- Common Questions
Everything parents ask before getting started
We understand speech therapy may be a new experience for families, so here are answers to commonly asked questions.
How do I know if my child needs help?
First, check out an article on our blog called Does My Child Need Speech Therapy? We’ve also made communication screeners available, which parents of younger children can use to determine if further evaluation is warranted.
Also, be sure to review developmental norms to garner a complete picture of the expressive and receptive language skills your child should demonstrate.
There is no substitute for a formal speech and/or language evaluation performed by a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. A full evaluation is always the best choice for the most accurate depiction of skills.
Which insurances do you accept?
The payers we are in-network with are updated here.
We provide clinical evaluations only for Medicaid members. Ongoing therapy is not offered, but we offer a complimentary consultation to help you access free therapy services available to your child within your unique community.
We accept all other insurances when the plan includes out-of-network benefits. Once we receive your intake form and an appointment is scheduled, we will contact your commercial/private insurance carrier and provide you with a detailed report of your insurance coverage, as it specifically relates to speech therapy. This report will outline what your insurance will cover and what you will be expected to pay based on your policy and is sent after your appointment is scheduled.
We encourage you to be familiar with your plan and coverage. Read 10 Questions to Ask When Contacting Insurance About Speech Therapy Coverage.
A prompt-pay discount is offered for private pay.
Will my insurance cover these services?
Coverage varies based on your selected insurance plan, and no two plans are identical, even if they are from the same insurance company. Many commercial or private insurance providers exclude coverage for developmental diagnoses, such as articulation disorders or developmental delays. Typically, plans do cover services related to accidents, injuries, and illnesses, like strokes or traumatic brain injuries.
If insurance does not cover the necessary services, we can offer a discounted rate for evaluation and/or therapy for prompt payment.
What is needed before the evaluation?
Start here.
Once we receive all the required items, we will contact you within 48 hours to schedule your initial visit.
Please note that if your file is incomplete and you do not schedule your initial visit within 14 days, we will have to delete your information from our system in compliance with HIPAA regulations. If you wish to continue the process after this 14-day period, you will need to resubmit all the necessary information using the paper version of the intake form, which must be mailed to our office with tracking.
Why do you charge a deposit?
To provide the quality of service synonymous with Atlanta Speech Therapy, there is a great deal of work that occurs behind the scenes and leads up to the day of your first visit. We provide families with a wealth of information here on our website and over the phone via the free phone consultation. You can use this information to pursue services with us or with another provider.
If you choose us as your provider, we want to ensure your initial visit runs smoothly from the time you step foot in our doors until your insurance claim is processed. The non-refundable deposit is our effort to ensure that our clients are aware of and considerate of the time we spend in preparing for their appointment.
Do I have to receive therapy
from Atlanta Speech Therapy after the evaluation?
Families can choose where and who will provide the services they may need. If you decide not to pursue therapeutic intervention with Atlanta Speech Therapy, you should be aware that another facility may require its own evaluation, though our evaluation is valid and can be used by another clinician for at least 6 months.
How long is your waiting list?
There is currently no waiting list for evaluations; however, there may be a wait for therapy services. Unfortunately, the duration that families remain on the waiting list is unpredictable. Instead of waiting, we also guide families on how to access public resources based on the information gathered during the evaluation.
How long will my child be in therapy?
The time required to achieve speech and language goals varies based on several factors, including the severity of the disorder, any additional diagnoses, the intensity of the intervention, and the involvement of parents. Therapy typically involves weekly sessions, usually twice a week, for a period of three to six months. At the end of this period, depending on your insurance, a re-evaluation may be necessary to assess progress and justify the continuation of therapy.
What if my child receives therapy services at school?
If your child receives services at school and has Medicaid, the school may request to bill your child’s insurance, and you can refuse. Refusing will not affect the services your child receives at school. If you give your child’s school permission to bill your child’s Medicaid insurance, it will affect private services. In those cases, the private therapist will no longer be allowed to bill your child’s Medicaid. You will have the option to continue receiving services by paying privately or rescinding the school's permission to bill.
Additionally, private services differ from the school setting. Read School Therapy vs Private Therapy.
Where are services performed?
We offer online services for clients located. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to travel to clients, except in cases where an IEE is being conducted within the Atlanta metro area.
