OUR FAQs

We accept most major healthcare plans including BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of Minnesota, Cigna, HealthPartners, Minnesota Health Care Programs (Medical Assistance) including PMAP plans, Optum (Medica, United Behavioral Health, United Healthcare/UMR), UCARE, and we are pending contracts with other insurers. We strongly recommend that you check with your health insurance company prior to initiating services with us to understand your benefits and eligibility. 

Some questions to ask your insurance company include:

• What are my mental health benefits (deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, copayment, co-insurance)?
• Is my provider in-network or out-of-network? If they are out-of-network, what out-of-network benefits are available through my plan?
• Are there any limits or exclusions to coverage?
• What mental health services are covered vs not covered?
• Do I need a referral from my Primary Care Physician (PCP)?

If we are not in-network with your insurance company or if you would prefer to self-pay for services, we accept major credit cards and HSA debit cards and you will be asked to pay a deposit prior to your office visit. Our clinic does not offer a sliding scale fee schedule. If you have out-of-network benefits, a superbill can be provided to you immediately after payment to be reimbursed by your insurance plan. 

No Surprises Act- Legal Notice- in MN:

If you do not have insurance or you will not be using insurance to pay for your visit, you have a right to a Good Faith Estimate per the legal guidelines under the No Surprises Act. Please go to our  Forms page and click on No Surprises Act to find additional information.  

To become a new patient at Lifespan Mental Health, we help you get set up with your Osmind account, which is done through the email address you would like to have on file. Osmind has an app you can download on your smartphone or you can view it in an internet browser. The clinic consent forms will be emailed you and in your Osmind account, you will see areas to upload the front and back of your insurance card and fill out additional information about you. We ask all patients to keep an active check,  credit, or HSA card on file, which you will find in your Osmind account. We are here to assist you with this process as we are motivated to get you the help you need today!

If you encounter any issues, please contact our office for assistance. Additionally, if you have questions about any of our clinic policies, please reach out to us prior to signing, as your signature indicates consent. We strive to ensure clarity and transparency with this process and we welcome any questions you may have. 

Lifespan Mental Health offers both in-office and telehealth visits. Telehealth appointments are conducted via Zoom, a HIPAA-compliant platform integrated with Osmind. You can access the appointment using your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Your appointment reminder will have the appropriate zoom link to click on. We do make all efforts to reach you as we are aware technology can be challenging at times. If you are coming into the office, please take a seat in our lobby and your provider will be with you shortly. They will come out to the lobby to greet you.

During your first visit, we aim to understand what brought you to seek help and the severity and duration of your symptoms. We will ask about your background and we will ask questions to get a picture of your concerns and formulate recommendations for your treatment. We understand that first appointments can make people feel nervous, but please be assured there is no "right" or "wrong" way to share your story. If you have experienced trauma or abuse, please know that you are not required to disclose anything before you feel ready. 

Telehealth appointments at Lifespan Mental Health are conducted using Zoom, a secure and HIPAA-compliant video platform.

You’ll receive an automated appointment reminder from our Osmind system by email and/or text. That message will include a link to join your Zoom session.

Here’s how it works:

1. Click the link in your reminder message at the time of your appointment.

2. If it’s your first time using Zoom, your device may prompt you to download the free Zoom app.

3. Once the app is installed, the Zoom session will launch automatically.

4. You do not need to create a Zoom account or log in — just click and join.

We recommend joining from a quiet, private space with a reliable internet connection. You can use a smartphone, tablet, or computer for your session.

If you have any issues connecting, please contact our office and we’ll do our best to assist you. 

Lifespan Mental Health also offers in-person appointments for clients who prefer to be seen in the clinic.

Here’s what to expect:

1. Our office is located in Cedar Courts Office at 305 Cedar Street, Suite 102 Monticello, MN 55362. There is parking in the front and when you enter the front door, our office is the first door on the right. 

2. When you arrive, please have a seat in the lobby. A receptionist may not always be present, but your provider will come out to greet you at the time of your appointment.

3. There is no need to check in at a front desk — simply relax in the waiting area until your session begins.

We ask that you arrive on time and let us know if you’re feeling unwell prior to your visit. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please refer to our cancellation policy or contact the clinic directly.

At Lifespan Mental Health, we approach appointments with children and adolescents similarly to adults but tailored to their age and developmental level. We aim to create a comfortable environment, especially for kids who may feel uneasy or believe they are in trouble. We reassure them that mental health care is like physical health care—just as a doctor checks for physical issues, we assess emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to help them feel better, not because they’ve done anything wrong.

During the visit, we offer encouragement and praise for sharing their feelings as we want to understand their concerns from their perspective. We want to understand your child's strengths and help them feel supported as we work together to build coping skills when their emotions are strongs and they are struggling with how to respond. 

At some point during the intake, we will ask the parent/guardian to step out to the lobby while the provider meets with your child one-on-one. This is done to create a space of psychological safety, allowing your child to express their thoughts and feelings as we strive to provide them with a sense of support and autonomy during the session. Your child's treatment plan will be reviewed with you and your child thoroughly with their wellness as the leader factor for recommendations to their treatment plan. 

You can contact our office at 763-200-1160 during office hours and if your call is not answered, please leave a message on our secure, confidential voicemail. Please note: We do not return calls without a voicemail. For the fastest communication, please login to your Osmind account and click on the chat icon to send a message to us. If your question is complex and we need additional information, you may be asked to schedule an appointment so your concerns can be appropriately reviewed and discussed with you. 

We kindly request that you contact your pharmacy and verify if there are any refills or other active prescriptions on file for your medication. If there are no refills, please ask your pharmacy to contact us by faxing our office at 763-645-5458.

To ensure your treatment is progressing as expected, it's important to schedule regular follow-up appointments. Patients prescribed controlled substances are required to have follow-up visits every 90 days and any requests to change the prescription, unless there are significant side effects, must be discussed during an office visit.

We strive to refill medications in a timely manner as we don't want anyone to go without their medication. However, we greatly appreciate all efforts to submit refill requests 5-7 days prior to running out to avoid any problems. 

We offer brief supportive psychotherapy as part of our medication management visits when appropriate. These sessions may focus on emotional support, coping skills, or stress-related challenges. While we don’t provide ongoing, standalone psychotherapy, we frequently collaborate with outside therapists and are happy to help connect you with one if you’re looking for additional support.

As a small private practice, every appointment is carefully reserved for each client. Missed appointments without notice not only affect your care, but also prevent us from offering that time to another client who may be waiting for support.

We understand that life can be unpredictable, and we truly empathize when things come up unexpectedly. However, unlike large healthcare organizations that may have more flexible scheduling systems or backup providers, our clinic operates with limited staffing and appointment availability. Because of this, we follow a clear policy to help ensure fair access to care for everyone we serve.

For initial appointments:

If you miss your first scheduled intake appointment, please note that we do not reschedule missed evaluations. Initial visits require significant preparation, and we are not able to offer future care through the clinic after a missed intake.

For follow-up appointments:

If you’re an established client and miss a scheduled follow-up visit without advance notice, you will be charged a fee equal to the full out-of-pocket cost of the missed appointment, as outlined in your signed consent forms. This fee is not covered by insurance and will be applied unless prohibited by state or federal regulation.

We appreciate your understanding and communication. Providing notice whenever possible helps us better support all clients and use our limited appointment slots responsibly.

We understand that life is unpredictable — illness, family needs, or unexpected events can happen. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we kindly ask that you give us at least 24 hours’ notice whenever possible. This allows us to offer the time to another client who may be waiting for care.

As a small private clinic, we operate with limited availability and resources. Unlike larger healthcare systems, we don’t have the flexibility to absorb last-minute cancellations without it impacting access for others. Each appointment time is reserved specifically for you, and late cancellations often cannot be filled on short notice.

If you’re scheduled for an in-person visit but aren't feeling well, we’re happy to switch your appointment to a telehealth session.

Please note:

Missed appointments and late cancellations (less than 24 hours’ notice) are subject to a fee equal to the full out-of-pocket cost of the visit, as detailed in your consent forms. These fees are not covered by insurance and are charged unless prohibited by state or federal regulation.

We truly appreciate your communication and consideration — it helps us protect access to care for all our clients.