If you are considering working with Dr. Ron Kirsner, psychiatrist in Jacksonville, Florida, you may have questions about appointments, fees, insurance, treatment options, and professional background. The following answers will help you understand how the practice works and what to expect.
Do you accept health insurance?
I do not participate in insurance networks, including private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. My practice is private pay.
However, you may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement through your health insurance plan. Coverage varies by policy, so I encourage you to contact your insurance company to determine whether your plan provides benefits for out-of-network psychiatric services. Most of my patients take advantage of these benefits.
My office can provide the documentation needed to submit a claim for possible reimbursement directly to you.
Because I do not participate in insurance networks, treatment decisions are made directly between you and me, based on clinical judgment, your goals, and your response to treatment. My aim is to develop an individualized treatment plan without the additional constraints that can accompany in-network insurance arrangements. I am not tethered to the rules of a health insurance company, which frequently require that psychiatrists see four or more patients per hour.
What are your fees?
The following are my current service fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial psychiatric evaluation (110–120 minutes) | $440 |
| Extended follow-up appointment (80–90 minutes) | $405 |
| Psychotherapy with medication management (50–60 minutes) | $315 |
| Medication management (20–30 minutes) | $185 |
| Urgent appointment (120 minutes) | $500 |
Telephone calls: Fees generally start at $35 and vary according to the length of the call and the complexity of the issue. There is no charge for routine administrative calls with the secretaries or office manager, such as scheduling appointments, arranging cancellations, or requesting routine prescription refills. Fees apply to my professional time.
Letters, forms, and prior authorizations: Fees depend on the time involved and the complexity of the request, generally following the same approach as fees for professional telephone calls.
Payment methods: I accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. American Express is not accepted.
What is your cancellation policy?
I reserve appointment time specifically for each patient and do not double-book sessions. This allows me to give you my full attention during your scheduled appointment.
Because that time is reserved for you, missed appointments can be difficult to accommodate. A cancellation fee of up to the full fee for the scheduled session may be assessed if an appointment is not cancelled by 5:00 p.m. on the preceding business day.
Where can I download the patient intake forms?
You can download and print the patient intake form using the link below.
Download the Patient Intake Form (PDF)
Please complete the form and return it to the office as directed. When printing your completed forms, please print them single-sided.
What are your credentials and training?
I have been in private psychiatric practice in the Jacksonville area since January 1997.
My education and professional training include:
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Undergraduate studies in Philosophy and the Biological Basis of Behavior; graduated cum laude.
- University of Miami School of Medicine: Medical degree, 1988.
- Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, North Carolina: Three-year residency in internal medicine. I subsequently became board-certified in internal medicine, although that certification has since expired.
- Willingway Hospital, Statesboro, Georgia: One-year fellowship in Addiction Medicine, completed in 1993.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Faculty Development Fellowship in Family Medicine.
- Sheppard Pratt Hospital, Towson, Maryland: Three-year residency training in psychiatry, completed in 1996.
I passed my written and oral psychiatric board examinations and received certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1997.
I also hold Master Practitioner certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
My background in internal medicine continues to inform my psychiatric practice, particularly my appreciation of the connections between physical health and mental health. My professional focus, however, is psychiatry.
What are your professional affiliations?
My professional affiliations have included:
- American Psychiatric Association
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Do you treat adolescents?
Yes. I work with adolescents aged 16 and older, provided they are also working with a psychotherapist, such as a Ph.D. psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).
If needed, I can refer your adolescent to an experienced psychotherapist for an initial evaluation. We can then discuss whether psychiatric medication management may be appropriate.
My approach is individualized and takes the adolescent’s needs and circumstances into account.
What psychiatric conditions do you treat?
I evaluate and treat a broad range of psychiatric conditions, with particular emphasis on depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.
Conditions I treat include:
- Depression and other depressive disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Addiction and chemical dependency, on an outpatient basis
- Other psychiatric conditions as clinically appropriate
A careful evaluation helps determine the nature of your difficulties and identify treatment options suited to your needs.
What treatment methods do you use?
My approach combines conventional psychiatric care with selected therapeutic approaches, depending on the individual patient.
Treatment may include:
- Psychiatric medication management: Careful selection, monitoring, and adjustment of medication when appropriate.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Practical strategies for recognizing and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: An approach that emphasizes personal strengths, practical solutions, and achievable steps toward meaningful goals.
- Clinical hypnosis: Used selectively when appropriate to the patient’s needs.
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP): An additional approach I have studied and trained in.
I also consider selected complementary approaches when there is a reasonable basis for them in the scientific literature.
Not every patient needs every approach. My goal is to determine which options are appropriate for your circumstances and preferences.
Do you have hospital privileges?
My practice focuses on outpatient psychiatry, and I do not maintain inpatient hospital privileges.
If a patient requires inpatient psychiatric care, I refer them to a trusted colleague or appropriate facility. When outpatient treatment resumes after discharge, I can generally continue working with the patient as clinically appropriate.
How long have you been in practice?
I began my private outpatient psychiatric practice in Jacksonville Beach in January 1997. After nearly 15 years at that location, I moved my practice to Tapestry Park on November 1, 2011.
I have now devoted approximately three decades to private psychiatric practice.
Do you have any other sources of income associated with your practice?
No. Dr. Kirsner has no current financial relationships with pharmaceutical or nutritional supplement companies. I receive no commissions, referral fees or other compensation for prescribing medications or recommending supplements. My treatment recommendations are based on clinical evidence, professional judgement, and what I believe will best serve each individual patient.
What are your office hours?
My office hours are Monday through Friday, with some flexibility in scheduling.
I generally begin seeing patients at approximately 10:00 a.m., and on some days appointments are available until 7:00 p.m. Evening appointments may therefore be possible, depending on availability.
Please contact the office to inquire about current scheduling options.
After-Hours Contact
I generally handle my own after-hours calls. If I am out of town or unavailable, a psychiatrist provides backup coverage.
For appointment inquiries, questions, or clinical concerns, please call the office at (904) 564-2232. Outside regular office hours, please leave a text message, and I will return your call promptly.