Sliding Scale
/What is a sliding scale?
Offers variable fees for services based on a customer's ability to pay. Such fees are thereby reduced for those who have lower incomes, or alternatively, less money to spare after their personal expenses, regardless of income.
Why do people offer a sliding scale?
To be able to provide services and the same level of care across the board for those with fewer resources.
If you are going to offer a sliding scale…
What will it be?
A set fee (ex. $40 across the board for everyone)
Based on client’s household income (ex. annual income x .001 = fee)
Flexible (ex. more conversationally based with client on what they can afford for weekly sessions…may be $75 for one sliding scale client and may be $30 for another)
How will you determine who gets to use your sliding scale?
This is important to figure out before you start getting calls. If not you may just start offering your sliding scale to anyone who pauses after hearing your full fee.
If a client does meet your criteria for sliding scale or cannot afford your full fee or sliding scale spot it is important to have a handful of providers on hand that you trust and know will slide lower than you do.
Figure out how many sliding scale spots will you have in your caseload?
Some clinicians have an entire practice of sliding scale clients, and others set a limit on how many sliding scale clients they will take at a time (maybe 1, 2, 3 or 4 based on their caseload size).
If you aren’t going to offer a sliding scale…
Make sure you have a solid referral list for individuals that cannot afford your full fee or that you are not paneled with so you can point them in the direction of someone who might be able to meet their financial needs.
Having a hard time deciding?
Open Path Collective is a fantastic company for mental health professionals to use that streamlines the sliding scale process for you. Open Path generates referrals for your sliding scale slots, advertises your practice profile for free, and enhances your ability to serve your community.
If referring out because you don’t offer a sliding scale, or are full-- You can always refer prospective clients to Open Path Collective for affordable therapy. If clients meet the needs requirements set by Open Path, they can receive reduced rate therapy for a lifetime membership fee of $50! They can then log on anywhere nationwide and find a clinician through their directory.
Listen here to learn more.
Written by: Shannon Gonter, Founder, LPCC
Here at b.mindful Louisville, we not only provide our tenants with a comfortable, modern and safe space to practice out of but we also like to have an open dialogue around these topics and more. We have structured consultation hours to frame the conversation but also just find it beneficial to be open and transparent with one another about best clinical and business practices to assist each other in tackling the world of private practice. We are better together, if one of us succeeds we all succeed.
To learn more about the shared workspace of b.mindful Louisville click here, or call Shannon Gonter at 502-528-1363 to book your tour today.