Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Answers to common questions about Sattva Psychiatry, telepsychiatry, medication management, out-of-network fees, superbills, clinical fit, and practice policies.
Sattva Psychiatry provides private, out-of-network telepsychiatry for adults located in New York, Washington, DC, and Virginia. Care is provided directly by Vivek Jayadeva, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist.
Before you begin
A focused outpatient telepsychiatry practice.
Sattva Psychiatry provides psychiatric evaluation, medication consultation, medication management, and follow-up psychiatric care for adults in a lower-acuity outpatient telehealth setting.
The practice may be a fit for adults seeking care for anxiety, depression, mood symptoms, stress-related symptoms, sleep disruption, attention concerns, medication side effects, partial response, or diagnostic uncertainty.
Submitting a request does not guarantee that an appointment will be accepted or that ongoing treatment will be established.
Questions
Common questions.
Getting Started
How do I begin the new patient process?
New patients begin by submitting a new patient request through the website. Requests are reviewed before scheduling is finalized.
If the practice appears to be a good fit, next-step instructions and intake forms will be sent.
How long does it take to hear back after I submit a request?
Requests are reviewed as soon as possible, but response times may vary.
The request process should not be used for emergencies or urgent clinical concerns.
Does submitting a request mean I have an appointment?
No. Submitting a request starts the review process. Scheduling is not finalized until the request has been reviewed and accepted.
Does completing a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation mean I will be accepted for ongoing treatment?
No. The comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is used to assess diagnosis, treatment needs, medication options, safety considerations, and fit for the practice. In some cases, another clinician, treatment setting, or level of treatment may be more appropriate.
Where do I need to be located for telepsychiatry appointments?
You must be physically located in New York, Washington, DC, or Virginia at the time of each appointment.
Your physical location will be confirmed at each visit.
Fees, Insurance, and Superbills
Does Sattva Psychiatry accept insurance?
No. Sattva Psychiatry is a private-pay, out-of-network psychiatry practice and does not bill insurance directly.
A detailed superbill is available after each appointment for patients seeking possible out-of-network reimbursement.
What are the appointment fees?
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation: 60 minutes — $425
- Follow-Up Psychiatric Treatment: 20 minutes — $275
- Extended Follow-Up Psychiatric Treatment: 30 minutes — $375
Records review, collateral review, or written summaries may be discussed separately when clinically appropriate.
Does Sattva Psychiatry provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement?
Yes. Sattva Psychiatry may provide a detailed superbill after appointments for patients who want to submit a claim to their insurance plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Patients are responsible for submitting claims and communicating with their insurance plan. Sattva Psychiatry does not submit claims, appeal denials, or manage insurer communications.
How much might insurance reimburse for out-of-network psychiatry?
Some commercial PPO plans reimburse a portion of out-of-network psychiatric care after the deductible has been met. Reimbursement varies widely and is not guaranteed.
As a high-end illustration only, if a plan reimbursed 80% of the full fee after deductible, the estimated net cost of a $425 initial psychiatric evaluation would be $85. The estimated net cost of a $275 follow-up visit would be $55.
Actual reimbursement may be lower, unavailable, subject to deductible, or based on the insurer’s allowed amount rather than the full fee charged by Sattva Psychiatry.
Can Sattva Psychiatry guarantee insurance reimbursement?
No. Reimbursement is determined by your insurance plan. Sattva Psychiatry can provide a detailed superbill, but cannot guarantee reimbursement, verify final benefits, submit claims, appeal denials, or manage insurance communications.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Credit cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards are accepted. Payment is due at the time of service.
What is your cancellation policy?
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice are billed at the full session fee.
Treatment and Services
What psychiatric services does Sattva Psychiatry provide?
Sattva Psychiatry provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, medication consultation, medication management, follow-up psychiatric treatment for established patients, and extended follow-up visits when clinically appropriate.
The evaluation can address diagnostic uncertainty, prior medication trials, medication side effects, partial response, anxiety, depression, mood symptoms, sleep disruption, stress-related symptoms, attention concerns, and questions about treatment direction.
Does Sattva Psychiatry provide medication management?
Yes. Sattva Psychiatry provides medication management for established patients when medication treatment is clinically appropriate and fits the outpatient telepsychiatry setting.
Follow-up visits review medication response, side effects, symptoms, sleep, functioning, safety, and next steps.
Do you always prescribe medication?
No. Medication can be an important part of treatment, but not every evaluation leads to a prescription.
In some cases, the next step may be clarifying the diagnosis, reviewing prior treatment, reducing unnecessary medication burden, recommending psychotherapy or behavioral changes, seeking medical evaluation, or considering another type or level of treatment.
Can I see Sattva Psychiatry while continuing with my therapist?
Yes. Many adults seek psychiatric medication consultation or medication management while continuing psychotherapy with a separate therapist.
With patient consent, coordination with a therapist can remain focused and role-clear. Sattva does not need to replace an existing psychotherapy relationship.
Do you offer psychotherapy?
Sessions may include psychotherapy-informed discussion of emotions, relationships, behavior, coping, and recurring difficulties. Sattva Psychiatry is not primarily a weekly psychotherapy practice.
When ongoing psychotherapy is the main treatment need, treatment with a separate therapist may be recommended.
What does psychotherapy-informed psychiatry mean?
It means medication decisions are made with attention to diagnosis, biology, history, emotional life, relationships, stress, sleep, functioning, prior treatment response, and the meaning symptoms may carry over time. It does not mean every visit is a psychotherapy session.
What is follow-up psychiatric treatment?
Follow-up psychiatric treatment is the standard ongoing visit for established patients. Visits review medication response, side effects, symptoms, sleep, functioning, safety, and next steps. The standard follow-up is 20 minutes. Longer follow-up is available when clinically appropriate.
What if I need ADHD evaluation or help with attention concerns?
Attention and executive-function concerns can be reviewed as part of a standard psychiatric evaluation and ongoing treatment when clinically appropriate.
The evaluation may consider developmental history, school and work functioning, impairment, sleep, anxiety, depression, substance use, medical contributors, prior treatment, medication effects, and rating scales when useful.
Controlled substances, including stimulant medications, are not prescribed. Non-stimulant medication strategies may be considered when clinically appropriate.
Does Sattva Psychiatry prescribe controlled substances like stimulants, benzodiazepines, or sleep medications?
No. Sattva Psychiatry does not prescribe controlled substances, including stimulants, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, opioids, or other controlled medications.
This means the practice is not a fit for patients seeking stimulant treatment for ADHD, benzodiazepines for anxiety, or sedative-hypnotic sleep medications.
Fit and Clinical Scope
Who may be a good fit for Sattva Psychiatry?
Sattva Psychiatry may be a good fit for adults in New York, Washington, DC, or Virginia who are seeking outpatient psychiatric evaluation, medication consultation, medication management, or clearer treatment direction.
Common reasons include anxiety, depression, mood symptoms, stress-related symptoms, sleep disruption, diagnostic uncertainty, medication side effects, partial response, attention concerns, or questions about prior treatment.
Who may not be a good fit for Sattva Psychiatry?
Sattva Psychiatry may not be a good fit for patients who need crisis care, emergency psychiatry, high-frequency safety monitoring, intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, inpatient care, addiction-focused treatment, in-person services, or local community-based treatment.
The practice is also not designed for patients seeking controlled-substance-focused care, including stimulant, benzodiazepine, or sedative-hypnotic prescribing.
Does Sattva Psychiatry treat bipolar disorder, psychosis, or substance use disorder?
No. Sattva Psychiatry does not provide ongoing treatment for bipolar disorder, psychosis, or substance use disorder.
These conditions often require a different treatment structure, local resources, in-person support, controlled-substance policies, crisis planning, or a higher level of care.
Is telepsychiatry appropriate for everyone?
No. Telepsychiatry can be effective and practical for many outpatient concerns, but it may not be appropriate when symptoms require in-person evaluation, intensive monitoring, emergency treatment, or local community-based support.
Do you see children, adolescents, or older adults?
Sattva Psychiatry provides treatment for adults. The practice does not provide child, adolescent, or geriatric psychiatry.
Communication, Forms, and Emergencies
Can I communicate between appointments?
Administrative matters and limited prescription or pharmacy coordination may be handled outside of visits when appropriate.
Clinical questions, medication changes, treatment recommendations, new symptoms, side effects, and concerns requiring medical decision-making require an appointment or a more appropriate level of treatment.
Do you complete FMLA, disability, or accommodation forms?
No. This practice does not complete FMLA, disability, workplace or school accommodation, medical leave, court, custody, emotional support animal, or other paperwork-focused evaluations.
Can I use email for clinical questions?
Email may be used for administrative questions, scheduling issues, billing questions, or limited prescription and pharmacy coordination.
Email is not a substitute for clinical treatment and should not be used for emergencies, urgent concerns, medication changes, new symptoms, or concerns requiring medical decision-making.
What should I do in an emergency?
Sattva Psychiatry does not provide emergency services or crisis management.
If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, a medical emergency, or a psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
For immediate mental health support, call or text 988.
Next step
Begin the new patient request process.
New patient requests are reviewed before scheduling is finalized. The request process helps determine whether Sattva Psychiatry is likely to be an appropriate fit.