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FAQs

Therapy can be a big deal, we’re here to answer any questions you might have.

Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have questions that have not been answered here, feel free to call us at 603-843-8462 or fill out our contact form below.

What services do you offer?
Currently, we offer:

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Insurance.

What Insurances are you in-network with?
  • Anthem NH
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
  • CBA Blue
  • Cigna
  • Aetna NH
  • NH Medicaid
  • Harvard Pilgrim

We are are working to add more insurance plans to our list and it may not reflect the most up-to-date carriers. Please contact our office or your insurance provider to see if Spark Therapies is in-network. We also accept private pay clients.

Will my insurance cover therapy?
Prior to your appointment, you will need to call your insurance company to verify your benefits. Specifically, you will need to ask:

  • (If applicable) Are speech-language and reading disorders covered?
  • (If applicable) Does this include developmental speech or reading disorders (the cause is not due to an accident or injury)?
  • What is your deductible and have you met it? If you have not met your deductible, you may have to pay out of pocket until your deductible has been met. Please contact Spark immediately if you discover your deductible has not been met or your insurance does not cover these services to make arrangements for what your payment(s) will be.
  • What is your co-pay?
  • Is the co-pay different for a specialist than it is for a regular doctor’s visit?
  • Is the co-pay different for an evaluation than it is for a treatment session?
  • Are there any limitations to the coverage of speech-language or reading disorders, including number of visits allowed per year?
  • Can you confirm that the insurance card you have is current? If not, please request a new one. Make sure to write down the policy/group/ID numbers in case your new card does not arrive before your evaluation session.
  • Is Spark Therapies an in-network provider? The deductibles will be different for in-network versus out of network status.

If you have Medicaid, you will need to make sure you have a current EPSDT on file.

You are not in-network with my insurance carrier, what other options are available?
We will bill any out of network insurance plans first. Many will cover out of network expenses with a higher deductible. Some insurances have limits on number of sessions per year and other aspects. We will do everything we can before your first session to inform you of what may or may not be covered by your specific insurance plan. Families are responsible for any denied claims. We also accept private pay clients and can provide you with an invoice to send to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Our office is working to expand our list of insurance providers and we will work with you to make your therapy needs as affordable and flexible as possible. We handle each client on a case by case basis to ensure that the services they need are accessible.
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Referrals.

What is the difference between a referral and a recommendation?
You, a family member, caregiver, a teacher, educational professional, or medical professional can recommend your child receive services but only your child’s primary care physician can make a formal referral. Referrals are required by Spark Therapies and most insurances.
How do I get a referral?
You, the parent or legal guardian, will need to call your child’s treating physician and request an official referral and a prescription for a speech and language, occupational therapy, and/or reading evaluation with treatment as needed. Not all policies require a referral, however, we require a referral for all evaluations that will be billed to insurance. If a referral is needed but has not been requested prior to the evaluation, the insurance company will not pay for the evaluation. The referral can be faxed directly to Spark Therapies (603-843-8607) or you can bring it with you to the evaluation.
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Cost.

What does therapy cost?
Our fees are based on our level of quality. Each of our specialists is highly qualified in their field, fully licensed, and actively pursuing continuing education and experience. Here at Spark we want to offer the highest level of care we can while still being affordable and accessible. Not every clinic is transparent about fees and prices but we believe that having this information encourages you to make informed decisions about your child or your loved one’s care and to make the right decision for your family.

To view the cost of our services, see Our Fees.

What is your No-Show Policy?
If you are unable to attend a session for any reason, we ask that you call us at 603-843-8462. You may also email info@sparktherapies.com. If you do not cancel with 24 hours you may be charged a $25 fee. This fee goes directly to the specialist for their time and covers their transportation and preparation time for the missed session. There is an exception to snow or other severe weather conditions. Severe weather conditions will be addressed on a storm by storm basis. If it appears that the travel conditions are too dangerous, we will call you to reschedule and notify you.

As much as we love seeing each of our clients, we want everyone to be as safe as possible.

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Evaluations.

What is a Screening?

A screening usually lasts 15-20 minutes and takes place at the Spark Therapies office. We can screen speech (voice, stuttering, articulation), language, and reading skills. Screenings will focus on the specific area(s) of concern. A member of our speech team will provide you with a copy of the screener and their findings including whether or not an evaluation is recommended.

View our Screenings page to learn more about the free speech-language and reading screenings at Spark Therapies.

What can I do before we get a formal evaluation?

You can call us at 603-843-8462 for a phone consultation, to schedule a free screening with a licensed member of our team or simply call and ask for a meet & greet. If you and our team have agreed that your child needs an evaluation then you will need to request a referral from your child’s doctor.

You can also complete the Person Specific Interview online to help move the process along faster.

What do I need for an Evaluation?
  • A completed Person Specific Interview – available online, to print, or in office.
  • A referral from your child’s treating physician. They will submit this directly to your insurance company.
  • A prescription/order from the treating physician for service evaluation and treatment as needed. This can be faxed to us (603-843-8607) or you can bring a printed copy from the doctor’s office with you to your appointment.
  • Verification of benefits, including co-pay for a specialist, policy limitations, and confirmation that your insurance card is current. Please be prepared to pay your copay or the full cost of the evaluation at the beginning of your appointment (this can vary based on your insurance coverage and type of evaluation).
  • If you have Medicaid, you will need to make sure you have a current EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment) form on file.

Note: Please make sure to bring your photo ID and your insurance card to the evaluation so that we can make a copy for your file.

What happens during an evaluation?
Evaluations are determined depending on the type of service required. Following an Evaluation, a specialist will schedule a time for the client and any parents/caregivers to come for a follow-up consultation where they will receive the test report(s) and discuss findings. This is also a time to discuss the client’s goals for therapy and what client’s and their families can expect regarding our services.

Evaluations are typically referred by your child’s Primary Care Physician. If you would like a formal evaluation at Spark Therapies, please request a referral to Spark from your child’s doctor.

For more information on our evaluation procedure and to see the costs of evaluations, please click here.

Are free screenings the same as an evaluation?
Our free speech and language screenings are not the same as a formal evaluation and exist only to provide an initial check of your child’s current abilities and skills. A licensed member of our speech team completes all of our screenings. The benefit of having your child screened is that a professional can quickly identify any possible problems which could affect your child’s learning and communication.   Speech and language screenings a series of short tests that sample a child’s current speech and language skills. If your child passes, then there is likely not a need for further action. If your child does not pass a screening, this indicates that the child would likely benefit from a full speech-language evaluation to determine their specific difficulties and, from there, create a therapy plan.

Unlike formal Speech Evaluations, you do not need a referral from your child’s doctor. To set up an appointment for a free speech-language screening, call us at 603-843-8462.

For more information on our evaluation procedure and to see the costs of evaluations, please click here.

Privacy.

What is your Privacy Policy?
We take our client’s privacy very seriously. Spark Therapies, LLC is required by a federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA; Pub.L. 104–191, 110 Stat. 1936, enacted August 21, 1996) to keep all health information confidential. To learn more and see our privacy policy click here.
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Appointments.

What can I expect in therapy?
Many children and parents have reservations or apprehensions about therapy, wondering what it will be like, and what to expect in the session. At Spark Therapies, in our initial session with the client, we want to determine right where they are in terms of his or her speech, language, and reading development. We do this by means of an evaluation. In this session, the therapist uses standardized clinical tests and interacts with the client, and then produces a written report for the client and any parents/caregivers with recommended goals for therapy.

The therapist then meets or phone conferences with the client, parents, and/or caregiver for a consultation, in which the results of the evaluation are interpreted and explained. If a client is determined to need therapy, then he or she will need lots of cues and feedback from both the therapist and his or her family and support system during the treatment period. Positive reinforcement and a relaxed learning environment are very important factors in the client’s success in therapy, and we have created a calm, home-like environment at our clinic for that very purpose.

As the therapy progresses, the therapist will add new goals and adjust existing goals as needed. We believe that in order for therapy to be truly successful and to best develop these new skills, they need to be practiced beyond therapy.

We encourage the client’s support system to help the client work on their therapy goals at home, and we encourage any teachers to help children practice their new skills in the classroom. In addition to strengthening these goals at home, Spark Therapies also offers the SparkLife program, a series of therapy-driven activities including painting, sculpture, and improvisation. To learn more about these activities, see SparkLife.  

Can I sit in on a session?
Absolutely! Parents, guardians, caregivers, and other member’s of the client’s support team are welcome to observe sessions and ask questions at the end. If having someone in the room is too distracting for your child, we also offer private video observations via tablet.
Do you record sessions?
We monitor all therapy sessions both to train the therapist during the session and for security/safety purposes. Recordings are not kept beyond 24 hours unless an incident report has been filed. We ask all clients and/or client’s caregivers to sign a notice of this during their new client paperwork.
How do I schedule or change an appointment?
Spark Therapies is available during after-schools (4pm-7pm) and weekend hours (10am-4pm) by appointment only. Call us today to set up an appointment for an evaluation at 603-843-8462, email us at info@sparktherapies.com, or fill out the contact form below.

To reschedule or cancel an appointment give us a call or email us as soon as you are able. Please note the No-Show Policy above for cancellations or changes less than 24 hours in advance.

We also offer an online form you can fill out instead of completing the paper packet in office. This can save you time during your first visit.

The online form is available here: New Client Form.

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More Questions?

Were your questions not answered above? Give us a call or fill out the contact form below and we will call or email you ASAP to take care of any questions you might have.

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