FAQ

How do I get an appointment?

Simply call 479-366-0850 for appointment availability.

Can I get appointment reminders?

Absolutely. At your first appointment, we will ask you to sign a form allowing us to call or text you with appointment reminders.

Does your clinic provide stimulants to treat ADHD?

Our providers do treat ADHD and stimulants are often a very important component of treatment. Northwest Arkansas is home to several colleges and often students from out of state do not have an in-state provider. Please note that we take our responsibility in prescribing stimulants, which are a controlled substance, very seriously.  After an extensive in-person evaluation we will discuss the potential use of stimulants.

Does your clinic provide benzodiazepines to treat anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders can be among the most crippling diseases in the mental health spectrum. Our providers are not in the business of watching our clients suffer from debilitating illnesses. However, benzodiazepines, just as stimulants, are a controlled substance with potential for abuse.  In short, we most certainly provide benzodiazepines where appropriate but we will monitor their usage to ensure that we are not giving you problems that you did not have when you first arrived.

If I receive treatment with medications at Pinnacle Premier Psychiatry, how often do I need to visit?

The frequency of your follow-up appointments will vary based on your diagnosis, its severity, and the medications you are taking.  In general, our providers will see you more frequently when they are first getting to know you.  Subsequent to this, the frequency of your appointments will be based on medical necessity and patient safety, which is our primary concern.

If I receive therapy at Pinnacle Premier Psychiatry, how often will I need to see my therapist?

Just as with medication management visits, this is based on many factors but we have found that most people benefit the most and achieve progress most quickly from psychotherapy sessions at least once per week.

Does Pinnacle Premier Psychiatry file insurance claims?

Pinnacle Premier Psychiatry does accept payments from “in-network” third-parties / insurance companies. Payment arrangements for “out of network” insurers are handled exclusively between Pinnacle Premier Psychiatry and our patients. The grand majority of our clients, in one way or another, utilize their health insurance to help cover their clinic fees. For “out of network” patients, this is a simple process whereby we will provide you with an itemized invoice that you can submit to your insurance company, who will reimburse you directly as per the details of your insurance coverage agreement.

I am concerned about the privacy of my medical record or my peers discovering that I am in treatment.

Unfortunately, mental health still carries a bit of a stigma. While people think nothing of being treated for, say, a cardiac issue they are often embarrassed or reluctant to seek help for psychiatric issues. At Pinnacle Premier Psychiatry we utilize an electronic medical record and we do not maintain any documentation related to your care that is not HIPAA compliant and password protected. At your initial visit, we will ask you to indicate if you would like us to share your information with your spouse/significant other, family,  etc. We will provide this information only with your express written consent.

Our office space is located at the rear of the World Trade Center Building and our entrance is immediately to the right. We have two separate waiting rooms: One with higher visibility and also a sub-waiting room that offers much more privacy. If your privacy concerns exceed what our sub-waiting room offers, we will make other arrangements and time your visit to maximize privacy.

Do I need to see a therapist?

The short answer is that you probably should.  Obviously, we believe that medications are an integral part of your treatment but there is no magic pill. In our experience, the best results are achieved by a combination of medication management and therapy.

What patient populations do you treat?

At this time we offer medication management and therapy services for children, adolescents and adults between the ages of 5 to 63. We do not treat patients with autism or other intellectual disabilities. We care enough about this patient population to ensure they are treated by experts in this field. Our front desk representatives can help you with a referral to trained, local professionals in this field.

Why do I need to see a psychiatrist and why can’t I just see one of your therapists or a local psychologist?

It is certainly possible that you will not need to have repeat visits with one of our psychiatrists. Often times, medications are not the answer. All of our initial evaluations are, however, completed by a psychiatrist or an APN with psychiatric mental health board certification.

FAQ

What is the patient fee schedule for OUT OF NETWORK patients at Pinnacle Premier psychiatry?

Initial MD evaluation

Follow up MD visit

Follow up visit with Physician Assistant

Psychotherapy initial visit (45 minutes to an hour)

Psychotherapy follow up visit (45 minutes to an hour)

$285

$215

$175

$175

$150

*For patients that are IN NETWORK, the fee schedule, deductible, and co-pay are determined per your agreement with your insurance carrier.

FAQ

What is the patient fee schedule for OUT OF NETWORK patients at Pinnacle Premier psychiatry?

Initial MD evaluation

$285

Follow up MD visit

$215

Follow up visit with Physician Assistant

$175

Psychotherapy initial visit (45 minutes to an hour)

$175

Psychotherapy follow up visit (45 minutes to an hour)

$150

*For patients that are IN NETWORK, the fee schedule, deductible, and co-pay are determined per your agreement with your insurance carrier.

Some background here: Psychiatrists are physicians, which means they went to medical school. After finishing medical school, instead of electing to specialize in orthopedics, obstetrics, or emergency medicine, they chose to do 4 years of additional training to become a specialist in the field of psychiatry.  Specialist training in psychiatry consists of individual rotations in emergency psychiatry, inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, child psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, neurology, and internal medicine. All of our psychiatrists are board certified in psychiatry and neurology.

Concerning psychologists: Psychologists, just as psychiatrists, are able to complete mental health evaluations and we have good relationships with many psychologists in the community. They often specialize in formalized testing and, like our therapists, are also experts in delivering quality therapy. One main difference between psychologists and psychiatrists is that psychologists are not permitted to write prescriptions for medications, nor are they trained to develop a differential diagnosis to exclude medical causes of, or contributing medical issues that might be affecting your mental illness.