Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re in crisis and need immediate help, call COPES
918.744.4800
Inpatient Treatment: Parkside Psychiatric Hospital
918.588.8888
Inpatient Treatment: Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital
918.481.4000
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988
Telemedicine Provider Links
Chariny Herring, DO
Child & Adolescent and General Psychiatry
Sarah Horton
APRN, CNP
Faith Miller
APRN, PMHNP-BC
How do I get refills on medications?
Medication changes and refills are best managed during the face to face appointment time with your provider. Efforts will be made to provide enough refills to last between appointments. Medication refills may not be granted if an appointment is past due and appropriate follow up is lacking. Medication refills are not managed after hours or on weekends when the office is closed. All refill requests can be requested through the Patient Portal.
To request a medication login to your patient portal by Clicking here. Once logged in, click “medications”, find the medication you are requesting a refill on and click “Refill Request”. A window will appear allowing you to enter additional comments which your provider will see.
Please be sure to include the name of the desired pharmacy and also include if your current dose is working well or possibly needs a change
Although you are probably familiar with the process of requesting a refill though your pharmacy, often they have been known to send automatic requests for medications to be refilled even when you have not requested a refill. To combat against this, we do not respond to automated refill requests from pharmacies.
Please allow up to 48 working hours for medication refills to be processed. Working hours are 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday, excluding holidays.
Refills on scheduled medications will not be provided if a follow up appointment has not been scheduled.
How do I reach my provider outside of my appointment?
We understand the importance of clear and timely communication with your healthcare provider. If questions arise outside of your scheduled visit, you can login to your patient portal account and send a message to “All Refills and Requests.”
A staff member or your provider will respond to your inquiry within 24-48 business hours. If there is an emergent or life-threatening issue, please seek help from the nearest emergency service provider.
Working hours are 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday, excluding holidays.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
Understandably, everyone has unexpected schedule changes. With more than 24 hours notice, our office will try to accommodate your schedule to the best of our ability.
However, if you need to cancel or reschedule with less than 24 hours notice, you will be financially responsible for the full appointment cancellation fee. Insurance companies do not cover charges for missed or late cancel appointments, so the patient must fully assume that financial responsibility.
More than 2 last minute cancellations (less than 24 hour notice), or no-show appointments in a calendar year could lead to dismissal from the practice. We will assist you in finding another provider.
Do you offer ketamine treatment?
Yes, we offer Spravato® and ketamine treatments for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). Tulsa Family Psychiatry & Wellness is a Spravato REMS Cerified Treatment Center.
We also work collaboratively with providers who offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
Do you take my insurance?
We accept these insurance plans:
- BlueCross BlueShield*
- BlueTraditional POS
- BlueChoice POS
- BluePreferred
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Lincs
- Native Blue
- CommunityCare
- HealthChoice
- UnitedHealthcare
What if my insurance is not listed?
If your insurance is not listed and you have Out-of-Network (OON) benefits, our office will provide you with appropriate documentation to file a claim with your insurance company. You will be financially responsible for whatever your insurance does not pay.
What types of patient do you treat?
Tulsa Family Psychiatry is focused on providing psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of children and adults between the ages of 5-64 years old.
Patients outside of these age ranges will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How do I schedule an appointent?
For new patients, the quickest way to get started is by completing our New Patient Interest form at https://tulsafamilypsychiatry.com/new
If you are already a patient, you can self-schedule from your patient portal.
How do I pay for my appointment?
Fees are due at the beginning of each visit, and all payments should be made via credit card. If balances exist after your claim is processed by insurance, our office will bill your card the remaining balance and provide you with a statement.
It is recommended that you have a credit card on file to keep your account up to date.
Is Dr. Herring availble for legal cases such as custody and divorce?
Dr. Herring prefers not to engage in patient’s legal matters which takes her away from providing care in the office. If Dr. Herring is legally requested or required to attend or participate in legal hearings, the professional fee will be a minimum of $500/ hour to cover expenses and time away from the office.
If medication is recommended, will it change my personality?
No, medication will not change your personality. Psychiatric medications, when prescribed judiciously and with care, have the power to improve the lives of those suffering from mental disorders.
Using the lowest effective dose of psychiatric medication, tailored specifically to each patient’s individual need is the goal. Often, medication works best with talk therapy.
How do I know if I need to see a psychiatrist?
If an individual is experiencing difficulties with mood or behavior on a frequent basis over an extended period of time which is causing disruption in functionality, a psychiatrist may be able to help.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Problems interacting with others
- Inability to meet daily demands
- Aggressive behavior
- Frequent physical complaints
- Hyperactivity
- Poor focus or attention
- Frequent outbursts or tantrums
- Sad mood
- Self-harming behaviors
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Frequent mood changes, or strange thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors
What is Coordination of Benefits (COB)?
Coordination of Benefits (COB) is a procedure used by insurance companies to determine how to pay claims when a person is covered by more than one health insurance plan. This process helps avoid duplicate payments for the same medical service, ensuring that the total amount paid does not exceed the actual cost of the services provided.
Here’s how it generally works:
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Primary and Secondary Insurers: When you have more than one insurance plan, one is designated as the primary insurer and the other as the secondary. The primary insurer pays first, up to the limits of its coverage. The primary insurer is usually determined by rules set by the insurance companies, often based on which policyholder’s birthday comes first in the calendar year, among other criteria.
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Payment by Primary Insurer: The primary insurance processes the claim according to its policy terms and pays what it owes.
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Submission to Secondary Insurer: After the primary insurer has paid, the secondary insurer can then process the claim. It takes into account what the primary insurer paid and covers some or all of the remaining costs, depending on the secondary insurance’s coverage rules.
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Limit on Total Payment: The combination of payments from both insurers should not exceed 100% of the charges. The secondary insurance often covers deductibles, copayments, or any coinsurance not covered by the primary insurance.
What is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling, and/or behavior. A psychiatrist uses knowledge and experience from roughly a decade of medical and specialty training to formulate an assessment and diagnosis based on the biological, psychological, and social components of each individual. A psychiatrist can order labs or other medical studies to assist in the diagnostic process and can treat symptoms with both talk therapy and medication.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a therapist?
At Tulsa Family Psychiatry & Wellness, we are fully supportive of all mental health disciplines and often work collaboratively with psychologists, therapists and other mental health care providers to optimize patient care.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) who, after completing four years of medical school, has completed four additional years of specialty training through a residency program in psychiatry (5 additional years for child and adolescent psychiatry). A psychiatrist is extensively trained in psychotherapy (talk therapy) & psychopharmacology (treatment through psychiatric medication). The training also includes several months of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and Neurology to provide a comprehensive education in the specialties which overlap with psychiatry. In the state of Oklahoma, a psychiatrist has the authority to prescribe medications to patients, but a psychologist or therapist cannot.
A psychologist, typically holding a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), has specialized in psychology during their college and graduate school education. A therapist or counselor, usually with a master’s degree in psychology or social work, is trained and licensed to conduct talk therapy (L.P.C., L.C.S.W., L.M.F.T).
What is a psychiatric Nurse Practitoner or psychiatric Physician Assistant?
A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, PMHNP-BC is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience in psychiatric-mental health nursing. They hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree and are board-certified. PMHNPs are qualified to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for patients with psychiatric conditions. Their training covers a broad spectrum, including psychotherapy and pharmacology. While PMHNPs can practice independently in some states, they typically work under a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician, consulting with them as needed.
Similarly, a Psychiatric Physician Assistant is trained in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. They typically hold a Master’s degree from a physician assistant program and have specialized training in psychiatry. PAs in psychiatry perform patient assessments, psychiatric evaluations, therapy, and medication management. They work under the supervision of a physician, adhering to a collaborative or supervisory relationship, which involves regular consultation and oversight.
What kind of problems do you treat?
Our providers are qualified to diagnose and treat multiple behavioral, emotional, and developmental problems.
These include but are not limited to:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)
- Anxiety disorders (separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, social phobia, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Mood disorders (major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, cyclothymia)
- Psychotic disorders
How Do I Get Started?
Give us a call
Our dedicated team can assist you with any questions and guide you towards the appropriate resources tailored to your unique needs.
New Patient Interest Form
Complete our New Patient Interest form at: TulsaFamilyPsychiatry.com/new
Contact Us
For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest emergency medical provider.
Tulsa Family Psychiatry & Wellness
2526 E 71st St. Suite J
Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: 918.268.9578
Fax: 918.471.2854