Relocation update The move to Geneva, Switzerland, in June, 2009 is complete but I am still in the process of
setting up an office. I have created an online document
that I plan to update frequently in which any and all relevant changes will be posted. Please stay tuned.
2200 Century Parkway Suite
200 Atlanta, GA30345
(404) 964-9883 Fax: 877-512-4854 * Please note this is a new, confidential fax number. No cover sheet necessary. *
Email: mvakkur@gmail.com Skype: mark.vakkur
* I am currently not accepting new patients.* .
Please note that I have been flooded with requests for prior authorizations of medications. A demand for a prior
authorization indicates an initial refusal by your insurance company or pharmacy benefit managed to pay for a medication
unless your provider complies with a set of additional, time-consuming steps. It may take several days for a prior
authorization request to be executed and there is no guarantee that the medication will be approved.
Use this form to insure I have all information needed if you would like me to call in or mail a prescription for you between
appointments.
Please complete before
each follow-up visit
Check appointment availability and make an appointment request. All appointments are currently online via Skype or phone.
Slots listed are in 15 minute increments. Please email your top 3 choices. I update the list frequently. You will
be directed to complete a follow-up questionnaire at the time you schedule the appointment.
Please note: I have moved my practice entirely online. I have posted appointment slots online for medication
management and brief psychotherapy via several different options.
Skype videoconferencing: this is the default, preferred method, live video-conferencing via Skype. The program is free, takes minutes to download and set up, and can be
used with or without a web cam (built into most newer computers, available for as little as $20 at Office Depot or Best Buy).
Skype offers a much more natural interface than audio only, allowing you to see me and me to see you. Skype turns your
computer into a free long-distance calling machine, allowing you to call anyone in the world who has Internet access (and for
a small fee, everyone else).
To use this service:
1. Download Skype.
2. Follow the instructions to set up an account.
3. Select an appointment time slot as you normally would. Appointments will be posted starting
in mid-June.
4. Before or at the time of your appointment, find a quiet, private place, and call me (username "mark.vakkur") or search
for my name. You may try this link.
That's it! I'll bill online at the time of service and fax in your prescriptions, if applicable, or mail them out if they
are Schedule II (allow at least 10 days for the mail, so plan ahead!).
I am also exploring other live video options, including Google chat and Yahoo chat,
both of which offer live video conferencing capability.
Telemedicine: for those clients who wish to continue receiving care from me, I will offer the opportunity to do so
via telephone appointments. I am continuing to work out the exact technical details, but most likely you will be able
to schedule a time, call me, and conduct the appointment via telephone. Most likely, you will not notice any difference in
the quality of the call, and I hope to be able to maintain my current phone number. If not, I will obtain a phone number that
will be a local number for residents of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.
Annual or biannual office visits: I will also plan to return to the United States periodically and to see
clients who so desire in an office setting.
For more details on the move and continuity of care issues, please follow this link. ***
If you wish to follow our family adventures in Switzerland (friends and family only please), send me an email with "blog request" in the subject line and I'll send you a
link to our family blog.
Services offered: - Psychiatric evaluation, medication management, psychotherapy.
- I treat all age ranges: adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients.
- Evidence-based treatment approach integrates latest research in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, particularly
cognitive-behavioral and
interpersonal therapy.
- Reduced rates available for financial hardship.
- Important insurance update: unfortunately, it appears unlikely that insurance will reimburse for
telemedicine. Therefore, effective immediately, I will not be able to accept insurance. Instead, I will offer a
reduced, flat rate for medication management ($49 for a 15" visit, $79 for a 30" visit including supportive psychotherapy).
I will be happy to provide an invoice that you may present to your insurance carrier for possible reimbursement. Prior to
relocating, I was a participant in virtually every plan including Aetna, Blue Cross, CIGNA, Tricare, United Behavioral
Health, Medicare, and Medicaid, so this may improve your chances some of getting reimbursed. The typical plan, however, was
often only reimbursing for about 50% of the cost of a visit, so for the typical client seeing me once every 3 months, the
increase in cost should be negligible. If this is a deal-breaker, however, please contact me for either additional discounts
in cases of financial hardship or assistance with finding a new provider.
Notice of Privacy Practices: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act requires that I provide you with a statement of my
policies to protect your privacy. Please read this statement and sign the consent form appended to the new patient
questionnaire.
Release of Information Form: complete this form if you want to authorize someone else,
such as your primary
care physician, to release information to me or use this form if you want to authorize
me to speak with or release
medical records to a third party. Without a signed release of information form on file, I cannot communicate
anything about your care to a non-guardian third person,
including scheduling times or administrative details. Cognitive-behavioral therapy log: use this worksheet to help work through automatic
negative thoughts.
NAMI
Georgia: National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill : a great educational and advocacy resource.
- Visit Families USA:
"a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the
achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Working
at the national, state, and community levels, we have earned a national
reputation as an effective voice for health care consumers for over 20
years." Sign up, get involved! It's your healthcare system.
- Visit the Carter Center's
web site; they are doing some excellent work advocating for, among other
things, parity in mental health coverage.
