Professional Fees & Payment Options
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Professional Fees
Professional Fees
View our Fee Schedule for Speech-Language Pathology.
View our Fee Schedule for Occupational Therapy.
Quoted fees remain guaranteed for a period of one year from the start of service. After one year, fees will be adjusted to reflect the current rates.
No-Show / Late-Cancellation Policy
When a client makes an appointment, they are reserving that clinician's time. If the client then cancels late (less than 24 hours' notice) or does not arrive for their appointment, we are unable to give that time to another client. Furthermore, staff spend time in advance of appointments preparing session plans and materials. Compensation for this time is included in our session fees. When clients do not arrive for their appointments or cancel late, staff have already completed this work for them.
Out of consideration for our clinicians, we require at least 24 hours' notice to cancel an appointment. If less than 24 hours' notice is provided, clients are billed at a rate of $60/hour (for example, $30 for a 30-minute appointment). This fee is waived if the late notice is due to hazardous driving conditions, illness, or a family emergency.
As a courtesy, our clinic system does send appointment reminders to your email on file. However, technology is imperfect and our reminders are sometimes directed to spam/junk folders. Ultimately, clients are responsible for remembering their appointments, so please make note of them when they are first made.
Methods of Payment
Insurance
Please speak to your insurance provider to inquire about coverage for speech-language pathology services. To protect your privacy, insurers will not release the details of your coverage to a provider, so we cannot do this for you. You will want to know the following about your coverage: what is your annual benefit (dollar amount or number of visits for the year), what percentage of each claim is covered (e.g., 80%, 100%), and what is the maximum covered per visit (e.g., up to a maximum of $120 per visit).
We are able to direct bill to your primary insurer. We are unable to direct bill to any secondary insurer (e.g., if you have coverage under your spouse's plan we cannot direct bill on your behalf because of the limitations of insurers' systems).
For those with coverage, services provided by a speech-language pathologist are eligible.
Direct billing can be done by Shoreline on behalf of the following insurers:
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Medavie Blue Cross
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Green Shield Canada
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SSQ Insurance
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Canada Life
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Canadian Construction Workers Union
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Chambers of Commerce (Johnston Group)
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Desjardins Insurance
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First Canadian (Johnston Group)
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Industrial Alliance
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Johnston Group
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TELUS AdjudiCare
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plus some additional smaller insurers (please contact Shoreline to inquire)
Any amount not covered after direct billing will be payable by the client. At intake you will be asked if you would like to save your credit card information so we can charge your card for you as a convenience.
For clients of other insurance providers whose systems do not permit SLPs or OTs to direct bill yet (e.g., SunLife, Manulife), professional fees will be due at time of service. You will be provided with a detailed invoice by email to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
Credit Card / Debit
Clients may pay online via credit card through our clinic management system Jane App.
Clients may pay by debit, Apple/Google Pay, or credit card at our office.
Jordan's Principle
Eligible First Nations persons can apply for funding for private services for children through Jordan's Principle. More information can be found at the link below.
Link: https://www.unsm.org/dept/jordans-principle
Medical Expense Tax Credit
For information about the medical expense tax credit, visit the CRA's website (link below) and/or speak with the accountant who prepares your annual tax return.
Link:
Workers' Compensation Claims
For services related to a workers' compensation claim, professional fees are due at the time of service. You will be provided with a detailed invoice to submit for reimbursement.
Department of Community Services
If you receive support through the Disability Support Program, there are times when coverage may be available for SLP and OT services.
According to section 7.4.2. of the Disability Support Program policy, the cost of private services may be approved when "they are not available through insured services and the lack of availability creates a significant impact on the health and safety of the participant."
The Department of Community Services requires that persons first seek services through the public service (e.g., Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia). The Department of Community Services considers coverage for private therapy:
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where there is no public service available, or
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the wait list is long, and
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all private insurance coverage has already been used.
In these cases, the department may consider coverage of private services until public services are available.
There is no list of pre-approved SLP and OT providers with the DCS (as there is for psychology and counselling) - you just need to speak with your individual case worker.
For more information, please contact the Department of Community Services Disability Support Program:
https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/index.html
Disability Support Program Policy:
https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/documents/Disability_Support_Program_Policies.pdf