Frequently Asked Questions

  • Neurodivergent people have brains that function differently than what is considered to be “normal.” Historically, traits and characteristics associated with neurodivergence were often viewed as problematic, as something to be fixed.

    An alternative is to look for the many strengths that come with neurodivergence and to focus on learning skills in acceptance and self-advocacy rather than trying to change who a person is or try to force a person to “behave like normal people.”

  • Neurodiversity is a human rights movement centered around recognition that humans vary in their neurology and that this variation is something to be valued. People whose neurology is aligned with what is perceived as the neuro-majority are often referred to as neurotypical and people whose neurology differs might be considered neurodivergent. This includes autism and ADHD.

  • Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. Autism is diagnosed based on the presence of behaviors, traits, and characteristics grouped under several criteria. Click here for more information.

  • Although some people talk about autism as being more or less severe, this terminology can be seen as disrespectful. Every person is different, and we all vary with respect to the supports that we need to succeed in different contexts. For example, I wake up every morning without an alarm clock, but other people require the support of an alarm to awaken each morning. I require the support of my calendar to help me move through the day but other people move independently throughout their day without this support.

    Instead of talking about severity of autism or someone as high or low functioning, I focus on a person’s support needs relative to different areas of their life. For example, I might say that Anya has high support needs outside the house and needs someone with her to help her navigate the community and that Anya has low support needs in her home.

  • I can provide services in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

    I provide face-to-face services and telehealth in Boone North Carolina. All other evaluations will be done via telehealth. Telehealth is not appropriate for all evaluations or support needs and I will work with you to determine whether telehealth is an option for you.

  • Teletherapy means that you and I will meet “virtually,” over the internet. That way, you can be in your home or office. I use video conferencing that s HIPAA compliant so we meet face to face in a private and secure session.

    For teletherapy to work you will need a location that is private, and a computer or tablet that has internet access. You also will need an internet connection that is strong, one that would allow you to stream movies or shows.

No Surprises Act

To current and possible future clients and families,

On January 1 of 2022 the "No Surprises Act" was enacted by congress. The goal of the act is to put in place protections against surprise medical bills. These bills happen when consumers receive care from an out-of-network provider, a doctor, hospital, or other provider that they did not choose. To get more information about this, please click here. 

It is unlikely that this act will affect our work as there is no situation in which you would accidentally receive care from High Country Behavior Supports and Consultation or without choosing to do so. As of now, the federal government has not finalized rules for how to follow this act for a small practice like High Country Behavior Supports and Consultation. 

We are "out of network" for all but a few plans, and I can check and let you know whether our services will or will not be in network. Plans protect you as they mean we can never accept more than the money they allow. So, if you have a plan that we are "in network" for you should contact your insurer and ask how much you will have to pay, what is covered under your plan, and options for providers. Sometimes, after claims are processed, we may learn that more money is due (e.g., when a deductible has not been met, your co-pay has increased). When this happens we will collect only the amount that your insurance company charges for services provided by in-network providers. If you have questions about how much is due for services then you should contact your insurance company. You can read more about this at this website: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

If you are a current client then you are already aware of our charges and your costs. Sometimes insurance plans enact changes at the beginning of enrollment periods or the calendar year. You should check with your insurance plan to get updates about any changes, such as n your co-pay or amount of your deductible. 

If you are thinking about working with us, we will provide you with information about the costs of services. Before we meet, we have to provide your child with a diagnosis, as this is required for insurance billing. Also, we have to give you information about the number of sessions and costs. This will be hard to do without knowing your child and family but we will provide a good faith estimate of our services and costs. For now, the details of the law and how it applies to small practices like this one are evolving. 

We will be as clear as possible with you about the costs of the services that we agree on together. You will have "no surprises" at High Country Behavior Supports and Consultation. Please ask us about any costs that you are not sure about and we will give you information. 

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Contact information is under CONTACT on this website.

 

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