Clinical Practices - Psychiatry
The guidelines and protocols followed for our online psychiatry services to ensure quality care and patient safety. This ensures consistent and ethical care delivery while adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.
Board-certified psychiatric NPs work closely with students on a comprehensive, individualized medication treatment plan.
Delivered through our partnership with Lavender, a nurse-led online psychiatry office with nearly 70,000 mental health care visits.
Scope of Services
BetterMynd is partnered with Lavender to offer participating campuses access to high-quality online psychiatry evaluations and medication management services. This service is designed to meet the mental health needs of students who may benefit from psychiatric evaluation and/or medication support.
Scope of services:
- Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations
- Ongoing medication management by psychiatric nurse practitioners
- Prescriptions sent to students’ preferred pharmacy
- Collaborative treatment planning and follow-up
- Intended for students with conditions like anxiety and depression, etc.
- Not suitable for students with active substance use disorders or those requiring intensive in-person care
Eligibility & Geographic Coverage
Geographic Coverage
Lavender currently serves 45 states with the exception of:
- Alabama (AL)
- Hawaii (HI)
- Kansas (KS)
- Missouri (MO)
- New Mexico (NM)
Services will be available in all 50 states by the end of 2026.
Major Insurance Carrier Coverage
Lavender is in-network with most major commercial insurance plans in participating states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington.
What Lavender Treats and Doesn't Treat
For detailed information on what Lavender treats, doesn't treat, commonly prescribes, prescribes sparingly, and therapeutic modalities, visit the FAQ page here.
Referral Process & Student Intake
Referral Pathway
Referrals are initiated by campus partners using a dedicated referral link: joinlavender.com/bettermynd. A campus-designated clinical staff member should assist the student with self-referral to ensure completion.
Required Documentation
[Information coming soon.]
Communication & Reminders
After completing the referral process, students will receive the following communication about the status of their referral:
- Email reminder four days prior to visit
- Text reminders 3 days prior, 1 day prior and 1 hour prior to visit
- Pre-Appointment Mood Screener two days prior to visit
- In-App reminder 5 minutes prior to visit
Scheduling & Access
Appointment Wait Time
The typical appointment wait time is within one week, although it may vary by state and is contingent on the student completing intake forms.
Appointment Frequency
Appointment frequency is entirely up to the client and their nurse practitioner to determine together, based on the client’s needs. Therapy is typically conducted weekly or biweekly, and medication management is typically weekly or biweekly to start, and then monthly.
Appointment by Video
Appointments are conducted by video. For the best user experience, students should download the Lavender Connect and Zoom Apps. Lavender Connect provides convenient self-serve scheduling and secure messaging with our Care Team.
Switching Providers
We understand that clients don’t always feel like their first provider is the perfect fit. They can switch to a different nurse practitioner any time, no questions asked.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend the appointments that they schedule. We require a 24-hour notice for cancellations.
Provider Qualifications & Student Support
Cultural and Systemic Competence
Lavender is an inclusive company and practices culturally competent care. Licensure for nurse practitioners also requires ongoing professional development in these areas.
Accommodations Documentation
Once a student's NP has a good understanding of their symptoms and situation, they can provide documentation for accommodations (although not usually at the first appointment). In addition, students can request their own records at any time.
Note: BetterMynd will incur the additional fee invoiced by Lavender for writing supportive documentation beyond what is completed for regularly scheduled appointments.
Student Communication With Their Provider
The best way for a student to communicate with a Lavender NP is during a video appointment. Lavender has a team of nurses who can provide support and convey messages between appointments. Students can reach their care team by phone at (855) 444-7258, chat, or within the patient portal.
Customer Support Phone/Text Line
If a student has an issue accessing their appointment, they can contact Lavender's Care Concierge by phone or text at (855) 444-7258.
Medication Management
Medication Fulfillment & Refills
Prescriptions are generated at the time of the appointment, and refills typically align with scheduled appointments. Medication prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy of choice. Any questions regarding medication refills can be directed to the Care Concierge by phone, text, email, or through the patient portal.
Addressing Medication Concerns
If a student has a medical concern related to their Lavender-prescribed medication:
- During daytime hours, questions can be sent to the care team within the patient care portal or by calling the Care Concierge.
- After business hours, urgent concerns should be directed to the local urgent care or emergency services. Any non-urgent concerns will be addressed as soon as possible, during the next business day.
Support for Students Who Cannot Afford Their Medication
Lavender nurse practitioners understand that medications can be expensive and can work with the student to determine the best low-cost options. Sometimes, mail-order pharmacies can be cheaper, and many pharmacies offer certain generic medications at a lower cost than insurance does. Depending on the medication, there may also be coupons and vouchers available.
Crisis & Discharge Support
In-Appointment Crisis Protocol
If a student is in crisis during an online psychiatry visit, their NP will assess their immediate needs and take steps to ensure safety. If their NP feels the student is a risk to themself or others, they will work with the student to ensure they are evaluated in a setting that can support their needs, such as an Emergency Department.
Discharge Planning & Communication
Lavender NPs work with clients to ensure an appropriate discharge plan that is agreed upon by NP and the student. The NP and client can continue to work together up until the agreed-upon discharge date, or a new care provider is identified.
Referring Out Students
If a student becomes ineligible and does not have insurance, the student will be referred out; however, Lavender prioritizes client safety and will make efforts to ensure the student has identified another care provider whenever possible.
Campus Reporting & Communication
BetterMynd will provide the following reporting:
- Monthly utilization and credit usage reports
- Aggregate data upon request (e.g., themes, satisfaction trends)
- Secure documentation sharing (with student consent)
Credits, Attendance & Billing
- Credit roll-over policy: any unused credits will roll-over to the following term/year.
- No-Show and Late Cancel Policy: Students will be charged a credit for no-shows and cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.
- Billing: Sessions are covered by campus-purchased credits from BetterMynd.
- Documentation services will be available to students without charge.
Campus Contact & Support
For referral support, billing questions, or program feedback, please contact BetterMynd at 📥support@bettermynd.com.