Managing Your Referral to Tompkins Country Mental Health Center

Why am I being referred?

Gannett's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to ensuring that students in need of counseling and support receive the attention they require in a timely fashion.

In order to achieve this goal, CAPS has developed a close partnership with the Tompkins County Mental Health Clinic (TCMHC). We are referring you to TCMHC because we believe they will be able to work effectively with you to address your concerns in a timely way.

Where am I going?

 TCMHC is considered the primary local public mental health resource. It has been providing care to young adults, including Cornell students, for many years. Their staff can assist Cornell students wanting help with numerous personal issues.

What services can I receive?

TCMHC can provide Cornell students with the following services:

• Assessment
• Individual, couples, and family therapy, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprogramming)
• Parent/child consultations
• Medication Management by a staff of three Psychiatrists and two Nurse Practitioners 

Easy as:

• Complete your Consultation and Referral (C&R) with CAPS. Be sure to obtain the referral form to ensure insurance coverage. Bring this form to your first appointment.
• Call 274-6200 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to schedule an appointment at TCMHC.
• Walk, drive or take a bus or taxi to Tompkins County Mental Health Clinic. (See map). 

How do I get an appointment?

Once you are referred to The Tompkins County Mental Health Clinic, you must obtain the appropriate referral form(s) from CAPS. If you have health insurance, the referral form is needed to facilitate claims procedures. Keep in mind that separate referral forms are required for different types of treatment (i.e. psychotherapy or medication management). After you have obtained the referral form, call TCMHC (274-6200) to make your first appointment.

What about cost and insurance?

TCMHC is a provider with Aetna Student Health, the carrier for the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you have SHIP, visits with TCMHC are covered according to the current plan benefit structure. You will be responsible for the co-payment ($20 per visit) or any out-of-pocket costs if the plan benefit under the SHIP is exhausted.

If you do not have SHIP, it is your responsibility to find out if your insurance provider will cover your visits to TCMHC. Most will, either in the plan, or by special arrangement with TCMHC's Billing Department. However, you may be required to pay a different co-pay amount or to pay for your full visit.

Note: If fees exceed your ability to pay, you can discuss payment options at the time you make your appointment with TCMHC. 

Where is my counseling record kept?

Your record is kept at Tompkins County Mental Health Clinic (TCMHC). Copies do not come back to Gannett. TCMHC will not release information about your visits without your written permission, except under a court order or where otherwise required by law, or when there is a life-threatening situation or a need for an emergency hospitalization. This means that, aside from receiving confirmation that you were seen at TCMHC, CAPS staff will not receive any progress notes.

What if the referral to TCMHC does not work for me?

If you discontinue services at TCMHC for any reason, or never go at all, please call CAPS at 255-5208 and let our staff know as soon as possible. If you need other arrangements for services, we can help meet your needs in a timely fashion.

If you experience difficulty with your referral process, please call CAPS at 255-5208 and ask for help.

Where is the Tompkins County Mental Health Clinic?

TCMHC is located on the 4th floor at 201 East Green Street (the 6 story brick building next to the Tompkins County Library.)

TCAT buses #21, 31, 37, 40, 41, 43, 51, 52 and 67 all stop at Green Street, next to the clinic. Buses 10 and 30 stop nearby on Seneca Street on the opposite side of the Ithaca Commons.

For more information 

Contact Gannett:

main number: (607) 255-5155
CAPS phone: (607) 255-5208

Contact Tomkins County Mental Health Clinic (TCMHC):

phone: (607) 274-6200
fax: (607) 274-6224