Letter from Dr. Agin to explain the evaluation

[Guest guest]

This is a copy of one of the letters from the intake forms sent out by Dr.

Agin's office to explain the evaluation. May help you better compare cost vs.

value:

" Fall 2005

Dear Families:

Firstly, thank you for choosing my practice to evaluate your child/children. Our

examinations are comprehensive, including a review of records, family interview,

neurologic exam, and when appropriate, standardized testing to evaluate

cognitive (thinking) processes, motor development, speech and language abilities

and behavior. Generally, your initial evaluation is a total of 3 hours that may

be scheduled as either one visit or divided into two visits. If you are

scheduled for 2 visits, the first one will be a comprehensive developmental

evaluation by the speech language pathologist. The follow-up appointment is with

Dr. Agin, 1-2 weeks later. She will examine your child and discuss the findings

of the evaluation. The developmental evaluation will be videotaped. If you are

coming for a second visit, we suggest you either bring a caretaker with you to

watch your child while we are speaking. If that is not possible, my secretary

will supervise your child in the waiting room. (I feel strongly that a child who

has the capacity to understand what may be said about him or her, should not be

present for the parent conference). If for any reason additional time is needed

to obtain a more comprehensive picture of your child, an additional visit will

be set up, and/or a videotape/DVD will be requested to reflect your child in his

natural environment (home, setting, school, therapy session, etc.). It is our

intent to achieve an accurate picture of your child that is most representative

of his/her behaviors, before completing the report.

After the evaluation is completed, a comprehensive report is sent to you and

copied to any professionals you choose. We pride ourselves in writing a report

that not only provides an accurate account of your child’s background history,

current development, and present needs, but provides a diagnostic assessment

summary which underscores the critical factors that are impacting on your

child’s development, along with a detailed set of specific recommendations that

will assist you in advocating for an appropriate treatment plan. We will also

consult with your child’s teachers, therapists, pediatrician or pediatric

specialists whenever necessary, and provide you with a letter of medical

necessity for your insurance provider when applicable.

Your child will be evaluated by either myself, or Prashil Govind, MD, FAAP a

developmental pediatrician who received his training at the Rose F. Kennedy

Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He also has a Masters degree in

Public Health from Columbia University. Although we as physicians remain the

primary evaluator for your child, Marni Tangney, Msc (A), CCC/SLP and

Dwyer, MA, CCC/SLP, who are PROMPT-trained speech/language pathologists, will

contribute to the evaluation process.

Please refer to the fee schedule on the following page. Although I am not a

direct participating member with any of the health providers, if your plan

allows for out-of-network coverage, you should be able to collect some

reimbursement of the fee. I will provide you with a statement that has the

appropriate codes to submit to your insurance company. Reimbursement rates for

the neurodevelopmental evaluation vary depending on your policy. Some providers

will not recognize out-of-network physicians, and others will reimburse up to

80% of the fee after your deductible has been satisfied. Please call us if you

have any questions about insurance issues.

Please fill out the enclosed intake form and return to us after you receive this

packet. We ask you to send this form and any other supplementary reports well in

advance of your appointment. This gives us the opportunity to begin to

evaluation process and understand your child’s particular needs in advance of

your visit.

We look forward to meeting you, and especially your child!

Marilyn C. Agin, MD, FAAP "

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