No. We accept patients without a referral. However, some insurances may require a referral from your Primary Care Provider (PCP).

Your first appointment is an opportunity for us to get to know you and understand your health concerns, goals, and medical history. We will discuss your current symptoms, medications, past medical and mental health history, family history, lifestyle, and any questions or concerns you may have. Depending on the reason for your visit, we may also perform a physical examination, review previous medical records, order laboratory tests, or complete mental health screening tools.

Our goal is to understand the whole person—not just your symptoms. Together, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan that may include education, lifestyle recommendations, medication management when appropriate, referrals, or follow-up care. We encourage you to ask questions throughout your visit so you leave feeling informed, supported, and confident in your care.

At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, we value both your time and the time of our patients. To help us provide timely, high-quality care, we kindly ask that appointment cancellations or rescheduling requests be made at least 24 business hours before your scheduled appointment.

Appointments canceled with less than 24 business hours' notice, but before the scheduled appointment time, are subject to a late cancellation fee. Patients who fail to notify the office and do not attend their scheduled appointment ("no-call, no-show") may be charged a no-show fee.

We understand that unexpected emergencies and unforeseen circumstances can occur, and we will consider these situations on a case-by-case basis. However, repeated missed appointments limit access to care for other patients. Therefore, three (3) no-call/no-show appointments may result in dismissal from the practice and termination of the provider-patient relationship, in accordance with applicable laws and practice policies.

Because we reserve dedicated appointment times for each patient, SHINE Primary & Psych Care does not double-book appointments. When an appointment is missed or canceled without adequate notice, that time cannot be offered to another patient who may be waiting for care. We appreciate your cooperation and consideration in helping us provide efficient, accessible, and compassionate healthcare to our community.

For children and adolescents receiving care (age 17 and under), a parent or legal guardian must accompany the patient to appointments.

For adult appointments, we kindly ask that children and infants not attend unless they are the patient being seen. We understand that childcare challenges can occasionally arise and appreciate your efforts to make alternate arrangements whenever possible.

Our goal is to provide every patient with a private, focused, and uninterrupted visit. Discussing personal health concerns—particularly mental health—often requires a confidential environment where you can speak openly and comfortably. Limiting distractions allows both you and your provider to make the most of your appointment and ensures you receive the highest quality care.

At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, we do not perform laboratory testing on-site. However, laboratory monitoring is an important part of your care, particularly if you are taking certain medications that require routine monitoring, such as lithium, carbamazepine (Tegretol®), or valproic acid (Depakote®), or if your provider needs additional information to guide diagnosis or treatment.

When laboratory testing is needed, we can electronically send your orders to a participating laboratory or provide you with a laboratory requisition that you may take to the facility of your choice, such as Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, or another local laboratory. Once your results are available, they will be reviewed by your provider and discussed with you at your next scheduled appointment. If any results require urgent attention or prompt follow-up, our office will contact you as soon as possible with further instructions.

Payment, including any applicable copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or self-pay balances, is due at the time services are provided. To help keep our administrative costs low and streamline the billing process, we do not routinely bill patients after their visit for amounts that are due at the time of service.

If your insurance processes your claim after your appointment and determines that an additional patient balance is owed, you will receive a statement for the remaining amount. If you have questions about your financial responsibility before your visit, our office will be happy to assist you.

As the patient, you are ultimately responsible for payment of services provided, regardless of your insurance coverage or claim status. While we will gladly submit claims to your insurance carrier as a courtesy, payment is not guaranteed by your insurer.

If your insurance claim is denied, applied to your deductible, or remains unpaid after 45 days, any outstanding balance will become your responsibility. A statement will be made available with the remaining balance due.

To ensure continuity of care and maintain your account in good standing, outstanding balances may need to be paid or satisfactory payment arrangements made before scheduling future appointments. If you have questions about your insurance benefits or your account balance, our staff will be happy to assist you.

At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, our goal is to provide safe, high-quality outpatient care in a private practice setting. While we treat a wide range of primary care and mental health conditions, some services and levels of care are outside the scope of our practice. When appropriate, we will gladly assist you with referrals to providers or programs that can better meet your needs.

Our practice is not designed for:

• Individuals experiencing a psychiatric emergency or mental health crisis requiring immediate intervention.

• Patients whose symptoms require inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), or Assertive Community Treatment (ACT).

• Individuals whose condition cannot be safely or effectively managed in an outpatient private practice setting due to significant instability, repeated psychiatric hospitalizations, or the need for a higher level of coordinated care.

We do not provide the following services:

• Court-ordered or forensic psychiatric evaluations

• Child custody evaluations

• Fitness-for-duty evaluations

• Disability or impairment evaluations for legal purposes

• Independent medical examinations (IMEs)

• Expert witness services

FMLA, Disability, and Return-to-Work Forms

To provide accurate clinical recommendations, we generally do not complete FMLA paperwork, disability forms, or return-to-work certifications until an established provider-patient relationship has been formed. In most cases, this requires a minimum of three completed appointments, although additional visits may be necessary depending on the complexity of your condition.

Substance Use Disorders

We provide medication management and mental health care for many individuals in recovery and can address co-occurring mental health conditions. However, patients who are actively using illicit substances, experiencing uncontrolled alcohol or drug dependence, or requiring detoxification or intensive addiction treatment may be better served by a specialized addiction treatment program. When appropriate, we will provide referrals to community resources that offer detoxification services, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive outpatient programs, residential treatment, or other specialized substance use services.

If, at any point during treatment, your condition changes and a higher level of care is recommended, we will discuss our concerns with you, coordinate care whenever possible, and help facilitate an appropriate referral. Your safety, well-being, and access to the most appropriate treatment remain our highest priorities.

At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, LLC, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal health information. We comply with the privacy and security requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and all applicable federal and state laws governing the protection of patient information.

Information you submit through our secure patient forms, patient portal, or during your care is handled in accordance with our Notice of Privacy Practices. We maintain appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to help protect your health information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Please note that general contact forms and standard email communications may not be secure methods for transmitting sensitive medical information. We encourage patients to use our secure patient portal whenever possible to communicate about medical concerns, request prescription refills, review laboratory results, or exchange protected health information.

Our website may collect limited, non-medical information, such as website analytics or cookies, to improve your browsing experience. This information is not used to make medical decisions and is handled in accordance with our website privacy practices.

If you have questions about how your health information is used or would like a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact our office. We are committed to maintaining your trust by protecting your privacy and treating your personal health information with the highest level of confidentiality.

Good Faith Estimate (Fair Estimate of Charges)

At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, we believe that healthcare costs should be transparent and easy to understand.

Under the federal No Surprises Act, individuals who are uninsured, self-pay, or who choose not to use their health insurance have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of the expected cost of non-emergency healthcare services before receiving care.

Your Good Faith Estimate outlines the reasonably expected charges for scheduled services, including office visits and other anticipated healthcare costs. The estimate is based on the information available at the time it is prepared and is not a contract or guarantee of final charges. Additional services that become medically necessary during your care may result in changes to the total cost.

As a healthcare provider in Texas, SHINE Primary & Psych Care is committed to complying with all applicable federal and Texas laws regarding price transparency and patient financial rights.

If you have questions about your estimate or would like to request a Good Faith Estimate before your appointment, please contact our office. We are happy to help you understand your expected costs and answer any billing questions.

Your Rights Under the No Surprises Act

You have the right to:

• Receive a Good Faith Estimate before scheduled, non-emergency services if you are uninsured or self-pay.

• Request an estimate before receiving services.

• Ask questions about your expected charges.

• Dispute charges if your final bill is substantially higher than your Good Faith Estimate, as permitted under federal law.

Need a Good Faith Estimate?

Please contact SHINE Primary & Psych Care before your appointment if you would like to receive a Good Faith Estimate or discuss payment options. We are committed to providing transparent, compassionate, and patient-centered care.

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Financial Transparency: SHINE Primary & Psych Care complies with the federal No Surprises Act and applicable Texas laws regarding Good Faith Estimates and healthcare price transparency.

This wording is clear, patient-friendly, and aligns with current federal requirements while avoiding promises that could unintentionally exceed what the law requires. It also fits well with the professional, educational tone you've established throughout your website.

At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, we believe that the most meaningful measure of quality healthcare is the relationship built between a patient and their provider—not an online rating.

For that reason, we do not actively encourage or solicit public online reviews. While online review platforms can be helpful, they do not always accurately reflect a patient's experience. Unfortunately, reviews may occasionally be posted by individuals who have never received care from our practice, and healthcare providers often have limited ability to remove inaccurate or misleading content. Additionally, patient privacy laws prevent us from responding to reviews in a way that fully addresses the circumstances or corrects misinformation.

Our commitment is to provide compassionate, evidence-based, and ethical care to every individual we serve. If you have concerns about your experience, we encourage you to contact our office directly so we can listen, address your concerns, and continually improve the care we provide.

Thank you for placing your trust in SHINE Primary & Psych Care. We consider that trust to be far more valuable than any online rating.

Look for a clinic that considers both your emotional and physical health, reviews how medical conditions and medications may affect mental well-being, and coordinates care when referrals are needed. At SHINE Primary & Psych Care, we take a whole-person approach by considering mental health symptoms, physical health concerns, lifestyle, medical history, and individual treatment goals when developing your care plan.