Frequently Asked Questions
Cancellation/No Show Policy
Our services are in high demand, and we appreciate as much notice as possible if you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment. That being said, we understand that circumstances do sometimes arise that prevent attendance at a scheduled appointment (e.g., illness, poor weather/road conditions, family emergency). If you test positive for Covid, please contact Affinity Group ASAP (902-444-1488) to discuss options.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours notice may be subject to a charge of 50% of the session rate, at the discretion of the clinician. Receipts issued for missed appointments will clearly state, ‘Missed Appointment’. Missed appointments are often not reimbursed by private insurance - please consult your insurance provider if you aren’t sure.
Our online booking program, “Jane”, also sends automatic reminder emails and/or text messages, which provides ample opportunity to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
Services
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Affinity Group clinicians provide a range of assessment and intervention services which are individualized for specific children and families. Currently, we provide the following professional services: psychology, behaviour therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and learning coaching. What sets us apart from most other private practices is that we are a multidisciplinary team, regularly consulting and collaborating for the purposes of providing the best possible assessment and intervention services to our families. Our families much appreciate the unique and convenient continuum of care our team is able to provide.
We also do NOT offer emergency services, nor do we offer assessments specific to custody and access.
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Currently, our clinical focus is ages birth to 18 years, although we routinely also work with parents. At this time we do not provide assessment or therapy services for adults.
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No, a physician’s referral is not required to access our services – that said, we welcome referrals from other health professionals, educational settings, and other third party organizations (e.g., Department of Community Services, Mi’kmaw Family & Children’s Services, Jordan’s Principle, and others).
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Wait-times depend very much on the type of assessment or intervention service being requested. For instance, most often, our OTs and SLPs can see new referrals within weeks.
Wait-times for psychological assessment at Affinity Group will never exceed 6 months.
Billing and Fees
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Private multidisciplinary service fees are not covered under the Nova Scotia Medical Service Insurance (MSI) program. Many private health insurance plans cover our services, either in part or entirely. Any fees not covered by private insurance may be claimable in the context of annual tax submissions.
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you consult with your insurance provider BEFORE receiving services at our offices to inquire about what your specific plan covers. Specific questions that we recommend that you ask are:
How much coverage do I have - per person/per year - for the SPECIFIC TYPE of services?
When does my coverage renew?
Do I require a physician referral in order to seek reimbursement for services?
Does my coverage have a daily or appointment limit?
Do I have testing specific coverage for psychology assessments?
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Many families are relieved to learn that most—or even all—of the costs for private psychological services are reimbursed through their extended health benefits. Since our services often involve the whole family, we’re usually able to apply coverage across multiple family members for different parts of the assessment or intervention process.
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At this time, our office DOES NOT direct bill to private insurance companies. Clients pay for services at the time of the appointment(s), and then a paid receipt will be provided that can be submitted for reimbursement to the relevant insurance company(ies).
Many clients are reimbursed for some, or most, of their private practice services. Again, we highly recommend you consult with your insurance provider before receiving services to understand what services are covered.
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Hourly billing rates as of September 1st 2025:
Psychological services are billed at the rate of $235 per hour.
BCBA services bill at $150 per hour.
Occupational Therapy (OT) services are billed at $150 per hour, with additional travel time charges applied for home visits requiring more than 30 minutes of travel.
Speech-Language therapy (SLP) services are billed at the rate of $150 per hour.
Disclaimer: All fees are subject to change without prior notice. Rates may be adjusted in response to changes in provincial guidelines, cost of service delivery, or at the discretion of the practice.
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All payments are processed using our online practice management software (JANE). We accept debit, credit card payments through the JANE system and e-transfers (send to admin@asdgroupinc.ca)
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No — the total cost of an assessment is not paid all at once. It’s spread out over several weeks through multiple invoices, based on when services are provided. We're also happy to arrange payment plans to help make the process more manageable.
Sending Paper Documents Electronically
If you have a physical document you would like to send us, you can scan it and email it to us as a PDF using the admin@asdgroupinc.ca email. Please note that documents are sent electronically at the client’s own risk.
If you do not have access to a scanner, most phones now have built-in applications to scan documents. For example, iPhones offer this capability through their “notes” app. Simply open a new note, press the camera icon located on top of the display keyboard, and select “scan documents”.
Confidentiality and Privacy Statement
The Affinity Group is committed to respecting and protecting our client’s privacy and confidentiality. Our policies meet or exceed the requirements of our professional regulatory bodies, as well, as federal and provincial privacy laws.