior evaluations available prior to your first appointment at CRC so that our provider can focus more closely on the concerning issue(s) and spend less time on issues previously investigated by other providers. After the Intake Evaluation, you are free to follow up with our recommendations with our clinicians or take your treatment elsewhere.

Q: Can I obtain a medication evaluation or have my prescriptions refilled by a clinician at Cedar River Counseling?

A: While all of the clinical staff at Cedar River Counseling are familiar with medications for the treatment of mental health conditions, we are not medical providers and cannot recommend or prescribe medications for you or your family. If it is clinically indicated, CRC clinicians will assist you in obtaining a psychiatric/medication evaluation from an area provider of your choosing.

Q: What do you charge for appointments?

A: There is no set protocol for therapy. Some patients come for one session and don’t feel the need for further assistance. Others require ongoing weekly appointments for a longer period of time. We want you to understand the rates involved with your care as you make decisions with your therapist regarding your care. Most appointments are between 50-60 minutes in length, costing $223 per session. If you choose to pay out-of-pocket on the day of the appointment rather than having us send a claim to and insurance company, you will receive a rate of reduction as noted on the chart below.

Cedar River Counseling Services Good Faith Estimate

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This is only an estimate. Actual items, services, or charges may differ from this estimate. There may be additional items or services recommended by your therapist as part of the course of care that would be scheduled or requested separately and not be reflected in this estimate. This is not a contract and does not require that you obtain any of these services. Rates are adjusted annually in January based on the federal government’s cost of living adjustments.

If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill. Please contact Cedar River Counseling Services if you are billed charges that are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You may choose to use the dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days of the date on the original bill. There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. To learn more about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises. Our Address: 810 Oakland Ave. W. Austin, MN 55912; NIP: 16784554497 and TIN: 26-3589798.

*A copy of this Good Faith Estimate will be given to you at your first appointment and we will ask for your signature, or the signature of a minor’s guardian.