How to Refer Patients to Apogee Behavioral Medicine

When it comes to getting patients the care they need, the referral process is one that can be both invaluable and tricky. Referring a patient to Apogee Behavioral Medicine is a great way to ensure that they receive top-notch behavioral health care from our skilled staff members, and it’s important to make sure that it’s done properly. Here is a guide from one of our very own patient care coordinators to ensure your referral makes it to us smoothly and that the patient is scheduled promptly.

Understanding the Referral Process

Let’s say you as a medical provider have a patient that you wish to refer to Apogee Behavioral Medicine. First, make certain that the patient’s demographics match what ABM can see. While we see patients from many different age groups, we are currently unable to see patients under the age of 5, and 5-year-old patients require a written referral in order to be seen.

Eligibility Requirements for Referrals

We are unable to see patients who cannot advocate for themselves, either verbally or with the use of assistive technology such as AAC devices. Patients must be able to advocate for themselves in some way or another in order to be seen by ABM. Patients who speak little to no English are welcome, but they will need to be seen in person in order to make use of our translating devices.

Insurance Considerations

Please also make certain that the patient’s insurance is in-network for Apogee Behavioral Medicine prior to sending a referral. We accept most commercial insurances, as well as NC-managed Medicaid plans, including: 

• Wellcare
• AmeriHealth Caritas
• Healthy Blue
• UHC Community Plan
• Carolina Complete (with a written referral from a primary care provider)
• Partners Medicaid (with a written referral from a primary care provider)

We do not accept Vaya, Eastpointe, Alliance, Sandhills, or Trillium. If you’re not certain if your patient will be covered, please contact us in order to ensure that the patient’s insurance is in network.

Conditions Treated at Apogee Behavioral Medicine

It is also important to keep in mind the reason why you are referring a certain patient to us. ABM specializes in treating a variety of psychiatric conditions, including:

• ADHD (ages 6+)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Bipolar Disorder

ABM is unable to perform psychological testing, such as autism testing, as we do not have a psychologist on staff. We are able to test for ADHD in patients aged 6+ and psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder and anxiety, but psychological and neuropsychological tests will need to be referred elsewhere. Please also keep in mind that we cannot treat autism or eating disorders. We are able to treat autistic patients, as well as patients with eating disorders, but we cannot treat those conditions specifically, only comorbidities that the patient may have. Psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions are our forte, and we are beyond happy to assist patients living with conditions such as these.

How to Submit a Referral

Once you have made the decision to refer a patient to us, follow these steps:

1. Send the Referral: Fax the referral to 800-887-8477 with the patient’s demographics, insurance details, and reason for the referral.
2. Confirmation and Scheduling: Our team will input the patient into our system and contact them to schedule an appointment promptly.

Please send us the referral via fax so we can make certain it is sent to the proper team and include the patient demographics, insurance information, as well as a reason for the referral. From here, we will input the patient into our system and reach out to the patient directly in order to get them scheduled as quickly as possible. To receive updates on a sent referral, please contact our intake team at (336) 649-9000 and they will be happy to assist.

Thank you so much for referring your patients to Apogee Behavioral Medicine! Our providers are happy to work with patients and meet them where they are at in order to provide an easy and relieving experience. We’re here to help, and your referral brings us one step closer to being able to do that.