Virtual ADHD Evaluation Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

Yes, you can get a full ADHD evaluation by telehealth with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Little Dove Psychology is in network with BCBS of Texas for psychological testing, so a comprehensive ADHD evaluation is billed to your plan and you pay your copay or cost share. Evaluations are for children, teens, and adults ages 6 through 55 who are located in Texas, done entirely by secure video. Appointments are typically scheduled within one week, and the written report is ready within 14 days of the final testing session. Every family starts with a free 15-minute consultation.

Who this evaluation is for

Children, teens, college students, and adults ages 6 through 55 who are located in Texas. The whole evaluation happens by secure video, so it works the same in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, or a small town between them. Testing requires Texas licensure and is not covered by PSYPACT, which means the person being tested has to be located in Texas at each appointment. We do not evaluate children under 6, because virtual testing tools are not validated for that age, and we will point you toward an appropriate developmental evaluation instead.

All you need at home is a quiet, private room and a laptop or desktop with a camera and a reliable internet connection. Evening and weekend times are available.

What the ADHD evaluation includes

This is a comprehensive evaluation, tailored to the concerns that brought you in. A licensed psychologist conducts the interview, the standardized testing, and the feedback.

1. Intake interview. We meet with you, gather developmental and school history, and confirm the evaluation plan together.
2. Rating scales. Standardized scales completed by the people who know the client well. For a child that is parents and teachers. For an adult it is the client and, where possible, someone who has known them a long time.
3. Testing sessions from home. Objective, performance-based testing of attention and impulse control, alongside measures of working memory, planning, and organization, plus the portions of cognitive testing appropriate for remote administration.
4. Screening for look-alikes. Anxiety, depression, and sleep problems can all imitate ADHD, so the evaluation checks for them as part of the same process.
5. Written report within 14 days of the final testing session, with specific recommendations you can use for a 504 plan or IEP, SAT and ACT accommodations, college disability services, or a conversation with a prescriber.
6. Live feedback session, where your evaluator walks you through what was found and what to do next.

Each evaluation covers testing, scoring, record review, interpretation, the written report, and the feedback session, with no separate hourly charges added afterward. More detail on the process is on our ADHD testing page.

How BCBS of Texas billing works

Little Dove Psychology is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for both therapy and psychological testing. Our contract covers most BCBSTX PPO, HMO, and employer plans. If your Blue Cross plan is issued in another state, coverage may still apply through the BlueCard program; read us the plan name on the free consultation and we will verify it before anything is scheduled.

• Billed to your plan. The evaluation is billed to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and you pay your plan’s copay or cost share.
• Benefits check first. Before any testing is scheduled, we check your benefits and handle any prior authorization your plan requires. Some plans require prior authorization for psychological testing and some do not.
• Written estimate. You get a written estimate built from your own plan’s numbers before testing is scheduled, so you are not guessing about the bill.
• Matched to an in-network evaluator. Not every clinician is in network with every plan, so we match you with an evaluator your plan covers and confirm the details before anything is scheduled.

We do not accept Medicaid or CHIP, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Medicaid (STAR and STAR Kids) and CHIP plans. Plan details are on our Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas page.

What families typically pay

With an in-network plan, most families pay well under our $1,750 self-pay fee for a full evaluation. If you have already met your deductible, the family share is usually a few hundred dollars. Your written estimate tells you the number for your plan before anything is scheduled. See evaluation availability and costs for the full picture.

How soon you can start

Evaluation appointments are typically available within one week of your first call, and there is no waitlist. The free 15-minute consultation usually happens within a day or two of reaching out. After the final testing session, your written report is ready within 14 days, followed by the feedback session.

What a virtual evaluation can and cannot do

Our remote testing follows the 2020 InterOrganizational Practice Committee guidance on teleneuropsychology. ADHD, autism, and dyslexia and reading disorders are all within our virtual scope.

Two things need in-person testing, and we tell every family before they begin:

• A complete cognitive battery with a Full Scale IQ. Some measures, processing speed in particular, need an in-person component, so a Full Scale IQ is not reported. Meaningful cognitive information still comes from the measures appropriate for remote administration.
• Learning disorder testing in written expression and math. Reading and dyslexia are within our virtual scope; writing and math are not.

If you need documentation for a high-stakes professional or graduate exam, those bodies usually want the full cognitive battery. Raise it on the consultation call and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.

When ADHD and autism are both questions

Combined ADHD and autism evaluations are billed to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas too. When both are real questions, a combined evaluation is usually the better choice, because the two overlap and each can hide the other. The findings come together in one diagnostic picture instead of two partial ones. Adults can read more about combined ADHD and autism evaluations for adults in Texas.

Common questions

Can my child get an ADHD evaluation by telehealth with BCBS of Texas?

Yes. Little Dove Psychology is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for psychological testing, and comprehensive ADHD evaluations are done entirely by secure video for children, teens, and adults ages 6 through 55 who are located in Texas. The evaluation is billed to your plan, and you pay your copay or cost share.

Which Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are covered?

Our contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas covers most BCBSTX PPO, HMO, and employer plans. A Blue Cross plan issued in another state may still apply through the BlueCard program, and we verify it before anything is scheduled. We do not accept Medicaid or CHIP, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Medicaid (STAR and STAR Kids) and CHIP plans.

How much does an ADHD evaluation cost with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas?

With an in-network plan, most families pay well under our $1,750 self-pay fee for a full evaluation. If you have already met your deductible, the family share is usually a few hundred dollars. Before any testing is scheduled, we check your benefits, handle any prior authorization your plan requires, and give you a written estimate built from your own plan's numbers.

Does BCBS of Texas require prior authorization for ADHD testing?

Some plans require prior authorization for psychological testing and some do not. We check your benefits and handle any prior authorization your plan requires before testing is scheduled, and you get a written estimate first.

How soon can an ADHD evaluation be scheduled with BCBS of Texas?

Evaluation appointments are typically available within one week of your first call, with evening and weekend options, and there is no waitlist. The written report is ready within 14 days of the final testing session, followed by a live feedback session.

What does the ADHD evaluation include?

An intake interview, standardized rating scales from parents and teachers (or, for adults, from the client and someone who knows them well), objective performance-based testing of attention, screening for conditions that mimic ADHD such as anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, a written report, and a live feedback session. A licensed psychologist conducts the interview, the testing, and the feedback.

Is a combined ADHD and autism evaluation covered by BCBS of Texas?

Yes. Combined ADHD and autism evaluations are billed to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, along with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and reading, and full neuropsychological evaluations, for Texas children and adults ages 6 through 55.

What can a virtual ADHD evaluation not include?

A complete cognitive battery with a Full Scale IQ, because some measures, processing speed in particular, need an in-person component. Learning disorder testing in written expression and math also needs in-person testing. We tell you exactly what your evaluation can and cannot include before you begin.

Can my college student be evaluated while at school outside Texas?

Not while they are outside Texas. Testing requires Texas licensure and is not covered by PSYPACT, so the person being tested must be located in Texas at each appointment. Therapy is available in Texas and the other PSYPACT states, but evaluations are Texas only.