Appointments and Referrals

The UC Davis MIND Institute clinic provides comprehensive evidence-based assessments of children with possible neurodevelopmental disabilities. The clinic providers give treatment recommendations to referring schools, agencies, physicians, and mental health clinicians.

Families interested in having their children seen in our clinic should ask their primary-care physicians (PCP) to submit a referral to the UC Davis Health's Physician Referral Center at 800-482-3284. Insurance and self-pay options are available. To learn more about our referral process, call our main number at 916-703-0300.

Research into the causes and most effective treatments is a critical function of the MIND Institute. We welcome your participation in our clinical research studies.

 For prescription refills: Contact your pharmacy for refills.

Prescripción para recambios: Recambios para la prescripción: Por favor, póngase en contacto con su farmacia para recambios.

Families interested in having their children evaluated at the MIND Institute will need to take the following steps:

Step 1: How to begin

Families should first ask their Primary Care Physician (PCP) to submit a referral for the MIND Institute to the UC Davis Physicians Referral Center at 800-4UC-DAVIS. The clinical staff at the MIND Institute will receive the referral from the Physicians Referral Center.

Step 2: Records collection may include

Patients may be asked for the following:

• Complete an intake questionnaire prior to the visit
• Individualized Educational Plans
• Previous diagnostic and/or psychological testing
• Current and past medical history
• School records

Step 3: Clinic Triage

All referrals are reviewed by a MIND Institute Clinic staff member to ensure that the patient is seen by the appropriate provider.

Step 4: Insurance Authorization

MIND Institute Clinic staff will contact your insurance carriers for authorization and communicate with families.

Step 5: Appointment Scheduling

Appointments are determined according to clinical triage criteria established by a team of clinicians.  Generally, an appointment will be made with 3-5 weeks of the referral date.  Patient flow, provider schedules and family schedules must also be taken into consideration when scheduling the appointment.

Payment Options

• Currently, insurance and self-pay options are available.  We accept most major insurance carriers, as well as 3 mental health care plans.  Insurance authorization for services must be provided by the Primary Care Physician (PCP) at the time of the referral for plans that require PCP authorization.
• MIND Institute Clinic staff will obtain authorization from the patient's insurance company for PPO plans not requiring PCP authorization.
• Depending on their insurance carrier, patients may be asked to pay a co-pay at the time of the visit. There are also referrals initiated through contracts with California Children’s Services (CCS), and Regional Centers. Eligibility for referrals generated through these contracts is determined by the service agency.
• Medi-Cal is accepted for certain services, when authorized, including Pediatric Child Development and Pediatric Genetic Services.

Other Resources

• Interpretive services are available for non-English speaking patients.
• Families with children under 3 years of age who have developmental delays or older children who have autism and/or intellectual disabilities should contact their local Regional Center and request an intake appointment.
• Families of children 3 years and older who suspect any type of developmental problem are also encouraged to contact their local school and request an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to assess and treat developmental and learning delays. Children are eligible for school based services free of charge and in a setting appropriate to their specific needs.
• The Resource Center contains information and resources relating to neurodevelopmental disorders and other conditions. Books, handouts, brochures and use of the computer for research are available. The information is helpful to parents, caregivers and the community. For more information about the resources, please contact Steve Ruder at 916-703-0227 or sruder@ucdavis.edu.

For more information about the Assessment Clinic, please contact:

Lisa Gaynes
Practice Manager
916-703-0236

Scheduling Phone and Appointment Status
916-703-0300 or 888-883-0961

Physicians Referral
800-4UC-DAVIS

Fax for sending documents and records
916-703-7941