Insurance & Billing

Do you accept insurance?

Yes, we are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Premera, Lifewise, Kaiser Permanente PPO, Regence, Cigna, Asuris, Aetna, and TriWest (TriCare). Medicaid plans, including Molina, are pending.

View our insurance page here.

Do I need a referral for speech therapy?

Every insurance plan is different. Please reach out to and we can support your with checking benefits to see if speech therapy is covered!

If you are a do-it-yourself’er, it is recommended that you contact your insurance company directly by calling the number on the back of your insurance card, or log into your insurance portal to review your benefits.

Patients may request a referral from their primary care provider (PCP); it often does not require an additional appointment for established patients to receive a referral from their PCP. Typically, you may call your PCP or send them a secure message (such as via MyChart) to request.

How long are speech therapy sessions?

Ponderosa Speech & Language offers extended speech therapy sessions of 45 minutes. We strive to exceed industry standards (30 minutes/session) to maximize your therapy time.

Evaluation appointments typically take 60-90 minutes. Evaluation needs may be higher or lower depending on assessment areas, the patient’s current level of performance, and related factors.

How Does Billing Work?

Step 1: We verify your insurance.
Before your first visit, we'll verify your insurance benefits, including whether we're in-network and what your plan is expected to cover.

Step 2: Begin with an evaluation & services.
Your child attends their appointment, and we document the services provided. New patients begin with an initial evaluation to show medical necessity and inform what areas to address in therapy.

Step 3: We submit your claim.
After your visit, we submit a claim directly to your insurance company on your behalf.

Step 4: Your insurance processes the claim.
Your insurance company reviews the claim and determines how much they will pay and what portion, if any, is your responsibility. This can take a few weeks for insurance to process.

Step 5: You receive your bill (if applicable).
Once we receive the insurance company's explanation of benefits (EOB), we'll bill you for any remaining balance, such as deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or services not covered by your plan.

Important to Know

While we can verify your eligibility, network status, and your plan's expected benefits, insurance companies do not guarantee payment or coverage until a claim has been processed. The information provided before your appointment is an estimate only. Your final financial responsibility is determined by your insurance company after they adjudicate the claim.

If you have questions about your specific deductible, coinsurance, or coverage, we encourage you to contact your insurance company directly using the member services phone number on the back of your insurance card.

How does school-based speech therapy differ from outpatient/private therapy?

Only private speech therapy will provide extended, one-on-one individualized sessions.

School-based therapy is provided through the public school system at no cost to families. To qualify, a student must show that their speech or language challenges impact their ability to succeed in the classroom. Services are tied to academic goals, often provided in small groups, and written into an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Children must meet a specific criteria to qualify for school-services and go through a lengthy referral and evaluation process.

The qualifying score for receiving school-based services is much lower, meaning your child must demonstrate a significant impact to be eligible for school-based services.

Outpatient or clinic-based therapy is based on activities of daily living, pediatric development, and functional communication and outcomes. Anyone with a communication disorder may qualify, and therapy is usually one-on-one with a customized plan of care. Children may qualify for speech therapy in areas that schools can’t cover, such as phonological processing/literacy and executive functioning. These services are billed to insurance or paid privately, and often allow for more frequent or intensive support.

Both settings can play an important role, and many children benefit from a combination of school and outpatient services.

Training: School-based SLPs and outpatient SLPs undergo the same basic educational and training requirements for licensing, though continuing education and specialty areas of practice are highly variable by individual providers.

Why do we need private speech therapy if schools offer special education support?

(1) Not all students will a speech-sound disorder, language disorder, literacy (IE written language disorder), or neurodivergence (autism, dyslexia, ADHD) will qualify for an IEP.

(2) School based SLPs rarely address dyslexia. This is typically addressed by special education teachers (terms may include: LAP, English, Resource), and there is no required training for public education teachers to effectively address dyslexia. SLPs are language experts, and we have over 100 continuing education hours specifically in dyslexia and the science of reading.

(3) Group therapy for 15-30 minutes is often insufficient for these populations. This is referred to as frequency and intensity. Think of it like personal training vs a group fitness class.

(4) Homeschool families may be assigned times to “walk-in” for services that do not meet your needs or comfort level.

(5) In addition to the “criteria” for services being more stringent in schools, the timeline is longer. From initial referral to beginning services can take up to 3-4 months. Ponderosa Speech & Language turnaround time varies by insurance (preauthorizations required, etc). Most families are scheduled within 1-2 weeks.

(6) As with other medical professionals, Speech Language Pathologists may have various experiences, backgrounds, and specialty areas that inform the type, and skill, of their assessment and intervention.

Can you help us get an IEP? What do we tell the school if we already have an IEP?

Independent Education Evaluations (IEEs) and advocacy services are not offered at this time. You are welcome to share your records with your school special education team, or complete a release of information if you would like to have us send these records. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with school-based speech therapists to help your family succeed!

We cannot guide you regarding school-based intervention and eligibility for services, whether this is for an IEP or ECEAP. The educational model and medical model for services may both address speech/language, however, they are vastly different frameworks and procedures.