FAQs
How much does a comprehensive telehealth assessment cost?
A total flat self-pay rate will be determined during your free consultation based on your needs and the resulting customized testing recommendations. Elsewhere, assessments of this nature commonly range between $3,000 - $6,000 in the US. On average, a Moxie Spectrum comprehensive evaluation is in the ballpark of $2,000 - $3,000.
This cost includes: records review, diagnostic intake, full IQ test, full ASD evaluation, achievement testing for SLDs, ADHD testing, collection of collaterals, behavioral screeners, integration of data, scoring, interpretation, report writing, and an individualized feedback session.
What if I only want a piece of the comprehensive assessment and don’t need it all?
Not everyone needs a comprehensive evaluation. Assessment plans can absolutely be customized and this will impact your overall cost, time commitment, and scheduling. All of these details will be the focus of the free consultation call.
Do you accept insurance?
No. To prioritize privacy, autonomy, and efficiency, insurance is not processed. Services are self-pay and can be paid with a debit, credit, or HSA card. A receipt, or Superbill, can be provided if you would like to inquire about possible reimbursement options from your insurance on your own.
Can I pay with my HSA card?
Yes.
Can I make payments towards my assessment?
Partial payment is due at the time of booking and the remainder is due on or by the first appointment.
What if I can’t afford services?
If you have insurance, start by connecting with them to see which providers or agencies may be in network for coverage. If you are uninsured or under-insured, search for universities in your state that offer PhD or PsyD programs in Clinical Psychology. Those programs frequently have very low cost or free assessment clinics as part of their training sequence for future psychologists, and this can be an affordable way to get assessment services when finances are a barrier. If you’re inquiring about assessment services for your child, you may also check with their school or pediatrician to see about local referral options.
How many appointments are required?
When possible, assessments are completed in as few as 1 testing session. However, in the case of testing minors or adding on extra measures, testing sessions can be extended to 2-3 if necessary. Once testing is complete, there is a final appointment called a Feedback Session in which you get your results. Most adult assessment services are contained to 1 testing day and 1 Feedback Session.
Can I break my assessment up into smaller chunks instead of testing all day?
Customizing your testing day schedule and needs will be discussed during the free consultation appointment. No matter how many appointments are decided on, the assessment fee remains the same and the test taker can take multiple breaks throughout testing as needed.
What are the benefits of testing throughout a day?
1) Most traditional school/work shifts are chunked in 4-8+ hour blocks. Testing in similar blocks allows for a better representation of what your strengths and weaknesses might look like under everyday conditions. When testing sessions are broken down into too many increments and spread out over long periods of time, there is a risk for increased masking of symptoms which could result in not receiving accommodations that could be helpful in everyday conditions.
2) Completing your testing in as few appointments as possible means less days missed from work or school and a quicker timeline to your results. Testing days are designed with breaks for snacks, meals, and recovery, as well as sequenced across the day to give variety in the types of tasks/abilities being evaluated.
What are the benefits of telehealth assessment?
In the case of autistic individuals, telehealth assessment offers a maximized experience for showcasing special interests, environmental preferences, and maintaining sensory elements of their own personal space. Plus, telehealth assessment offers convenience and accessibility. There is no need to secure travel and lodging logistics to see a specialist outside of your area.
Who are the best candidates for telehealth assessment?
The best candidates for telehealth assessment are adolescents and adults who are verbal, have access to the technology required for testing, and can independently follow general instructions and remain compliant with staying on camera for the duration of the telehealth assessment.
Nonverbal individuals or those with certain visual or physical impairments are better served with in-person testing and assessment protocols designed with a wider range of inclusivity and norms. Additionally, minors that are more noncompliant, oppositional, or defiant are generally not good fits for independent telehealth assessment services and can invalidate or disrupt the testing process.
What technology is required to complete a telehealth assessment?
This will be discussed in more detail during your free consultation as technology needs can vary by assessment measures. But in general, test takers need high speed internet, a device that can access a web browser that has at least a 10.2” screen or more (e.g., computer, laptop, tablet), web cam capability, and an iPad 8th generation or newer with iOS 16 or higher and a screen of at least 10.2 inches. 8 GM RAM or more is recommended for optimal performance. In some cases your assessment may require the use of a doc cam. Moxie Spectrum can mail you a doc cam for your personal use in these instances. No downloads will be required on your end.
In simpler terms, if you have access to a computer, web cam, iPad, and high speed internet you should be set! Telehealth assessments of this nature are not possible via a small screen such as a handheld phone.
What if I want the assessment but don’t have access to all of the technology?
You only need access to the technology for testing days - which in many cases could be a single day. Consider scheduling when you could borrow the devices from a friend or family member, or perhaps check out or rent from a local library or university. It may also be possible to use resources at a local school, library, or doctor’s office by reserving a private space on-site. But ultimately, if you do not have access to the technology, a telehealth assessment is not the best fit for you.
Depending on your testing needs, more or less of the suggested technology may be required. For example, adult ASD-only evaluations need less technology than adolescent achievement evaluations.
What does “gender inclusive and trans-affirmative clinical practice” mean?
Gender inclusive care means that Dr. Gouge is versed in how the intersection of gender and symptomology is impacted by society, culture, and context. Gender inclusive assessment practice takes into consideration how gender stereotypes, gendered play, and binary gender expectations can negatively impact AFAB (assigned female at birth) and high masking individuals, resulting in barriers to support across the lifespan.
Gender inclusive and trans-affirmative care also means that Dr. Gouge will honor how you identify your name, pronouns, and gender throughout the testing process. This includes thoughtful discussion and collaboration around risks and benefits of details discussed verbally during the confidential assessment service and how those are formally documented in your written report, maximizing your autonomy, privacy, and safety.
At present, most assessment scoring procedures require input of a binary gender. Trans-affirmative assessment practice involves collaborating with the individual to determine when this can be avoided or when this can be resolved in a mutually agreed upon way. For example, choosing age or grade based norms when possible, selecting sex assigned at birth, norming on both genders, or selecting a binary gender for a measure that puts the test taker at the least risk - which could include protecting trans status for some individuals depending on their stage of transitioning at the time of testing.
Gender inclusive and trans-affirmative care also means that Dr. Gouge understands that some folks may be estranged from their families and not feel safe asking for family members to contribute to their assessment service. For evaluations that require collateral reporting, Dr. Gouge will engage in collaboration with the individual to determine safe options for integrating observational feedback from others in way that both meets testing standards and the individual’s needs.
What are the main benefits of getting testing through Moxie Spectrum versus somewhere else?
1) The vast majority of online testing consists of screeners or conversations, whereas Moxie Spectrum offers comprehensive testing (including IQ testing) just as you’d receive in-person with a psychologist but entirely from the comfort of your own home.
2) Additionally, Moxie Spectrum uses the most up to date assessment measures available - including those just recently released with post-pandemic norms. Assessment batteries of this nature can be very costly, and it can take years for private practices to convert older assessments to the latest versions.
3) Moxie Spectrum offers you remote access to an expert psychologist with extensive training, without having the time or cost investment required for travel, lodging, and missing work days.
4) Because insurance is not billed, there are no delays from pre-authorizations and no interference about whether you can be approved for any needed testing measures. Further, this adds an extra layer of privacy protection for folks hesitant to share evaluations or diagnoses with their insurance provider. Not only is this better care, it is faster care.
5) Enjoy shorter waitlists and one-on-one service.
Will this testing make me eligible for disability services or disability benefits?
The purpose and function of the assessment is not to determine disability status (i.e., this is not a disability evaluation reportable to the court). However, pending on the results of your assessment you may qualify for disability status in your state. In this case, you would be able to use your final report of the assessment findings to initiate disability proceedings in your state.
Will this testing make me eligible for accommodations on an exam, for work, or at school?
Pending the results of the assessment, it can be used to access accommodations at work, school, or on standardized exams. In many cases your assessment report will provide the documentation of qualifying diagnoses, and then your agency may request additional forms to be completed or set up special meetings with HR or with an IEP team to get a plan underway.
Is the ADOS included with testing for Autism?
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is not approved or adapted for telehealth delivery. Instead, Moxie Spectrum uses the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) measures for the observational coding components of the larger ASD assessment battery. Despite the name, these measures assess individuals ages 2 - 99 years and entail much more than a scale. When used correctly, a CARS procedure elicits behaviors for observation across an entire testing block for standardized observational coding very similar to the ADOS. However, the CARS has heightened flexibility with its administration that allows for telehealth application, post-pandemic context, and improves cultural, social, and racial inclusivity.
Dr. Gouge has received specialized training on the CARS from one of its founding developers, Dr. Mary E. Van Bourgondien through the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine’s TEACCH Autism Program. This training also included completion of coding interrater reliability.
In addition to other testing materials, the CARS is paired with the Woodcock Johnson V (WJ-V) which is the industry’s only fully remote cognitive and achievement battery, and that is newly released with post-pandemic norms.