FAQS

Please fill out the NCQ and wait for the office to call back within 24-48 hours. 

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, selected credit cards, cryptocurrency, and participating insurance. Service fees may apply, however you will be informed of any such charges prior to billing. Payments are due at the time of your visit.

Appointments are the cornerstone of your care, and as such it is imperative that appointments are kept and on time. If you need to cancel or reschedule, you must notify Pacific Mind Health within 48 hours of the appointment time. Patients that do not cancel or reschedule appointments within 48 hours are responsible for payment for the requested visit. Our billing staff will collect payment on the credit/debit card you provided prior to your initial appointment.

Pacific Mind Health is IN-NETWORK with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Beacon/Carelon, Blue Shield of California, Blue Shield of California ILWU, Cigna/Evernorth, Magellan, HealthNet/MHN, Medicare, United Behavioral Health, United HealthCare (UHC), Optum, TriWest/Tricare, Humana, and Oscar Plans that careve Mental Health to Optum. We are Out-of-Network with Kaiser and Medi-Cal.

Existing patients can make prescription refill requests through the main office number, 562-279-0180, or through our online submission form. In order to get a prescription refill, you must provide your name, date of birth, name of medication, dosage, a call-back number, and the phone number and location of your preferred pharmacy. We will do our best to provide your refill as soon as possible, but expect a delay of three business days for refills. We are unable to refill stimulant medications for three months without a follow up appointment due to legal constraints. If you would like a prescription mailed to you there is a $5 service fee.

Mental health records are standard practice in psychiatry. They are protected by both law and professional standards. While you are entitled to review a copy of your record, they can occasionally be misinterpreted given their professional nature.

In rare instances when it may be deemed potentially damaging for Pacific Mind Health to provide you with the full records, we can ensure that they are made available to an appropriate mental health professional of your choosing. Alternatively, Pacific Mind Health or our clinician would gladly review them with you and/or provide a treatment summary. Please note that professional fees will be charged for any preparation time required to comply with such requests.

A downloadable pdf file of Pacific Mind Health’s Privacy Policy can be accessed here.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of mental health treatment, and is protected by the law. Aside from emergency situations, information regarding your care and treatment can only be released with your written permission. If you are seeking insurance reimbursement, insurance companies also often require information about diagnosis, treatment, and other important information as a condition of your insurance coverage.

There are legal exceptions to confidentiality that require may require disclosure:

• Danger to self – If there is an explicit threat to harm yourself, Pacific Mind Health is required to seek hospitalization for the client, or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection
• Danger to others – If there is threat of serious bodily harm to others, Pacific Mind Health is required to take protective actions, which may include notifying the potential victim, notifying the police, or seeking appropriate hospitalization
• Grave disability – If, due to a mental illness, you are unable to meet your basic needs, such as clothing, food, and shelter, Pacific Mind Health may have to disclose information in order to access services to help meet those basic needs
• Suspicion of child, elder, or dependent abuse – If there is an indication of abuse to a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person, even if it is about a party other than yourself, Pacific Mind Health must file a report with the appropriate state agency
• Certain judicial proceedings – If you are involved in judicial proceedings, you have the right to prevent Pacific Mind Health from providing any information about your treatment. However, in some circumstances in which your emotional condition is an important element, a judge may require testimony through a subpoena.

Although these situations can be rare, Pacific Mind Health will make every effort to discuss the proceedings accordingly. We reserve the right to consult with other professionals when appropriate. In these circumstances, your identity will not be revealed, and only important clinical information will be discussed. Please note that such consultants are also legally bound to keep this information confidential.

If you are in an emergency or you feel your life is in danger, call 911 immediately. Emergency psychiatric services are provided by all hospitals through their emergency rooms and do not require appointments. 
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If you have an issue that requires urgent but not emergent attention, leave a detailed voice message at 562-279-0180, and we will return your call within 24-72 hours. Calls generally receive a response within one business day. Email should never be used for urgent or emergency issues. Email is not a confidential means of communication, and Pacific Mind Health cannot ensure that email messages will be received or responded to in a timely fashion. 

Effective January 1, 2022, a ruling went into effect called the “No Surprises Act” which requires practitioners to provider a “Good Faith Estimate” about out-of-network care. The Good Faith Estimate works to show the cost of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service, a diagnosis, and a reason for therapy. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur and will be provided a new “Good Faith Estimate” should this occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill if you and your provider have not previously talked about the change and you have not been given an updated good faith estimate. Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request, or at the time of scheduling health care items and services to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges. Note: The PHSA and GFE does not currently apply to any clients who are using insurance benefits, including “out of network benefits (i.e.., submitting superbills to insurance for reimbursement).
Timeline requirements: Practitioners are required to provide a good faith estimate of expected charges for a scheduled or requested service, including items or services that are reasonably expected to be provided in conjunction with such scheduled or requested item or service.” That estimate must be provided within specified timeframes:

• If the service is scheduled at least three business days before the appointment date, no later than one business day after the date of scheduling;
• If the service is scheduled at least 10 business days before the appointment date, no later than three business days after the date of scheduling; or
• If the uninsured or self-pay patient requests a good faith estimate (without scheduling the service), no later than three business days after the date of the request. A new good faith estimate must be provided, within the specified timeframes if the patient reschedules the requested item or service.

​​You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
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 1 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 contact the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at 1-877-696-6775.

1. Access the Portal

   • Visit the Tebra Patient Portal website using the link provided by your healthcare provider.
   • Alternatively, check for a Tebra app for easier mobile access.

2. Register for an Account

   • New users should select “Create an Account” or “Sign Up.”
   • Enter your personal details, such as name, date of birth, and contact information.
   • Use the secure access code or link provided by your healthcare provider, if applicable.

3. Log In

   • If you already have an account, enter your username and password.
   • Click “Forgot Password?” if you need to reset your login credentials.

4. Explore the Dashboard

   • Once logged in, you’ll see the main dashboard where you can access:
     • Appointments: Schedule, view, or cancel upcoming appointments.
     • Messages: Communicate securely with your healthcare provider.
     • Billing: View and pay your bills online.
     • Medical Records: Access your test results, treatment plans, and health history.

5. Schedule Appointments

   • Navigate to the “Appointments” section.
   • Select a time that works for you and confirm your booking.

6. Review Medical Records

   • Open the “Medical Records” tab to view test results, prescriptions, and visit summaries.
   • Download or print any necessary documents for your records.

7. Secure Messaging

   • Use the “Messages” section to ask non-urgent questions or request prescription refills.
   • Expect a response from your provider within a few business days.

8. Pay Your Bills

   • Go to the “Billing” section to view outstanding balances.
   • Follow the prompts to make a payment securely online.

9. Log Out

   • Always log out after using the portal to ensure your information remains secure.