Frequently
Asked
Questions
What kind of treatment do you provide?
What kind of conditions do you treat?
Which insurances do you accept?
- Aetna PPO
- Aetna Student Health
- Anthem HMO/PPO
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Blue Shield HMO/PPO
- Blue Shield MHSA
- Cigna
- Cigna / Evernorth
- Humana
- Meritain Health
- Optum
- Oscar
- Tricare
- United Behavioral Health
We also work with other PPO plans as an out of network provider.
What type of provider will I see at my appointment?
bonmente is comprised of psychiatrists, therapists, physician assistants, and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Is a physician assistant or nurse practitioner allowed to prescribe medication?
Yes. Both physician assistants and psychiatric nurse practitioners are licensed to prescribe all medications.
Why do I have to have a credit card on file?
We require a credit card on file for your patient financial responsibilities. You will only be charged for any copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance per your insurance plan. No Shows are charged at that time.
Are all bonmente providers available in every location?
No. The locations listed on the website are all physical locations. Some are telemedicine-only locations where clients may visit to access an online appointment with a provider who is located in another location. Since these visits require specific scheduling, most clients prefer to have telemedicine appointments from home or work.
Some locations are available for in-person appointments with specific providers. Providers may change their schedules on occasion, so availability of a specific provider on a specific date or time may change from time to time. Speak to a bonmente representative about current availability.
What happens if I miss my appointment?
bonmente is dedicated to helping those who want to improve their lives and function at their best. The U.S. is currently experiencing a nationwide shortage of quality behavioral health providers. There simply are not enough high-quality providers to meet the need. As a result, missed appointments and late cancellations are lost opportunities for new and existing clients looking to improve their lives. To ensure we are meeting each of our clients’ needs, all scheduling changes and cancellations must be made at least 2 business days prior to the date of the scheduled appointment.
Note: Your credit card on file will be charged the applicable No Show/Late Cancellation Fee on the day of the missed appointment.
Note: Your insurance company will not reimburse you or bonmente for Missed Appointments or Late Cancellations.
Note: Courtesy calls or emails are just that, a courtesy. Not receiving a call or email does not excuse a Missed Appointment or a Late Cancellation.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is our version of online appointments. Although similar to Skype and Facetime, telemedicine is videoconferencing with the highest security required for a medical organization. You can use your mobile phone, iPad, tablet, or computer as long as you have a video camera.
Telemedicine eliminates the frustration of having to drive in traffic, missing time from work or school, and allows you the option to keep your scheduled appointment even when you are running late or are out of town.
How often do I need to see a provider?
Psychiatric medication management requires periodic visits with a bonmente prescribing provider. Psychotherapy is typically scheduled on a weekly basis. Your bonmente provider may require more frequent visits depending on your specific circumstances.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, and a therapist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors that evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with mental disorders. A psychiatrist is different from psychiatric nurse practitioners, physician assistants, therapists and psychologists because of their status as medical doctors and the extent of their formal training, however many of their job responsibilities are similar. A psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and a physician assistant (PA-C) are not medical doctors, but they share many of the responsibilities with psychiatrists in diagnosing and designing and implementing treatment plans for patients. A therapist (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW) provides talk therapy that consists of different modalities based on the patient needs.
What should I expect at my initial evaluation?
Your initial evaluation involves getting a detailed medical history and discussing current issues and symptoms. Please be prepared to answer your provider’s questions. You and your provider will work together to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. It may consist of medication options, recommendations for labs or other studies like EKG, referrals for psychotherapy, and, if needed, an assessment for a higher level of care. For example, if more intensive care or inpatient care is needed to appropriately address your symptoms, your provider will discuss higher-level treatment programs.
How long are appointments?
Your initial evaluation appointment is 60 minutes. Follow-up appointments are usually 30 minutes. Follow-up appointments are with the same provider, allowing you to get to know each other and work together to optimize your treatment. On some occasions, such as maternity/paternity leave or an unexpected “life happens” absence, you may see a covering provider or be invited to reschedule until your provider returns.
How do I request a medication refill?
There are three ways to request a medication refill:
- Email us at refills@bonmente.com.
- Call us at (310) 360-7200.
What is the turnaround time for a prescription refill request, either submitted online or called in to the office?
All medication refill requests require approval from your bonmente provider. While most refill requests are completed the same day, please allow up to 3 business days as pharmacies are sometimes delayed. Your insurance company may require a Prior Authorization to be completed before agreeing to pay for your medications. Approval of the Prior Authorization from your insurance company may take up to 2 weeks.
What if I need a Prior Authorization for my medication?
Once we receive notification from your pharmacy that a Prior Authorization is required, we will submit the necessary paperwork to your insurance company. Approval of the Prior Authorization from your insurance company may take up to 2 weeks.
What if I am traveling and need a refill on my medication before my next appointment?
All medication refills require routine appointments. If you are planning to be out of town, please notify your provider during your visit to make appropriate arrangements.
How do I know when my medication is ready for pick up?
Most pharmacies will contact you when your medication is ready for pick up. Prescribed medications are called in or sent into the pharmacy electronically and are typically ready for same-day pick-up based on the pharmacy’s operating hours and workload.
If you do not receive notification from the pharmacy that your medication is ready, please contact them first to determine why there is a delay in completing the submission. If they have been unable to contact us, please notify us by one of the following methods:
- Email us at contact@bonmente.com.
- Call us at (310) 360-7200.
What if I need an early refill on my medication?
Early prescription refills require authorization from your bonmente provider. Same-day approval and processing is not guaranteed.
What if I have missed my appointment and need a medication refill?
If you missed your appointment and require a medication refill, please contact our refill department in one of the following ways:
- Email us at contact@bonmente.com.
- Call us at (310) 360-7200.
How can I update/change my pharmacy?
If you’d like to change your pharmacy, please let your provider know at the time your appointment or you can email our team at contact@bonmente.com.
What if the pharmacy has tried to contact your office but has not received a response?
Pharmacies are able to contact us via fax, email, or telephone. If your pharmacy has not received your refill request within 1 business day, please contact us for a status update by one of the following methods:
- Email us at contact@bonmente.com.
- Call us at (310) 360-7200.
What if I need a refill after hours or on the weekend?
Medication refill requests are addressed during business hours during the week. We do make an effort to address medication refill requests over the weekend but cannot guarantee such refills on the same day. Please contact us to help us complete your request by one of the following methods:
- Email us at refills@bonmente.com.
- Call us at (310) 360-7200.
Does bonmente complete disability paperwork?
After evaluation over a few sessions, some providers will recommend a patient pursue short-term disability. bonmente is unable to accept cases involving long-term disability and will not see patients who only seek completion of disability paperwork.
