Sliding Scale and Discounts in Mental Health Practice

In this episode, we break down how to offer reduced fees without risking the health of your practice. Tom explains the difference between sliding scale and other discounts, the pros and cons of income-based models, and alternatives like automatic discounts or referral credits.We also cover the legal and ethical guardrails every provider should know, from documenting requests to setting time limits, and how to budget a realistic “charity care” pool. Finally, we discuss how to communicate these options clearly so patients understand what’s available.