The short answer
Under NYCE PPO, mental health care is a covered benefit, and you do not need a referral to use it. Behavioral health — psychiatry and therapy — runs through the UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health network. When you see an in-network provider, your visit is typically covered with a copay rather than billed at out-of-network rates.
At East Coast Telepsychiatry, the in-network covered services are psychiatric evaluation and medication management with a NY-licensed prescriber. These are billed through your NYCE PPO plan.
What it costs
The published specialist copay for participating providers under NYCE PPO is $30. Published plan materials note that copays may apply to behavioral health without naming a separate amount for it, so your exact cost depends on your specific plan and benefit level.
We verify your specific benefits and copay during intake and confirm your cost before your first appointment, so there are no surprise bills. If a service is not covered under your plan — for example, therapy with our self-pay therapist — we tell you upfront.
Plan rule vs. practice statement: the $30 specialist copay is a published NYCE PPO plan figure for participating providers. Your actual cost depends on your plan. East Coast Telepsychiatry verifies your benefits during intake and confirms your cost before you are seen. For authoritative benefit details, see the NYC Office of Labor Relations NYCE PPO Summary of Plans (https://www.nyc.gov/assets/olr/downloads/pdf/health/summary-of-plans-nyceppo.pdf) or call the number on the back of your member ID card.
What is covered in-network at this practice
- Psychiatric evaluation with a NY-licensed prescriber (typically a 45–60 minute comprehensive visit).
- Ongoing medication management and follow-up visits (typically 15–30 minutes).
- Virtual (telepsychiatry) visits, covered the same way as in-network in-person care.
What is not billed through NYCE PPO here
Therapy with the practice’s licensed therapist is offered on a self-pay basis and is not billed through NYCE PPO. If you are looking specifically for covered therapy, let us know during intake and we can help you understand your options. We will always be transparent about which services are covered and which are self-pay before you book.
Does telepsychiatry count as a covered visit?
Yes. Telepsychiatry with a participating in-network provider is covered under NYCE PPO, so a secure video visit with our NY-licensed prescriber is billed the same way as an in-network office visit. You must be physically located in New York State at the time of your visit to see a NY-licensed clinician.
Frequently asked questions
Is therapy covered under NYCE PPO at this practice?
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are the in-network covered services here and are billed through NYCE PPO. Therapy with our licensed therapist is self-pay and is not billed through the plan. We will confirm which services are covered before you book.
What is the copay for a psychiatric visit?
The published specialist copay for participating NYCE PPO providers is $30. Your exact cost depends on your specific plan; we verify it during intake and confirm it before your first appointment.
Are virtual visits covered the same as in-person?
Yes. Telepsychiatry with an in-network participating provider is covered under NYCE PPO, so a secure video visit is billed the same way as an in-network office visit.
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.