Prior to your appointment, you will need to call your insurance company to verify your benefits. Specifically, you will need to ask:

1. Are speech-language and/or reading disorders covered?
2. Does this include developmental speech-language disorders (the cause is not due to an accident or injury)?
3. What is your deductible and have you met it? If you have not met your deductible, you will have to pay out of pocket until your deductible has been met. Please contact Flower Pie immediately if you discover your deductible has not been met, to make arrangements for what your payment(s) will be. We offer incentives if you make these arrangements prior to the evaluation. 
4. What is your co-pay?
5. Is the co-pay different for a specialist than it is for a regular doctor’s visit?
6. Is the co-pay different for an evaluation than it is for a treatment session?
7. Are there any limitations to the coverage of speech-language disorders, including number of visits allowed per year?
8. Can you confirm that the insurance card you have is current? If not, please request a new one. Make sure to write down the policy/group/ID numbers in case your new card does not arrive before your evaluation session.

If you have Medicaid, you will need to make sure you have a current EPSDT on file.

You, the parent or legal guardian, will need to call your child’s treating physician and request an official referral and a prescription for a speech and language and/or reading evaluation with treatment as needed.  Not all policies require a referral; however, we require a referral for all evaluations.

If a referral is needed but has not been requested prior to the evaluation, the insurance company will not pay for the evaluation. Your physician will submit the referral directly to your insurance company. The prescription can be faxed directly to Flower Pie (888-826-1340) or you can bring it with you to the evaluation.

If you aren’t sure whether your child needs to be screened or an evaluation click here to fill out our HIPAA secure form. We will use this information to help you take the next step in advocating for yourself or your child.

In some circumstances, you may not need a screening and can instead schedule an evaluation. If you and the SLP have agreed that your child needs an evaluation, you may need to request a referral in order to have your insurance plan cover an evaluation.

You, a family member, caregiver, a teacher, educational professional, or medical professional can recommend your child receive a speech and language evaluation; however, only your child’s treating physician can make a formal referral.

A screening usually lasts 15-20 minutes and can take place at the child’s school (depending on location) or the Flower Pie office. We can screen speech (voice, stuttering, articulation), language, and reading skills. Screenings will focus on the specific area(s) of concern. The SLP will provide you with a summary of findings including whether or not an evaluation is recommended.

You may pay by cash, check, or credit card. You can pay online through the client portal.

1. A referral from your or your child’s treating physician. They will submit this directly to your insurance company.
2. A prescription from the treating physician for a speech-language evaluation and treatment as needed. This can be faxed to us (888-826-1340) or you can bring it with you to your appointment.
3. Verification of benefits, including co-pay for a specialist, policy limitations, and confirmation that your insurance card is current. Please be prepared to pay your copay or the full cost of the evaluation at the beginning of your appointment (based on your insurance coverage).
4. If you have Medicaid, you will need to make sure you have a current EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment) form on file. Note: Please make sure to bring your photo ID and your insurance card to the evaluation so that we can make a copy for your file.

Children are all different.  Some children do not take to teletherapy; however, in our experience many benefit from it surprisingly well.  In fact, some children are able to focus more on the therapists mouth for cues and even feel less intimidated when working on eye contact.  If it is determined that teletherapy is not ideal for your child, in person sessions will be recommended. For more information and examples of teletherapy sessions, see our Teletherapy Page.