Collaborative Care at Bloom
Research-backed help for mild-to-moderate anxiety, depression, and ADHD-related concerns.
Your child's mental and behavioral health care can happen right here at Bloom Pediatric Partners.
Is it therapy? Collaborative Care (CoCM) is mental health treatment, but it is not traditional weekly talk therapy. We use proven strategies, regular check-ins, and a team approach to help your child feel and function better. Some children may also need a community therapist or specialist.
One team, one plan for your child
You'll meet mostly with Kathryn Dunn, Bloom Pediatric's Behavioral Health Care Manager. Dr. Beavers and a child psychiatrist from the NC PAL team also help guide your child's care.
Dr. Melinda Beavers
Your child's pediatrician
Leads the care team, approves the treatment plan, and makes medication decisions.
Kathryn Dunn
Behavioral Health Care Manager · Your main contact
Meets with your family, checks progress, and teaches practical strategies you can use at home.
Psychiatric consultation through NC-PAL
Expert support behind the scenes
Through NC-PAL (opens in a new tab), a child psychiatrist reviews care with Kathryn and offers recommendations to Dr. Beavers. Your family generally does not meet with the psychiatrist directly.
How it works
Talk & enroll
Dr. Beavers helps decide if CoCM is a good fit. You'll review billing and sign consent before starting.
Meet Kathryn
Your first visit is about 60 minutes, virtual or in-person, with you and your child.
Check in regularly
Follow-ups are usually about 30 minutes, at least every two weeks, and often virtual. Kathryn also works with your care team between visits.
Track progress
We check what's improving, make changes when needed, and help your child transition back to routine pediatric care when ready.
Billing works differently from therapy
CoCM is billed monthly through your child's pediatrician, not as a separate therapy charge after every visit. The bill is based on the time our team spends supporting your child throughout the month.
Could it cost less than outside therapy?
Often, yes. Because CoCM is billed by your child's pediatrician, it may be less expensive than visits with a community therapist. But every insurance plan is different. Your deductible, copay, or coinsurance may still apply.
NC Medicaid: 100% covered for eligible children
NC Medicaid covers Collaborative Care through both Medicaid Direct and managed care plans. For children under 21, covered CoCM services have no copay or out-of-pocket cost.
What counts toward the monthly bill?
Collaborative Care is billed differently from traditional therapy. Instead of paying for each appointment, your care team tracks the total time spent supporting your child throughout the month.
This includes visits with Kathryn, check-ins, screenings, progress reviews, care planning, and time spent working with Dr. Beavers and the psychiatric consultant. Some screenings may be billed separately.
How monthly billing works
Your insurance company will see billing codes based on the amount of care your child receives that month:
| 99492 | First month: The main billing code for the first 70 minutes of care. |
|---|---|
| 99493 | Following months: The main billing code for the first 60 minutes of care each month. |
| 99494 | Additional care: May be added for each additional 30 minutes of care, up to 120 extra minutes under our program's monthly limit. |
These codes help your insurance company understand how much care your child received. They do not tell you how much you will owe.
Check your benefits before enrolling
Collaborative Care is billed through your child's pediatrician and may cost less than seeing a community therapist. However, every insurance plan is different.
We've provided the billing codes above and the questions below to help you check your benefits. Please call the number on your insurance card before enrolling. Only your insurance company can tell you what your specific plan covers and what you may owe.
Questions to ask your insurance company
Start by saying: "My child's pediatrician at Bloom Pediatric Partners will bill monthly for Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management, also called CoCM. I'd like to understand my coverage and costs."
- Are billing codes 99492, 99493, and 99494 covered when billed by my child's pediatrician?
- What would my out-of-pocket costs be for these services?
- Will I need to meet my deductible before insurance starts paying? Will I owe a copay or coinsurance?
- Is Bloom Pediatric Partners in network for these services? Is prior authorization required?
Important to know: Families are responsible for verifying their insurance benefits before starting Collaborative Care. Bloom is happy to provide billing codes and information about the program, but we cannot guarantee insurance coverage or your final cost. Families are responsible for any charges their insurance plan does not pay.
Your insurance company makes the final decision about how your claim is processed. Even an estimate provided over the phone is not a guarantee of payment.
Have a high-deductible plan or prefer to pay directly?
We also offer a monthly self-pay rate for families who have high-deductible insurance plans or prefer to pay out of pocket. Please contact our office to learn more about this option.
Have questions about the program or self-pay options? Call Bloom at 984-999-3957.
Quick questions
Can my child see a therapist too?
Yes. CoCM isn't a replacement for weekly therapy when your child needs it. Dr. Beavers and Kathryn can help decide what level of care is right for your child.
Why does the bill include time outside our visits?
Collaborative Care is a team service. Kathryn spends time checking your child's progress, talking with Dr. Beavers and the psychiatric consultant, and updating the care plan. This work is part of the monthly CoCM service.
Who makes medication decisions?
Dr. Beavers makes all prescribing decisions, with recommendations from the psychiatric consultant when helpful.
Does my child need a diagnosis?
Dr. Beavers will review your child's needs and determine whether CoCM is appropriate. Some insurance plans, including Medicaid, require a qualifying diagnosis for covered treatment. Screening forms help us understand symptoms, but do not diagnose your child on their own.
Questions about Collaborative Care?
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Beavers today to see if this program is the right fit for your family.
This is not an emergency service. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988 any time.
