FAQ

At this time, we are not accepting new patients as our schedule is full. Please complete our New Patient Information form to be placed on our waitlist. We will contact you as soon as an opening becomes available.

We accept most major health insurance plans, including:

• Anthem Blue Cross

• Aetna

• Blue Shield

• Cigna (Evernorth)

• Medicare

• HealthNet

• Optum

Because insurance plans can vary by plan type and network, we strongly recommend that you contact your insurance provider directly to:

• Confirm that our practice is in‑network for your specific plan

• Review your benefits — including your deductible, copay, coinsurance, and any visit limits

• Verify any changes for 2026, especially if you recently enrolled in a new plan

Insurance networks and benefits can change from year to year. Plans update their provider directories and coverage terms annually, and your out‑of‑pocket costs may differ depending on whether a provider is in‑network for your exact plan.

We are utilizing HIPAA-Compliant Telehealth for our current/existing patients treatment plans.

Practice standards require all patients receiving medication to be evaluated, at minimum, every three months.

Judy Mendoza is the primary contact to schedule my appointments, handle any insurance related matters and to answer any questions about our services.

Because appointment hours are reserved specifically for you, we kindly ask that you notify us of any schedule changes that may affect your appointment.

If you need to reschedule or cancel, please provide at least 24 business hours’ notice (1 business day). This allows us to offer the time to other patients on our waitlist.

If an appointment is not canceled with 24 business hours’ notice, or if you do not show up, you will be charged the full session fee. This charge will not be billed to your insurance, and payment must be received before scheduling future visits.

To reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call us at (916) 747-2346.

Late Arrivals

Please arrive on time. If you are late, your session will end at the originally scheduled time, and you will still be responsible for the full fee.

For medication/therapy visits, if you are more than 15 minutes late, we may need to reschedule so we can devote the appropriate amount of time and attention to your care. You will still be responsible for payment for the missed session.

Please submit your refill requests at least one week before you are expected to run out of your medication. This allows us and your pharmacy time to ensure your medication is in stock and to complete any necessary prior authorizations (which may take up to 3 business days).

You may submit refill requests via:

• Phone

• Email

• Athena Patient Portal

For non-controlled medications, you may also contact your pharmacy directly.

Important Reminders

• Do not wait until you are out of medication to request a refill or schedule an appointment. We require at least 48 business hours (2 business days) to process prescription refills, and appointments may not be immediately available.

• For controlled medications, we are not obligated to refill prescriptions if appointments are missed or not scheduled appropriately. If controlled medications are lost or stolen, refills will not be provided until your next scheduled appointment.

• One of the main goals of your appointments is to ensure you have enough medication until your next visit. Therefore:
  

  • You will not need to call the office for refills between appointments, as your prescription will be written to cover you until your next visit.

  • To continue receiving medication, you must attend your appointment so we can review your progress, assess side effects, update labs, and make any necessary adjustments.

If you are having trouble with the Athena Patient Portal or need help scheduling your next appointment, please contact our office at (916) 747‑2346.

Patients (or parents/guardians) who request letters or forms to be completed and sent to schools, employers, or other third parties. Please note the following:

• There is a letter-writing fee for this service. The minimum charge is $25, and the final fee will depend on the complexity and amount of information required.

• For letters prepared for professional or legal purposes, a minimum fee of $50 will be charged. This fee must be paid in advance before any work on the letter begins.

Please note that our office does not submit any EDD forms electronically.