Questions to Ask Before Booking an Adult ADHD Evaluation

Updated October 13, 2026. Part of the New York Adult ADHD Guide, get care section. Medically reviewed by John C. Shershow, M.D. on October 13, 2026. Editorial policy

Key points

A practitioner must hold a New York license, or be otherwise authorized, when providing services to a patient located in New York.
CDC states there is no single test for ADHD, and a review in American Family Physician notes that adult diagnosis usually takes two to three visits.
Schedule II stimulants cannot be refilled in New York, so each fill requires a new electronic prescription from the prescriber.
As of October 2026, a New York prescriber may start a stimulant by audio-video visit without an in-person exam, under federal flexibilities that run through December 31, 2026.
New York providers outside your insurance network must tell you so before treating you and must give cost estimates on request.

A short phone call or message before you book can save you a wasted first visit. The questions below are grouped by what they protect you from: seeing someone who cannot legally treat you where you live, paying for an assessment that will not hold up later, and finding out after the diagnosis that the clinic cannot prescribe or follow you. Each one comes with the reason it matters under New York rules as of October 2026.

General advice on what to look for in a clinician is already covered in how to choose an adult ADHD psychiatrist in NYC or New Jersey. This page is the checklist to have open while you make the call.

Who will see you, and are they licensed where you will be?

Ask	Why it matters
What is the name and profession of the person who will do my evaluation?	In New York, physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can both diagnose and prescribe. Psychologists can diagnose and test but cannot prescribe. You need a full name to look the person up.
Is that clinician licensed in New York?	State guidance says a practitioner must hold a New York license when providing services to a patient located in New York. A license in another state is not enough.
I will sometimes be in New Jersey (or another state) during video visits. Can you still see me?	Licensure follows where you are sitting during the visit, not where you live or where the office is. New Jersey also has its own in-person rules for stimulant patients.
Will I see the same clinician at follow-up visits?	Continuity matters when medication is being adjusted, and New York leaves the timing of follow-up evaluations to the prescriber's judgment.

Once you have a name, checking the license takes about five minutes. The steps are in how to check a psychiatrist's license and record in New York.

What does the evaluation consist of?

CDC states that there is no single test to diagnose ADHD. CHADD describes a full adult evaluation as a structured or semi-structured interview covering childhood to the present, information from a partner or parent where available, symptom checklists and rating scales, screening for other conditions, and a medical review. A review in American Family Physician notes that adult diagnosis usually takes two to three visits. Use that as your yardstick.

How long is the first appointment, and is the evaluation one visit or several? A very short single visit leaves little room for a developmental history and for ruling out other explanations.
Will you ask about my childhood, and can someone who knows me give input? The diagnostic criteria require several symptoms before age 12, so a clinician who never asks is skipping part of the standard.
Do you screen for anxiety, depression, sleep problems and substance use? These can produce similar symptoms, and the clinician has to judge whether another condition explains the picture better.
Do you require neuropsychological or computerized testing, and what does it cost? Testing can be useful in selected cases, but it is not required for an adult diagnosis. If a clinic makes it mandatory, ask why and ask for the price in writing.
Is it possible that I will not be diagnosed with ADHD? The honest answer is yes. A service that implies everyone leaves with a diagnosis is describing a transaction.
Will I get a written report, and can it be used for work, school or exam accommodations? Testing agencies and disability offices set their own documentation standards. If you may need paperwork later, say so now.

What happens if medication is recommended?

Stimulants are Schedule II controlled substances. New York does not allow refills on them, so every fill needs a new electronic prescription, and the prescriber must check the state Prescription Monitoring Program registry within 24 hours before writing each one. That makes the clinic's routine for renewals as relevant as the evaluation itself.

If I am diagnosed, do you prescribe and manage medication yourselves? Some services only diagnose and send you elsewhere, which means a second search and a second wait.
How do I request the next prescription, and how many days ahead should I ask? A prescriber may not issue the next Schedule II prescription until you have used all but a seven-day supply of the last one, so the window is narrow.
Once I am stable, do you write 30-day or longer supplies? New York permits up to a three-month supply for attention deficit disorder when the prescription carries the condition or its code. It is an option, not a right, and insurers or pharmacies may limit it.
How often will you want to see me, and are those visits by video or in person? The state sets no fixed interval, so practices differ.
Do you also discuss non-stimulant medication and non-medication treatment? A clinic that offers only one answer has decided before meeting you.

Can the visits be by video, and what if the rules change?

As of October 2026, a New York prescriber may start a Schedule II stimulant after an audio-video visit without an in-person examination, because New York's regulation defers to federal DEA rules and the federal telemedicine flexibilities run through December 31, 2026. No replacement rule had been published when this page was written.

Is the first visit by video or in person? Practices set their own policy within the law.
If federal rules change in 2027 and an in-person visit becomes necessary, where would I go? A clinic with no physical location in reach of you may not be able to continue your prescription.
Which state do I need to be in during a video visit? The answer should be specific.

For this practice, the answers are on the appointments and telehealth page.

What will it cost, and what will my plan pay?

Are you in my plan's network? Ask about your exact plan, not the insurer's brand name. In New York, providers who are outside your network must tell you so before they treat you.
What is the fee for the evaluation and for a follow-up visit? New York providers must give estimated costs if asked. If you are not using insurance, federal rules also entitle you to a written Good Faith Estimate when you schedule at least three business days ahead or request one.
Which billing codes do you use? A psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services is commonly billed as CPT 90792, and medication follow-ups as 99213 to 99215. With the codes you can ask your insurer what it allows for out-of-network care.
Do you provide an itemized receipt I can submit for reimbursement? Without one, an out-of-network claim cannot be filed.
Are there fees for missed appointments, forms or letters? Ask before you need one.

The practice's own answers are on the fees and insurance page.

A short script for the call

"I'm an adult looking for an ADHD evaluation. I live in [county or state] and would be in [state] during video visits. Who would see me, and are they licensed in that state? How many visits does the evaluation take, and what is the fee for each? If medication is appropriate, do you prescribe and follow patients yourselves? Are you in network with [exact plan name]? What do you need from me before the first appointment?"

Write the answers down with the date and the name of the person you spoke to. If a front desk cannot answer the licensing or prescribing questions, ask for the answer by email before you pay a deposit.

After the call

Verify the clinician's license and record using the state look-ups.
Call your insurer with the billing codes if you plan to seek reimbursement.
Read how to prepare for an adult ADHD evaluation and start gathering records.
Book. The steps for this practice are on the new patients page.

Questions

Is it rude to ask a psychiatrist's office these questions before booking?

No. Offices answer questions about licensure, fees and process every day, and New York law requires providers to disclose network status and give cost estimates on request. A practice that will not say who would see you or what a visit costs has told you something useful.

Should I ask whether the clinic guarantees a prescription?

Ask the opposite question: whether some people who are evaluated are not diagnosed or are not prescribed a stimulant. A careful evaluation can end with a different diagnosis or a different treatment. A guarantee made before anyone has assessed you is a warning sign.

Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor to book an ADHD evaluation?

That depends on your insurance plan and on the practice, so ask both. Call the member number on your insurance card and ask whether a referral is needed for a psychiatric evaluation to be covered. Then ask the practice whether it wants records or a letter from your doctor before the first visit.

What if the person answering the phone does not know the answers?

Ask for the answers in writing by email or through the patient portal before paying a deposit. Licensing, prescribing policy and fees are basic facts that any practice can put in writing.

How do I check that the clinician really is licensed in New York?

Use the NYSED Office of the Professions verification search, which covers physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and psychologists. For physicians, the New York State Physician Profile and the Office of Professional Medical Conduct search show legal and disciplinary actions.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Rules and coverage change; check the linked sources for the current position, and speak with a clinician or attorney about your own situation.

Questions to ask before you book an adult ADHD evaluation