Engaging in services consents to psychiatric evaluation, treatment, and/or psychotherapy. Treatment can be highly beneficial, but results cannot be guaranteed, and you may discontinue services at any time. Confidentiality is protected, with legal exceptions including risk of harm to self or others, abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult, and court orders.

Novascend Neurowellness follows HIPAA and California privacy laws. Protected health information is used or disclosed only for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, legal requirements, or safety concerns. You may access your records, request corrections, request limits on disclosures, and receive breach notifications when legally required.

Secure telepsychiatry is offered to California residents located in California at the time of the appointment. Telehealth may differ from in-person care, technology issues can occur, and it is not appropriate for emergencies. Sessions are never recorded without written consent. Email is optional, carries privacy risks, and is not used for emergencies.

Routine voicemails are generally returned within 24 to 48 business hours. Please leave your name, number, and a brief reason for your call, and avoid detailed health information. Messages received after hours, on weekends, or on holidays are reviewed the next business day. Voicemail is not monitored continuously and should never be used for emergencies.

Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you. Cancellations and rescheduling require 48 hours' notice. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged the full session fee, and arriving more than 15 minutes late may be treated as a late cancellation. Repeated missed appointments may result in termination of care.

A valid credit card is required on file before your first session. Payment is due at the time of service unless otherwise arranged. Forms, letters, extended calls, legal matters, reports, coordination, and record review may be billed separately.

If controlled medications are prescribed, additional safeguards apply: one designated pharmacy, prescription monitoring database checks, possible urine drug screening, no early refills without documentation, and secure medication storage. Failure to follow these policies may result in discontinuation of controlled medications.

Novascend Neurowellness is not currently contracted with insurance plans. Superbills may be provided when appropriate, but reimbursement is not guaranteed. Patients are responsible for understanding their benefits, deductibles, copays, out-of-network coverage, and non-covered services.

With your consent, AI scribe technology may assist with clinical documentation. It supports documentation only, never replaces provider judgment, is used in a HIPAA-compliant manner, and audio is securely discarded after sessions when applicable.

You may request copies of your medical records at any time. Requests must be submitted in writing and may take time to process in accordance with legal and clinical documentation requirements.