11605 Nebel Street Rockville MD 20852
Pay-From-The-Heart Fee Structure*
Fee Structure for Treatments with Leah (as of 1/1/2025)
Initial Session (2 hours) = $198.00
Follow-Up Sessions (1 hour) = Pay-From-The-Heart
Why Pay-From-The-Heart?
The foundation of my clinical approach to acupuncture is based on a partnership between my patient and me. It is, by nature, a heart-centered approach. I consider my role in the partnership as that of a "healing facilitator." That is, I offer my knowledge, wisdom, and skill as a practitioner, while trusting that my patient, in body, mind, and spirit, will find their way back to an experience of deep wellness. Each individual is on their own healing journey and everyone is unique. My goal is to empower others along the way by providing the utmost care. “Pay-From-The-Heart” builds on this foundation of partnership and trust.
What is Pay-From-The-Heart?
Essentially, it is a sliding scale fee structure with clear guidelines. Pay-From-The-Heart has two key functions: 1) it allows me to be transparent about the resources I need to continue to offer the level of care I provide; and 2) it empowers my patients to make informed financial decisions in light of the resources they have to allocate toward their own care.
This approach aligns with my intention as a practitioner: to be both a partner in health, and a healing facilitator. Rather than impose a flat fee on my patients, where I can periodically, unilaterally increase that fee based solely on my needs, Pay-From-The-Heart helps me design a unique fee arrangement that is mutually acceptable to both parties.
What Do Other Practitioners Charge?
Based on my research of the marketplace as of January 2022, other acupuncturists in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area are charging between $80 and $160 per follow-up visit. The amount of one-on-one time spent with patients varies from practitioner to practitioner, with many opting to run sessions concurrently, working between two or more treatment rooms at a time. Some practitioners list a base rate for acupuncture treatments and charge an additional fee for using other modalities such as cupping or gua sha.
In my practice, my patients know that they are receiving an hour of my undivided attention (including some alone time to rest on the table), and that I customize each session based on what the patient needs in the moment. The beauty of this fee structure is that patients can choose to set their own rate according to their unique financial circumstances and what feels right in their heart. I trust my patients to make the best choice.
How Pay-From-The-Heart Works
Patients who pay for my services out-of-pocket** are invited to select their own Pay-From-The-Heart fee for follow-up treatments using the current rate guidelines. These guidelines provide for a Sustainable Rate (the amount that reflects what I would need to continue to comfortably grow my practice and earn a living), a Minimum Rate (the lowest amount I can accept), and an Abundant Living Rate (an amount above and beyond the Sustainable Rate that will help support the community). See below for more details.
*I am grateful to Mark Silver, M. Div. and his company, The Heart of Business, for inspiring me to implement this heart-centered business approach.
**Please note that this fee structure excludes those who are paying for treatments through insurance benefits. In the case of insurance reimbursements, neither party to the healing partnership has any agency over the decision of what fee is paid — rates and patient responsibility amounts can be changed by the insurance company at any time. The Pay-From-The-Heart Rate applies to all follow-up treatments not covered by insurance.
For those making their Pay-From-The-Heart Decision:
Step One
First, slow down… decide whether Pay-From-The-Heart is even right for you. Most of us just want to be told what to pay. This can sometimes leave us feeling disempowered as we are bound by someone else’s decision. In this case, you have a choice. Let that sink in — are you ready to chose your own rate?
Step Two
Next, be honest with yourself. Review the options below and consider your own financial situation. What amount feels right for the kind of care you are receiving? Search both your heart and mind for the answer, taking into account the frequency with which you will likely receive care. As your practitioner and partner in your healing, I trust you to make the choice that is best for you.
Once you have selected your rate from the range of possibilities, that rate is set for all subsequent follow-up treatments. And you’re still not locked-in forever. You will have the option of revising your rate every six months effective July 1st and January 1st each year.
The Options
Patients are invited to select any amount from the Minimum Rate through the Abundant Living Rate (or even more if desired). See detailed information about what each level along the Pay-From-The-Heart continuum represents, below:
Sustainable Rate = $117 per treatment (effective 1/1/25)
The "Sweet Spot"
At this rate, I'm able to continue to grow my practice and live beyond the day-to-day cost of keeping the doors open. This amount represents the place where I can meet your needs and also earn a living -- having the resources to support myself and those who depend on me. If you search your heart and know that you are able to commit to this sustainable rate, I request that you make this choice.
Minimum Rate = $90 per treatment (effective 1/1/25)
Heal + Be Well
This option represents the bottom-line, minimum fee I can accept for the hour of treatment time we share together. Receiving this fee will help me "keep the lights on" at Body + Beyond, though it will not support the growth of my practice. I trust you to choose this rate if it is the most you can afford right now.
Abundant Living Rate = $144 per treatment (effective 1/1/25)
Self-Care x Community Care
Choosing this rate (or any amount above the Sustainable Rate) means that you've attuned to your heart and determined that your current resources allow for you to generously tend your community as you care for yourself. Please discern wisely, as many of us can be tempted to give beyond our means, which ultimately depletes us. Any amount paid beyond the Sustainable Rate will support your fellow community members who might need to request a temporary reprieve from the Minimum Rate.
Financial Hardship Exception
In establishing the Pay-From-The-Heart fee structure, I intend to serve as many patients as possible in a one-on-one treatment setting. Still, I understand that even at the Minimum Rate, some will be unable to afford this individualized care. I can offer a limited number of follow-up sessions each month to those in need. Patients who find themselves in a financial situation where paying the Minimum Rate is temporarily unattainable can request a special financial hardship rate. With this Pay-From-The-Heart fee structure, I am trusting that members of this community will support one another by setting their rates appropriately.