If you’re a SimplePractice customer who is in-network with a participating insurance health plan or employee assistance program (EAP), you’ll be automatically enrolled to receive new client referrals in your SimplePractice account. Once you’re enrolled in a referral channel, care coordinators and members will be able to view your availability and request appointments through the healthcare partner’s member portal.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Managing your availability for healthcare partner referrals
- Receiving online appointment requests
- FAQs
Note: In-network client referrals are powered by integrations with healthcare partners like Optum/UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and ComPsych. Eligible customers are enrolled through the insurance health plan or EAP they're in-network with.
Managing your availability for healthcare partner referrals
You can manage your availability for in-network client referrals directly from your SimplePractice account. Depending on the healthcare partner you’re enrolled with, you can set this up as new client availability or partner-specific availability.
Managing availability for Optum/UHC client referrals
Once you’re enrolled to receive in-network client referrals from Optum and UnitedHealthcare, the billing code OPTUM Optum Introduction Session will be added to any existing availability blocks you’ve created for new clients.
Note: Optum/UHC client referrals through SimplePractice are part of a phased rollout. If you’re in-network with a participating plan, we’ll notify you of your eligibility and enrollment by email.
To view your existing availability:
- Navigate to your calendar
- Select Availability in the top right corner
- Choose the availability block you'd like to view
- Note: To learn more about creating and editing your availability, see Managing your Availability
If the availability block already includes a service that’s enabled for new clients, you’ll see the OPTUM billing code under Services. If you’d prefer not to receive Optum/UHC client referrals during this block, click X to remove this service.
Tip: To delete an availability block, click the trash can icon.
You can also create additional availability blocks for Optum/UHC client referrals. To do this:
- Navigate to your calendar
- Select Availability in the top right corner
- Click anywhere on the calendar to create a new availability block
- Specify the days, times, and location(s) you’d like to make available
- Select Add service and choose OPTUM Optum Introduction Session
- Click Save
In addition to managing availability directly from your calendar, you can use the Manage availability page to maintain your availability for in-network client referrals.
- To update an existing availability block, click Edit
- To delete an existing availability block, click the trash can icon
- To create a new availability block, click Add new availability
Note: The OPTUM service will only appear to qualified clients through their member portal, where they’ll be able to request appointments based on your availability.
Managing availability for ComPsych client referrals
If you’re enrolled in the ComPsych referral channel, you can create partner-specific availability blocks for in-network client referrals. To do this:
- Navigate to Settings > Client Referrals > In-Network Referrals
- Note: You’ll only see the In-Network Referrals tab if you've been enrolled in a healthcare partner's referral channel
- Click Add availability
- Enter an Availability title
- Specify the days, times, and location(s) you’d like to make available
- Tip: To create a buffer before or after each appointment requested through this channel, click Advanced settings and specify how many minutes you’d like to block off
- Click Save
Any partner-specific availability you create will only be shown to care coordinators and members. To make changes to your partner-specific availability:
- Navigate to Settings > Client Referrals > In-Network Referrals
- Click Edit
- Select the pencil icon to edit an availability block
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- Select the trash can icon to delete an availability block
- Select Add Availability to create additional availability blocks
Receiving online appointment requests
In-network clients will be able to request appointments based on your availability through a healthcare partner’s member portal. You can manage these appointment requests within your SimplePractice account. To do this:
- Click Requests at the top of the calendar
- After reviewing the request, you can choose to Accept or Decline
Note: The referral source will be indicated on the appointment request. Certain healthcare partners may include additional client and plan information with the request.
Optum/UHC appointment requests
Appointment requests submitted through Optum and UHC will include the client’s name, date of birth, reason for visit, insurance plan, member ID, and group ID. You’ll also see a link to Provider Express, which will take you directly to Optum’s portal, where you can verify the referred client’s eligibility and benefits.
This client and health plan information will also be saved as an administrative note on the referred client’s Overview page. While referred clients are prequalified, this information can be used if you’d like to confirm their eligibility and benefits before their first appointment.
Note: For assistance with Provider Express, please reach out to your group practice administrator or the Provider Express support team directly.
When you accept an appointment request from Optum/UHC, the appointment’s billing code will be automatically updated to 90834 Psychotherapy, 45 minutes. If needed, you can change the billing code for the appointment from your SimplePractice calendar.
When you decline an appointment request, you’ll be asked to select a reason for declining. If you decline an appointment request from Optum/UHC due to a Scheduling conflict, you can send the referred client a link to reschedule.
If you decline an appointment request from Optum/UHC for any other reason, the client will be prompted to request a new appointment with a different in-network provider.
FAQs
How do I enroll in a referral channel?
Participating health plans and EAPs may have different enrollment processes.
Certain healthcare partners, like ComPsych, require that you enroll through their provider portal. If you need further assistance, please reach out to ComPsych directly.
SimplePractice customers who are in-network with Optum and UnitedHealthcare affiliated plans will be automatically enrolled in this referral channel.
Note: Optum/UHC client referrals through SimplePractice are part of a phased rollout. If you’re in-network with a participating plan, you’ll receive an email from SimplePractice notifying you of your eligibility and enrollment in the coming weeks.
How do I unenroll from a referral channel?
You can unenroll from a referral channel at any time. To do this:
- Navigate to Settings > Client Referrals > In-Network Referrals
- Toggle the Activate switch off next to the referral source in question
If you’d like to re-enroll to receive Optum/UHC client referrals in the future, you can return to the In-Network Referrals tab.
Note: You'll be redirected to ComPsych's provider portal to unenroll and re-enroll from their referral channel.
Tip: If you’d prefer to update your availability for in-network client referrals, you can do so from the Manage availability page.
