Why the directory search is confusing
NYCE PPO launched on January 1, 2026, and most former GHI-CBP members were automatically enrolled. The plan is large, but its structure trips people up at the very first step: finding a provider.
The medical side of your coverage is administered by EmblemHealth, so your member ID card carries the EmblemHealth name. Behavioral health — psychiatry, therapy, and other mental health services — is administered through the UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health network. A member who searches the EmblemHealth provider directory for a psychiatrist is looking in the wrong place.
According to published NYCE PPO plan materials, the behavioral health network in New York State expanded sharply, growing from roughly 12,000 to about 39,000 providers. That is good news for access — once you know where to look.
Where to actually look
- Behavioral health providers (psychiatrists, therapists) are found through the UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health directory — not the EmblemHealth medical directory.
- No referral is required to see any in-network behavioral health provider under NYCE PPO.
- Telepsychiatry counts as an in-network option, so a virtual visit with a participating provider is covered the same way as an in-person visit.
The shortcut: book directly with an in-network practice
Instead of searching directories and calling offices one by one, you can start with a practice that already participates in the NYCE PPO network. East Coast Telepsychiatry is in-network with NYCE PPO and provides virtual psychiatric evaluations and medication management with NY-licensed clinicians.
Amy Pharr, APRN, PMHNP-C, is a NY-licensed psychiatric clinician who provides psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication management for NYCE PPO members. Because the practice is in-network, your visits are billed through your plan — typically with a copay rather than a surprise out-of-network bill.
Practice statement: East Coast Telepsychiatry is in-network with NYCE PPO and offers same-week appointments for new patients in nearly all cases. We will confirm your specific benefits and the next available opening during intake.
What is covered in-network
The in-network covered services at this practice are psychiatric evaluation and medication management with a NY-licensed prescriber. Therapy with the practice’s licensed therapist is offered on a self-pay basis and is not billed through NYCE PPO — we will be transparent about that before you book, so you are never surprised by a bill.
The published specialist copay for participating providers under NYCE PPO is $30. Plan materials note that copays may apply to behavioral health without naming a separate amount; your exact cost depends on your specific plan, and we verify it during intake.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I find a psychiatrist in the EmblemHealth directory?
Under NYCE PPO, behavioral health — including psychiatry — is administered through the UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health network, while the EmblemHealth name appears on your medical card. Psychiatrists and therapists are listed in the UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health directory, not the EmblemHealth medical directory.
Do I need a referral to see a psychiatrist with NYCE PPO?
No. NYCE PPO does not require a referral to see an in-network behavioral health provider. You can book directly with an in-network practice like East Coast Telepsychiatry.
Is East Coast Telepsychiatry in-network with NYCE PPO?
Yes. East Coast Telepsychiatry is in-network with NYCE PPO. Psychiatric evaluation and medication management with our NY-licensed prescriber are billed through your plan. Therapy services are self-pay and not billed through NYCE PPO.
Related guides
Non-affiliation: East Coast Telepsychiatry is an independent telepsychiatry practice that participates in the NYCE PPO network. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NYCE PPO, EmblemHealth, UnitedHealthcare, or the City of New York. Plan names and network details are described for informational purposes only; official plan documents govern your benefits. For authoritative coverage details, contact the number on the back of your member ID card.