Dr. Austin-Small is not presently taking clients for psychotherapy services.

Yes, Dr. Austin-Small conducts meetings, consultations, exams, and trainings in his office. His office is located at 255 River St. Suite 003, Troy, NY 12180. The office is accessible by public transport. There is a pay parking lot behind the building. The office and building are accessible, with an elevator, large doors, and single-occupant toilets that can accomodate wheelchair users. Braille signage is on doors and elevators.

Yes, Dr. Austin-Small can conduct clinical interviews, hold meetings, provide consultation, and perform other services via secure videoconference.

Dr. Austin-Small is a NY Worker's Compensation Board provider. Dr. Austin-Small works with insurance companies specifically for worker's compensation cases. You cannot use insurance to pay for exams that are part of legal preceedings. This means you cannot use insurance for VA-related exams, disability exams, or any court ordered exam. Insurance does not cover these exams, as they are not healthcare or for treatment purposes. They are part of a legal record and used to make legal decisions. Therefore, Dr. Austin-Small does not accept insurance for exams.

Dr. Austin-Small bases his Worker's Compensation fees on the official fee schedule used by New York State. Fees for independent exams can vary. Attorneys and accredited VSOs can feel free to call to discuss. Individuals cannot pay for a private independent medical exam (IME). Once an individual pays for their own exam, it is no longer "independent." Dr. Austin-Small would become that person's private provider. To be an independent exam, it must be requested and paid for by a third party (an attorney, VSO, court, company, etc), not the person themselves. Fees for court-ordered NYS 730 exams are pursuant to contracts established with the associated county.

An IME is an Independent Medical Exam. IME providers are meant to be neutral evaluators and provide information and opinions for medico-legal matters. Being independent means that the evaluator cannot be hired by any party in the case, and must be hired by counsel or ordered to perform the exam by the court or mediator itself.

Never. Dr. Austin-Small does not use AI for any part of the evaluation, case review, or report writing process. Austin-Small Consulting does not use AI for any reason or purpose.

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Yes, your doctor, whether they work for the VA, a community care center, or privately, may author opinions or provide documentation regarding your diagnosis, treatment, prognosis (expected outcome), and level of impairment. However, whether they will or not is another matter. Some agencies do not allow providers to become involved in legal or disability preceedings. Some providers are uncomfortable writing letters for legal preceedings. Most treatment providers have been trained to care for patients, and do not have training in the regulations, rules, and legal details around disability law, worker's compensation, veteran's disability, etc. Understandably, they can be reluctant to become involved with something outside their usual scope of experience and practice.

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No, insurance cannot be used to cover veterans exams. Insurance is used for evaluation and treatment by providers. In other words, insurance is meant to be used for doctors you will keep seeing to treat your medical conditions or receive ongoing counseling. You cannot use insurance to pay for exams that are part of legal preceedings. This means you cannot use insurance for VA-related exams, disability exams, or any court ordered exam. Insurance does not cover these exams, as they are not healthcare or for treatment purposes. They are part of a legal record and used to make legal decisions.

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Some veterans believe that there are "right answers" or "wrong answers" at exams. Some will even memorize a list of symptoms or problems they believe will guarantee they will get the result they want. Neither of these things is true. In fact, reciting a list of symptoms may make it appear that you aren't being honest. Here is a list of the best things you can do to make sure your examiner can come to a fully informed opinion: Show up on time. Be sober- if you are drunk or high, or the examiner suspects you are impaired, the exam must be canceled. Don't just list symptoms, talk about your experience in plain language. Be prepared to give examples of problems and how they have interfered with your life. Be honest. Most people have made mistakes in their life. If you have a legal history or a substance abuse history, honesty is best. Do not threaten the examiner. Do not tell the examiner that they must give you a certain diagnosis or impairment level.

Dr. Austin-Small accepts referrals from VA-accredited VSOs only. That list can be found here. Dr. Austin-Small does not accept referrals from non-accredited VSOs or individual "veteran coaches."

Even the very question is distasteful. Dr. Austin-Small provides evaluation services tailored to each specific veteran's case. Dr. Austin-Small does not accept kick backs, "special incentives," pay for specific diagnoses or impairment levels, or participate in any other form of fraudlent practice. Agencies that ask Dr. Austin-Small to conduct such practices or inform Dr. Austin-Small that this is their mode of business will be referred to the VA for review and permanently restricted from engaging in business with Austin-Small Consulting.