FAQ
Are there limitations to who can receive your services?
Yes. LAPIS can only provide services to adults age 18 and over. Additionally, clients must be physically located in Washington State at the time of the assessment (even though the appointment is virtual). This is a legal requirement.
How long should I expect it to take to hear back once I email?
You can expect to receive a reply within 3 business days.
How far out are you scheduling assessments?
You can expect an appointment for an assessment within 2 weeks of sending in completed intake forms.
What are the intake forms like? What information do I need to provide?
The intake forms ask about general mental health, both current and past, including emotional well-being, physical well-being, and social well-being. The intake forms also include questions about your gender journey.
What is the assessment like?
Your clinician will start by going over confidentiality agreements and intake disclosure agreements. They will ask about any questions or concerns you have before we start. The purpose of the visit is not to question your gender. You will not have to prove that you are trans. Your clinician will do our best to balance the following:
Doing everything legally mandated to meet clinical and ethical standards of practice for a complete assessment
Not being overly invasive of your story and your life
What is a WPATH letter? Is that what you provide?
Yes, the letters we write conform to WPATH letter standards. WPATH stands for World Professional Association for Transgender Health. A WPATH letter is a specific format/style for a letter of support for trans-affirming care, and it is currently the format required by Washington State surgeons and insurance companies to be eligible for trans-affirming care.
Have your letters been accepted by insurance companies and surgeons? Have people that you have written letters for received the procedures they sought help accessing?
Yes! Letters have been accepted by most major insurance companies and surgeons that clients and patients have submitted them to. It is a joy to hear from past patients and clients that they were able to get the surgery or procedure they needed.
Do you send the letters directly to my insurance or surgeon’s office?
Generally, no. Your clinician can send the letter to you, and you can send it wherever it needs to go. If for some reason the letter needs to be sent directly from your clinician to a provider, they can do that but will first need you to sign an ROI (Release of Information) so that they can do so while adhering to HIPAA laws.
Do you guarantee that I will get a letter if I do the assessment?
No, LAPIS cannot guarantee that your clinician will be able to write the letter for you. That will depend on the assessment. If the clinician determines that they cannot write the letter for you, the clinician will be very clear with you as to why this is the case. By following the WPATH standards of care, there are very few things that make receiving a letter impossible. Essentially, you must qualify as being able to engage in “informed consent,” which means you are of sound mind to understand the risks of a procedure and are capable of making your own medical decisions.
Do you guarantee that a letter will be accepted by my insurance company or surgeon?
No, LAPIS cannot guarantee this. However, your clinician can make edits to letters or work directly with insurance companies or surgeons to correct the letter in the event that it is not accepted.
How long is a letter good for? What if I get the letter and then the letter expires?
Generally, a letter is valid for 18 months. This is subject to surgeons' and insurance companies' policies, however, and sometimes they require letters within 12 months or within the same calendar year. If your letter expires, your clinician can update it for you. You will just need to check in with the clinician via phone or video to discuss any possible changes since the time of the original assessment.
You don’t list who your clinicians are on the website. If I am not seeking services at LAPIS, how do I know if my therapist is one of your providers?
If you are unsure, please email us at letteraccessprojectinseattle@gmail.com to ask if your therapist is one of our providers before donating. This is a legal and ethical concern. Thank you for your intention and patience!