I can be reached at 248-890-2662. My physical office is located at Dennis, Moye, and Associates, 1750 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA 48302. I maintain an online "office" at www.helphorizons.com through which I set up distance services on request. I work with individuals, couples, families, and groups using telephone, video chat or text chat (secure), and secure e-mail. For secure e-mail please use drblume@hushmail.com

Reimbursement Information

Companies determine their own reimbursement policies--often having different packages of coverage for different employers--and will accept or reject a claim for direct payment depending on several factors. Unless you have verified coverage for your provider's credentials, you should expect to pay fees at the time of service. You should ask your benefits office about eligible credentials. In some cases insurance coverage requires pre-authorization before the first session (your insurance card would have a telephone number on the back that must be called for authorization). Reimbursement is generally based on 4 factors: a reimbursable problem, policy limitations, provider credentials, and provider membership on a Panel of Approved Providers. Reimbursable problems, if clients are utilizing health insurance coverage, are problems that fall under the general category of mental health--emotional and behavioral problems. Job loss and unemployment, for example, would not be seen as reimbursable. But depression and anger control problems would be. Marital or parent-child relationship problems are not, in themselves, reimbursable. but symptoms resulting from such problems are eligible. If you are accessing benefits through an Employee Assistance Program rather than health insurance, eligibility may be very different and you may be eligible for services that are more preventive in nature, not requiring symptoms. Policy limitations vary tremendously. Under the most strict policies, known as Managed Care programs, a central office reviews every request and only authorizes brief service episodes such as 3-5 sessions upon the first request. Additional sessions must be requested based on the provider’s verification of the problem and assessment of problem severity. Traditional policies, on the other hand, generally limit the number of sessions in a calendar year and only begin paying after a deductible has been satisfied. Coverage for provider credentials, at this time, can be individually determined by each insurance company and each policy. Dr. Blume's credentials, as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Michigan, are accepted by many insurance companies. Unfortunately, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan is an exception to the general rule—they only reimburse LPC and LMFT providers within their own network of approved clinics (BCBSM Website has a list). Panels of approved providers are small groups of individuals and/or groups whose credentials are on file with an insurance company, have met special eligibility criteria, and have agreed to accept reduced fees for that insurance company’s clients. At this time Dr. Blume is an approved provider for some Employee Assistance Programs and for the Tricare program that serves military personnel and their dependents.