The "No Surprises Act"
& Good Faith Estimates

The No Surprises Act was passed in December 2020, under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, which aims to protect consumers and clients from surprise medical bills. 

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The Good Faith Estimate provision of the No Surprises Act federally mandates that healthcare providers give clients an estimate of anticipated healthcare items and services, using what is called a “Good Faith Estimate.” This took effect on January 1, 2022.

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What is a Good Faith Estimate?

A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is an estimate of the total expected costs of non-emergency healthcare items or services. It aims to prevent clients from being surprised by unexpected bills or charges. This estimate includes regularly scheduled therapy appointments, but it does not include no-shows, late cancellation, or any other items charges that cannot be predicted. The Good Faith Estimate will predict the cost of services 12 months in advance, giving you a reasonable idea of costs to expect for one year. 

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How does this impact me?

• Upon scheduling services at Healing Spaces Psychological Services, you will receive written notice of your rights under the No Surprises Act, as well as a Good Faith Estimate of an estimate of your bill for services. 

• You have the right to receive your Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your scheduled healthcare service or item. If a service is scheduled at least 10 business days in advance, the Good Faith Estimate must be provided within 3 business days of scheduling. 

• You have a right to dispute a bill that substantially exceeds your Good Faith Estimate ($400 or above). For more information, please visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers/understanding-costs-in-advance. 

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