Patient Rights & Transparency
Your Right to a
Good Faith Estimate
Under federal law, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected cost of your care before scheduling services. This page explains what that means, how it applies to this practice, and how to request one.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a written document that outlines the anticipated cost of a healthcare service before it takes place. It is not a bill, and it is not a guarantee of the final amount — it is an estimate provided in good faith based on the services discussed.
The No Surprises Act, a federal law that took effect January 1, 2022, requires healthcare providers to offer Good Faith Estimates to patients who are uninsured or who choose to pay out of pocket, regardless of whether they have insurance.
How this applies at Synapse and Soma: This practice operates on a self-pay basis. All patients pay directly for services — there is no insurance billing. As a result, every patient is entitled to a Good Faith Estimate before scheduled care begins.
What a Good Faith Estimate includes
Your estimate will include:
- 1 The expected cost of each service, including the initial evaluation and any anticipated follow-up appointments
- 2 The diagnosis codes and service codes (CPT codes) associated with those services
- 3 The name and contact information of this practice
- 4 The date the estimate was provided
Psychiatric care is individualized, and the frequency and nature of follow-up visits can vary considerably from one patient to another. Your estimate will reflect a reasonable projection based on what is discussed at the outset of your care — it will be updated if your treatment needs change significantly.
Your rights if costs differ
If you receive a bill that is $400 or more above what was outlined in your Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute that bill through the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process. You must initiate a dispute within 120 days of receiving the bill.
For more information about your rights under the No Surprises Act, or to learn about the dispute resolution process, visit cms.gov/nosurprises.
Request an Estimate
To request a Good Faith Estimate, or if you have questions about the anticipated cost of your care, please reach out before your first appointment. Estimates are typically provided within three business days of a request.