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Why Dr. McDade chose a different model

The hardest part of your story deserves time.

Maybe you spent days thinking about what you wanted to say, only to arrive at your appointment and feel like there wasn't enough time to say it. Perhaps you asked for help before, but left your appointment feeling like something important was still missing.

You deserve a physician who takes the time to understand you in the context of your story.

That's why Dr. Allison J. McDade, MD, chose a different model for Health & Harmony Psychiatry. It is a private-pay practice where every visit is with her. Your story matters, and your care centers on understanding the whole person.

Find Care That Understands Me Meet Dr. McDade

Secure video visits in Texas. A brief screening confirms fit before your first appointment.

  • Every visit with Dr. McDade
  • 60 to 90 minute first evaluation
  • No referral needed
Dr. Allison J. McDade, MD, smiling against a weathered wood wall
Dr. Allison J. McDade, MD Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry

Why did Dr. McDade choose a different model of care?

The answer

Dr. McDade became a physician because she wanted to help people get better. Over time, it became increasingly clear to her that our healthcare system has significant flaws. She built Health & Harmony Psychiatry so she could give patients the attention they deserve.

Her private-pay, physician-only model allows her to spend 60 to 90 minutes getting to know you during your first evaluation and continue caring for you at every follow-up.

She listens to your concerns, considers your history, explains what she finds, and works with you to build a treatment plan that makes sense for your life.

You know what your appointments cost before they begin. Her rates are published in advance, and you receive a good faith estimate before your first visit.

One physician who knows your story. Time to understand it. A plan you build together.

What is it like to see a psychiatrist who takes the time to listen?

Maybe you've sat in an appointment with a list of things you wanted to discuss.

You start with the easy things. You watch the time. You try to explain what's been happening, but the hardest part doesn't always come out first.

And sometimes, just when you're ready to talk about what really matters, the appointment is over.

That is the experience Dr. McDade wanted to change.

Dr. McDade takes time to ask questions, listen, and understand how your symptoms, experiences, relationships, and health fit together. She believes that a thorough initial evaluation is the cornerstone of providing quality mental health care.

At every appointment, she takes the time to explain her recommendations and why she is making them. She gives you room to ask questions and participate in decisions about your care. When you return, you see the same physician who already knows your story, your history, and the treatments you have tried.

Her care starts with understanding the person behind the symptoms.

You deserve to feel heard, to understand your care, and to know you have a physician who is walking through the process with you.

If you need help now

If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This practice does not provide emergency services.

Dr. Allison J. McDade, MD, outdoors in the sun, shading her eyes and looking ahead

Where did her dream begin?

Long before she was Dr. McDade, Allison spent hours in the library daydreaming about the people she would help one day, and the smiles of the ones who got better. Helping people get better was her dream then, and it still is.

She carried that dream through medical school, residency, and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. Then came six years in practice when so much of each day went to administrative rules, to making the case for treatment approvals, and to questions of reimbursement. That left less time for the connected care she values.

She went into medicine to give her best to the people who need her. Health & Harmony Psychiatry exists so she can. That's why your evaluation is unhurried, and the physician you meet with first is the physician you will always see.

The dream that began in the library now shapes every visit.

What does insurance paperwork take from a doctor's day?

Prior authorization is a process used by health insurance plans to determine whether a medical service, treatment, or prescription meets their requirements for medical necessity. HealthCare.gov explains that health plans may require prior authorization before patients receive certain medical care.

The American Medical Association examined the time spent on prior authorizations in its 2025 physician survey. On average, medical practices complete approximately 40 prior authorizations per physician each week, requiring 13 hours of physician and staff time. That is time that could otherwise be devoted to treating patients, staying informed about the latest advances in medicine, and improving the quality of care.

  • 40Prior authorizations the average physician completes each week
  • 13 hoursOf physician and staff time prior authorization takes each week
What physicians say prior authorization does
  • Delays access to necessary care95%
  • Contributes to physician burnout94%
  • Has led patients to abandon treatment79%

Share of physicians, from the AMA's 2025 Prior Authorization Physician Survey, released May 13, 2026.

With these barriers in mind, Dr. McDade has shaped her practice so that her time goes toward her patients.

What does insurance ask of you as a patient?

Health insurance often requires several types of payments before patients can fully access their benefits. Premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance can make the true cost of healthcare difficult to anticipate.

For families receiving health insurance through an employer, the average annual premium reached $28,303 in 2026. Employers generally pay a portion of this cost, but employees still contributed an average of $7,471 per year toward family coverage.

Coverage through a job, 2026 averages
  • The full family premium, you and your employer together$28,303
  • What workers paid toward that family premium$7,471
  • The average deductible for single coverage$1,955

From KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey. The family premium rose 5% from 2025, and the deductible is for single coverage among workers who have one.

For self-employed individuals and business owners purchasing their own coverage, insurance premiums can represent an especially significant expense without an employer contributing toward the cost.

Even after paying thousands of dollars in annual premiums, many patients face additional out-of-pocket expenses when seeking care. In 2026, the average general annual deductible for workers with single coverage and a deductible was approximately $1,955.

A deductible is the amount patients generally must pay toward covered services before their insurance plan begins paying according to its terms. Depending on the plan, patients may still owe copayments or coinsurance after meeting their deductible.

These expenses can leave patients paying substantial amounts for coverage while still facing additional costs when they need treatment.

  1. 01Premium
    What it meansThe amount you pay for your health insurance every month
    What it can mean for youUp 28% for family coverage over the last five years
  2. 02Deductible
    What it meansWhat you pay for covered care before your plan starts to pay
    What it can mean for you$2,000 or more for single coverage, in the plans of 38% of covered workers
  3. 03Copay
    What it meansA fixed amount you pay for a covered service after you have paid your deductible
    What it can mean for youIn HealthCare.gov's example, a $100 doctor visit with a $20 copay costs you $20 after the deductible and the full $100 before it
  4. 04Network
    What it meansThe doctors and other providers your plan has contracted with
    What it can mean for youIf your doctor leaves it, some patients, such as those in treatment for a serious and complex illness, may keep in-network rates for up to 90 days

Definitions adapted from HealthCare.gov. Figures from KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, and the 90-day rule from federal No Surprises Act guidance on CMS.gov.

What is changing in Texas coverage for 2027?

Many Texans will pay more for coverage in 2027, and some will need to choose a new plan. Open enrollment for 2027 HealthCare.gov plans runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, a federal fact sheet on CMS.gov says.

  • 14%average approved 2027 premium increase for health plans Texans buy on their own, before tax credits
  • $12,000the most one person can owe for covered in-network care in a 2027 Marketplace plan, up from $10,600 in 2026
  • 10.9%of median family income went to the worker's share of premiums plus the deductible for Texas families covered through a job in 2024, against 10.1% nationally

From federal rate filings as healthinsurance.org reported them, HealthCare.gov, and the Commonwealth Fund's 2024 state data.

Plans point to rising prices for care and the end of the enhanced federal premium tax credits after 2025, KFF found. Eleven companies have announced they will leave the ACA Marketplaces in some or all of their states in 2027, KFF reports.

When a job, plan, or network changes, the doctor you know may fall outside it. Then you may need to start over and tell your story to someone new.

What does private pay make possible here?

Private pay, also called self-pay or cash pay, means you pay the practice directly for each visit. Your appointments with Dr. McDade do not require approval from a health plan, and when your job or insurance coverage changes, your physician can remain the same.

Your health plan's rules still apply when you're filling a prescription. Some prescriptions will need approval first.

When a prescription requires prior authorization, Dr. McDade handles this as part of her standard fees. Whether that means contacting your insurance company, submitting medical records, or completing a peer-to-peer review, she takes the additional steps needed to advocate for your treatment. Her private-pay model allows her to devote time to these administrative responsibilities.

What you can expect here

  • Continuity of care. Every visit is with Dr. McDade, from your first evaluation through each follow-up
  • A first evaluation of 60 to 90 minutes, with room for your whole story
  • Each option explained, and decisions made together
  • Two posted visit rates, and a good faith estimate before your first visit
  • A patient portal to message Dr. McDade, request refills, and view your records
  • Coordination with your other clinicians, once you sign a release
  • A referral, if another path would serve you better
  • $465New evaluation with Dr. McDade, 60 to 90 minutes
  • $275Follow-up visit with Dr. McDade

Current self-pay fees from the practice.

Major credit cards and HSA/FSA cards are accepted; checks are not. You receive a good faith estimate before your first visit, and the Good Faith Estimate page explains your right to an estimate.

Your story carries forward from visit to visit. Because she knows your history, she can tell whether short sleep is your normal or a change worth a closer look. A 2018 BMJ Open review of 22 studies from nine countries linked seeing the same doctor over time, psychiatrists included, with longer lives.

Her time goes to your care.

How do you know if private pay fits your family?

Private pay is a choice, and it fits some families better than others. If continuity of care and finding a physician who takes the time to understand the context of your life before making medical decisions matter to you, Health & Harmony Psychiatry may be a good fit.

Questions to ask your plan first

  • Which psychiatrists in your network are taking new patients?
  • What is your deductible, and how much of it is left this year?
  • What happens to your care if your psychiatrist leaves your plan's network?

Psychiatric care counts as a medical expense under IRS Publication 502. Your HSA or FSA provider can tell you what your account covers.

If you would rather use your plan, start with its directory of psychiatrists.

Which guides can help you decide?

You give everyone your time. Here, she gives you hers.

Find Care That Understands Me

Why do women, children, and teens mean so much to her?

For women, she wants midlife to come with answers

After speaking with other mothers and fellow physicians, Dr. McDade realized how many women are searching for answers about the changes they are experiencing.

In her experience, perimenopause can feel like a second puberty, as fluctuating hormones influence brain chemistry, mood, sleep, and concentration. Dr. McDade's training in child and adolescent psychiatry taught her that periods of hormonal and developmental change may call for a fresh look at medications and their dosages. She feels called to bring that perspective and clinical expertise to other women.

For children, her commitment began early

Dr. McDade's love for working with children began in high school, when she mentored younger students. In college, she participated in a medical mission trip to Belize, where her desire to treat children was cemented.

Dr. Allison J. McDade, MD, as a college student on her mission trip to Belize, smiling on a bench beside two young girls
Dr. McDade in Belize during college.

She learned that children everywhere want to feel better, do the right thing, and make their parents proud.

A hard day can weigh on a child just as heavily as it does on an adult. Dr. McDade sees this in her own children when reading or math doesn't come easily. She understands how frustrating it can be for a child to struggle with something that seems effortless for others.

Helping a child who once dreaded school begin to find confidence and enjoyment in learning is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

For teens, being heard matters

In Dr. McDade's experience, most teenagers want a place where they can express themselves, talk about what they're going through, and feel heard.

You and your child can both be her patients, and each of you can be understood.

Dr. McDade is double board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Children, teens, and adults, cared for by a physician trained for each.

Find the care that fits your family

What happens after you reach out?

Here is each step, from the first call to your first follow-up.

  1. 01

    You reach out

    Book on the booking page, or call 832.387.6088.

    Online or phone
  2. 02

    A brief screening

    A brief screening first confirms that telepsychiatry fits your needs.

    Before the visit
  3. 03

    Intake in the portal

    You'll complete a few intake forms in the patient portal, then meet with Dr. McDade for a full evaluation.

    Patient portal
  4. 04

    Your first evaluation

    Dr. McDade hears your story and reviews your history and your health, over 60 to 90 minutes. Understanding relies on context, and some stories need more time.

    Unhurried
  5. 05

    A plan built with you

    You and Dr. McDade discuss each option in depth. When therapy is the better starting point, she refers to therapists she knows well.

    Collaborative
  6. 06

    Follow-up with Dr. McDade

    Follow-up visits run 15 to 30 minutes by secure video.

    Steady

The psychiatric evaluation page explains what the first visit covers, and the telepsychiatry page explains how video visits work.

Your story comes first.

Questions about cost and care

How much does care cost?

Care is private pay. A new evaluation with Dr. McDade is $465, and follow-up visits with Dr. McDade are $275. You receive a good faith estimate before your first visit.

Does Dr. McDade take insurance?

No. Care is private pay, with rates set in advance and shared up front. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

Will I see the same doctor at every visit?

Yes. Health & Harmony Psychiatry is a physician-only practice, and every visit, from your first evaluation through every follow-up, is with Dr. McDade.

What if telepsychiatry is not the right fit for me?

A brief screening first confirms that telepsychiatry fits your needs. A doctor-patient relationship begins only after the first visit, once Dr. McDade confirms telepsychiatry can meet the patient's needs. Dr. McDade may decline to form the relationship; if that happens, any prepaid amount is refunded in full and referrals are provided.

Do I need a referral to see Dr. McDade?

No. You can book a first visit without a referral, and a parent or guardian books for anyone under 18. Clinicians who want to refer a patient can use the refer a patient page.

Is this an emergency service?

No. Health & Harmony Psychiatry does not provide emergency care. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.

Sources for the facts on this page.

The information on this website is for general education and does not constitute medical advice or create a physician-patient relationship. For care, please schedule an appointment.

Keep reading

Care Through Connection

Time to be understood, and one physician who stays with your story.

Book the first visit online, or call 832.387.6088 with questions. A parent or guardian books for anyone under 18, and a brief screening confirms fit before your first visit.

Find Care That Understands Me

Health & Harmony Psychiatry does not provide emergency care. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Ages 6 to 70. Health & Harmony Psychiatry provides care by secure video to patients physically located in Texas at the time of their appointment.