Katherine Chemodurow Kelley, MD
IMPORTANT NOTICE: All patients will be transitioning to the AdvancedMD Patient Portal on Thursday, June 1st, 2023. Patients will still be able to message their providers and office staff, pay their bills, and access important documents through the AMD patient portal.
Please visit our FAQ page with links and resources to assist patients during this transition.
Katherine Chemodurow Kelley, MD
Insurance
Does Lifestance Health take insurance?
Yes! We currently accept most major insurance plans. However, each plan is different, and we cannot guarantee coverage until we speak with your plan directly. If you are unsure if we take your insurance or not, give us a call.
How much will my appointment cost?
Every insurance plan is different, and costs can vary greatly plan to plan. Our billing department does their best to verify your benefits and contact you if there are any issues with your coverage.
However, it is the patient's responsibility to be aware of their benefits, and Lifestance Health is not responsible for any unexpected fees incurred due to lapse in coverage or out-of-network plans. This includes late cancellation fees if you find out we do not accept your insurance and your appointment is in less than 2 business days.
Tip: Call your insurance company. They can let you know if Lifestance Health is in-network, let you know more information about your financial responsibility, and give you resources for other in-network facilities.
If you are not using insurance, you will be responsible for the self-pay rate, which you can view here.
Do you accept Medicare?
We accept Medicare on a case-by-case basis. Medicare plans can be complicated. If you would like to schedule an appointment and you have Medicare, we suggest calling first to be sure that we accept your plan, and that you are scheduled with a doctor that can see you.
Note: We do not accept Medicare Advantage Plans, or any Medicare Supplemental Plans. However, if you have Medicare with a separate secondary insurance that we do accept, we may be able to take it.
Do you accept Medi-cal?
We do not currently accept Medi-cal.
Cancellation Policy
What is your cancellation policy?
Lifestance Health requires 2 business days notice before an appointment for cancellation. Business days are counted as Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and do not include major holidays.
For example, if you have an appointment scheduled at 2:00 pm on a TUESDAY, the cut-off for cancellation is 2:00 pm the previous FRIDAY.
Note: If Monday is a holiday, the cut-off would be 2:00 pm the previous Thursday.
Cancellations received after this cut-off time will be considered late cancellations and will result in a late-cancellation fee of up to $175. However, appointments can be converted to video appointments to avoid this charge.
What if I miss an appointment?
Missed appointments are counted as late cancellations, and will result in a late-cancellation fee of up to $175. Lifestance Healthsends confirmation emails, as well as appointment reminder emails and text messages to help make sure you never miss an appointment. However, these are sent as a courtesy and it is the patient's responsibility to keep track of all appointments scheduled.
If you've forgotten about an appointment and are unable to make it to the office, give us a call! If there is time, we can convert your appointment to video in order to avoid any additional fees.
Returning Patients
I was seen by a doctor at Lifestance Health in the past, do I need to register again?
You will need to call the office in order to check if your chart has been closed. Our staff will let you know if we need you to register again. If we have everything we need, we can schedule you over the phone.
What do I need in order to register as a new patient?
Before you register, make sure you have your current insurance card, demographic and emergency contact information, as well as the contact information for any other doctors or therapists you'd like your provider at Lifestance Health to be able to contact.
I currently see a psychiatrist at Lifestance Health, but I would like to book with a therapist (or vice versa). Do I need to register again?
No need to register again! Simply give us a call and we will help you to schedule an intake with another provider.
Child & Adolescent Appointments
I'm making an appointment for my child, but I plan on seeing the doctor at the first appointment. Who's information should be on the registration forms?
Your child (the patient) should be listed on all registration forms, as well as on the appointment booking, itself.
I'm making an appointment for more than one of my children, do I have to register both of them?
Yes, you will need to submit separate registration forms for all patients who will be seen at Lifestance Health. You will also need to use caution when booking their initial appointments, as they will need to be booked under separate email addresses. Our booking system cannot currently accommodate multiple patients on the same email account. Failure to do so may result in inability to see or change upcoming appointments.
Availability
How soon can I be seen?
In many cases, today! Our providers offer new patient evaluations on a rolling basis, so we often times have new patient appointments available same-day.
However, if you are booking a new patient appointment, it's a good idea to call your insurance company to check your benefits before scheduling. Our billing department may not have time to verify for you.
I don't see any available times with the provider I want to see. Is there a waitlist I can join?
We're working on it! We are in the process of adding waitlist functionality to our scheduling system. For now, please contact our intake department and they may be able to help find you an earlier appointment.
Intake Dept. : 925-282-1778
Miscellaneous
What is the difference between Therapy and Psychiatry?
Therapy, which is often referred to as psychotherapy, is a treatment method utilized for mental and mood disorders. Psychotherapists (those utilizing psychotherapy techniques) include psychologists, therapists, social workers, and counselors.
These specialists though, do not have the ability to prescribe medication.
Psychiatry is another method of treating mental and mood disorders. Psychiatrists may practice psychotherapy, but they are also doctors (MD & DO). This medical specialization allows psychiatrists to provide an in-depth understanding of a patient’s issue and prescribe medication as appropriate.
Do Lifestance Health Doctors always prescribe medication?
No, our doctors do not always prescribe medication. The doctor will see a patient for an initial evaluation, after which he or she will recommend medication treatment only if the doctor believes it is appropriate. If the doctor believes that no medication is needed, he or she will refer the patient to a psychotherapist who will provide appropriate care without the use of prescription medicine.
Does Lifestance Health complete disability paperwork?
Some doctors will recommend short term disability after the patient has been evaluated over the course of a few sessions. Our doctors do not work on cases involving long term disability and they will not see clients who only seek completion of their disability paperwork.