Psychiatric Medication Management in York, PA: $99 Follow-Up Visits

It depends where you are in the medication lifecycle. During initial titration (the first 1–3 months on a new medication or dose), follow-ups happen every 2–4 weeks. This is when we catch side effects early, confirm the medication is working, and adjust the dose to find the right level. Once you're stable, visits move to every 1–3 months — enough to renew prescriptions, screen for issues, check rating scales, and adjust if needed.

Some patients on lithium, mood stabilizers, or atypical antipsychotics need more frequent lab monitoring; some patients on stable long-term ADHD treatment can be seen quarterly. We'll set the cadence that fits your situation, not a one-size-fits-all schedule.

For most patients, yes. Once you've been seen for an initial in-person evaluation (or a comprehensive telehealth evaluation), the bulk of medication management visits can happen via telehealth — including for most patients on controlled substances under current DEA telehealth flexibilities. Federal rules around telehealth controlled substance prescribing have been extended through 2026, with permanent rules expected; we follow current guidance and discuss any specifics that apply to your medications.

Some situations do benefit from in-person visits: medications requiring vitals (lithium, stimulants, mood stabilizers), pediatric patients during dose changes, lab draws, or any time clinical concerns make face-to-face evaluation important. We'll be honest about when we'd prefer to see you in person.

Yes. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC) in Pennsylvania — practicing under a collaborative agreement with a physician, as state law requires — with active DEA registration can prescribe Schedule II controlled substances including ADHD stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta) as well as Schedule III–V controlled substances. Maryland and Virginia have their own rules for nurse practitioner prescribing; Abu Koroma prescribes in all three states, Zainab Koroma in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Our approach to controlled substances is honest and conservative. For ADHD, we frequently prescribe stimulants when the diagnosis is supported by evaluation. For benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin), we typically prefer non-controlled alternatives (SSRIs, buspirone, hydroxyzine, propranolol) unless there's a specific clinical reason. We discuss tradeoffs openly — including dependence risk, federal prescribing rules, and what to do if your situation changes.

Your prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy at each visit with enough refills to last until your next scheduled appointment. Request refills through the patient portal at least 5–7 business days before you run out — sooner for controlled substances, since federal rules require fresh prescriptions every 30 days for Schedule II medications and don't allow refills.

If you're running low and your appointment is more than a few days away, contact us through the portal or call (717) 202-2285. Don't run out of psychiatric medications without a plan — SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers can cause withdrawal symptoms, and stopping ADHD medication abruptly can affect your work, school, or driving.

Tell us — that's exactly what these visits are for. Most medications can be adjusted in three ways: increase the dose (if you're tolerating it but not responding), decrease the dose (if side effects are limiting), or switch medications entirely (if neither dose adjustment helps). For some conditions we add a second medication (augmentation) rather than switching. The right move depends on what you're experiencing, what you've tried before, and what other medications you're on.

Don't stop the medication on your own. Some psychiatric medications cause withdrawal symptoms or rebound when stopped abruptly — SSRIs and SNRIs especially. Even if you've decided you want to stop, we'd rather taper you off safely than have you go through unnecessary withdrawal. Call or message us; we'll work it out.

Yes — with your written authorization, we coordinate with your PCP, your therapist, your child's pediatrician, or any other provider involved in your care. Coordination matters most when: medications could affect labs your PCP monitors (lithium and thyroid/renal, atypical antipsychotics and lipids/glucose, stimulants and BP), you're starting medications that interact with non-psychiatric prescriptions, you're pregnant or planning to be, or you have chronic conditions that require team-based management.

If you don't have a primary care provider and want one, we provide primary care in York at our office for patients ages 8 and up — allowing your physical and mental health care to happen under one roof.

That's a shared decision. The general framework: after a first depressive or anxiety episode, treatment typically continues 6–12 months past symptom remission to reduce relapse risk. After multiple episodes, the recommendation often shifts to longer-term treatment. For chronic conditions like bipolar disorder or recurrent severe depression, treatment may continue indefinitely.

Reasons to consider stopping include: sustained remission, the original trigger has resolved, side effects are no longer worth the benefit, you're planning pregnancy (some medications are safer than others; we adjust before, not during), or your goals have changed. We taper gradually rather than stopping cold, watch for return of symptoms, and have a clear plan for restarting if needed. Stopping a medication isn't failure — it's part of the lifecycle.

Yes — medication management is covered by all major insurance plans under federal mental health parity laws. We accept all major insurances. Call today to confirm your insurance. (717) 202-2285. Most patients pay only their plan's specialist copay (typically $20–60).

Self-pay rates are $249 for an initial evaluation and $99 for medication management follow-ups. The medication itself is billed separately by your pharmacy through your insurance's prescription benefit. We don't charge for prescription refill messages between visits as long as you're following the scheduled visit cadence.

Yes — medication transfers from a previous psychiatric provider are common. The first visit functions as a comprehensive evaluation that includes reviewing your current medications, the history of what's been tried, and what's working or isn't. We typically continue your current regimen unchanged at the first visit unless there's a clear safety concern, then make any adjustments at follow-up once we've seen how you're doing.

Helpful to bring: a list of current medications and doses, the prescriber name and date you started each one, and any past medications that worked or didn't. If you can get records released from your previous provider, that's even better — but not strictly required to start care.

For non-urgent issues — mild side effects, questions about timing or dosing, refill issues — message us through the patient portal. We typically respond within one business day. For urgent issues — significant side effects, allergic reactions, severe medication interactions, or rapid worsening of symptoms — call (717) 202-2285 during office hours and we'll triage same-day.

For true emergencies — signs of serotonin syndrome, severe allergic reaction, suicidal thoughts with intent, or any life-threatening symptom — call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. We are an outpatient practice; we are not a 24/7 crisis service. If you're in mental health crisis between visits, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.