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 on hold due to pending federal changes.

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 45-60 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 school-based speech therapy differ from outpatient/private therapy?

Only private speech therapy will provide 45-60 minute long 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.

School-based SLPs and outpatient SLPs undergo the same educational and training requirements, and may differ in a department of health license or educational certificate, although many SLPs carry both across settings.