Appointments and Cancellations
Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance for you or your child, by texting or calling
the Practice or through the online patient portal. A cancellation made less than 24 hours before the
appointment, or a no-show, carries a $100 fee, because that time is held exclusively for you. Arriving
late may shorten the session. Three or more no-shows or late cancellations within the 24-hour window may
result in discharge from the practice.
Copays, Coinsurance, and Deductibles
You may owe a copay, coinsurance, or deductible depending on your plan. These amounts are set by your
insurance carrier and must be charged to you, so a sliding scale is not available for them. Outstanding
balances are due within 30 days. Once three unpaid sessions accrue, your provider will not schedule
further sessions until the balance is paid. Keep an up-to-date form of payment on file; repeated
declined charges may require a written payment plan, and non-adherence may end services, with community
referrals provided.
Telephone Accessibility
To reach your provider between sessions, text or call the Practice at 508-422-0404 or email
billing@harborwellness.health. Staff are often in session, but someone will attempt to return your call
within 24 business hours. In a true emergency, call 911 or 988, contact a crisis service, or go to the
nearest emergency room first, and contact your provider afterward. Neither your provider nor the
Practice can guarantee an immediate response to an emergency.
Social Media and Telecommunication
Communication through social media carries a high probability of compromising your confidentiality, so
our providers do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social
networking site. Information you find about a provider online may not be accurate; please raise it in
session. Because confidentiality restrictions prevent providers from responding to public reviews, we
ask that you not rate providers while in treatment and instead bring any feedback directly to your
provider.
Electronic Communication and Telemedicine
Confidentiality cannot be ensured over electronic media, including text messages, so your provider will
communicate through the online patient portal or other Practice-approved methods, and only regarding
scheduling or cancellations. Messages containing clinically relevant information may become part of your
clinical record. Services delivered by telephone, internet, fax, or email are considered telemedicine in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You may withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting
your right to future care; all confidentiality protections apply; you have access to information
transmitted during a telemedicine consultation; and no identifiable images or information are shared
with researchers or other entities without your consent. Telemedicine carries both benefits, such as
improved access and continuity, and risks, including a provider's reduced ability to make in-person
observations.
Minors
If you are a minor, your parents or guardians may be legally entitled to some information about your
therapy. Your provider will discuss with you and your guardians which information is appropriate for
them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.
Termination
Ending a therapeutic relationship deserves a closing process, and its length depends on the length and
intensity of treatment. A provider may end treatment after discussion if psychotherapy is not being used
effectively or if payment is in default, and never without first exploring the reasons. If therapy ends
or you request another provider, contact the Practice through the portal or at 508-422-0404 to discuss
working with another Harbor Wellness clinician, or ask for a list of qualified providers in your
community. If no appointment is scheduled for six months without prior arrangement, the professional
relationship is considered discontinued.
Patient Rights
You have rights regarding your Clinical Record and disclosures of protected health information,
including requesting an amendment to your record, requesting restrictions on what is disclosed,
requesting an accounting of most disclosures you did not consent to or authorize, determining where
disclosures are sent, having complaints about our policies recorded in your record, and receiving a
paper copy of this agreement, the Notice form, and our privacy policies. Your provider is glad to
discuss any of these rights with you.
Student Nurse Practitioner Observation
From time to time, student nurse practitioners complete supervised clinical hours with the Practice.
Under supervision, a student may observe sessions, review clinical charts, or participate in case
discussions for educational purposes, and is bound by the same confidentiality and privacy obligations
as all healthcare professionals. Participation in observed sessions is entirely voluntary, and you may
decline or withdraw consent at any time without affecting your care.