C&C Therapy

Frequently asked questions

1. What is your availability?

• Each individual therapist’s schedule is different, but there is collective availability all seven days of the week, including evenings! You can tell us your availability and we can match you with a therapist with openings. If you have a specific therapist in mind that you would like to meet with, please feel free to reach out for their schedule.

2. Do you treat children?

• We do not treat children at this practice, but we are happy to help you find someone that does. We meet with clients age 16 and up. Feel welcome to ask us who we recommend for child therapy in the Kansas City area.

3. What if I want sessions to be longer than 50 min?

• There are many reasons someone might want longer sessions. This is actually a really popular option for couples and families. If you would like a 1.5 hr or 2 hr session all you need to do is let us know at the time of scheduling. For extended sessions, our full fee will be prorated for the additional time, and you won't have to do any extra paperwork.

4. What makes Communication and Communication Therapy different from other practices?

• At C&C Therapy, we believe that therapy should be honest, effective, and accessible. We practice this belief system by being transparent in our treatment planning and expectations, using research-based treatment methods, and we offer an honor-system sliding scale where clients tell us how much they can afford, and we believe them. We also provide therapy both in-office and online (for Kansas residents), and offer weekend and evening appointments for those with busy weekday schedules.

5. Do you take insurance?

• Great question! Shane Petersen is paneled with several insurance companies which are listed on our “Fees” page. Corey Petersen is private pay and can offer out-of-network superbills when needed.

Billing Disclosures – Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care–like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Additionally, this act protects patients from balance billing when patients receive (i) covered non-emergency services from an out-of-network provider when patients did not receive notice that the provider was out-of-network; (ii) covered medically necessary services from an out-of-network provider when such services are not available in-network,; (iii) covered medically necessary services from an out of network provider at an in-network facility, if patients did not have a reasonable opportunity to choose an in-network provider. These protections apply to patients with coverage through insurers licensed to transact accident or health insurance, a nonprofit hospital service corporation, a nonprofit medical service corporation, a health maintenance organization (“HMO”), and preferred provider organization (“PPO”). These protections only require patients to pay the amount required for in-network services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections. You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

Additionally, this act also protects patients with coverage through a PPO from balance billing when patients receive emergency services and cannot reasonably reach a preferred provider. Additionally, this act protects patients with coverage through an HMO from balance billing when patients receive emergency services.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:

Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact:

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.

Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate 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. 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.

Get More Information

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).