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The Local Choice

Psychiatric care for Virginia teachers and local government staff.
In network with The Local Choice.

If you work for a Virginia school division, county, city, or town and carry The Local Choice, your visits here are in network.

Who this is for

The plan behind a lot of Virginia paychecks

The Local Choice is a health benefits program offered through the Commonwealth to Virginia local governments, public school divisions, and other local employers. Like the state employee plan, the network is administered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, so your card carries the Anthem logo.

This practice is contracted with The Local Choice. If you are a teacher, a school counselor, a bus driver, a county employee, or anyone else covered through a participating locality, your psychiatric visits are billed in network.

What is covered

What your plan covers here

Behavioral health is covered as a medical benefit under The Local Choice. The visits below are billed to Anthem in network.

A note on timing

Appointments that fit a school schedule

School and local government staff have the least flexible workday of almost any group we see. A few practical notes.

01

Video removes the commute

A video visit fits into a planning period or the hour after dismissal without adding a drive across the county in traffic.

02

Evening and weekend availability varies

Some evening and weekend times may be available. Contact the practice to ask what is open before assuming there is nothing.

03

Summer is the easiest time to start

If you have been putting off an evaluation, the summer break is when the initial 60 minute visit is simplest to schedule. Starting then also means you are stable before the school year begins.

04

No referral required

The Local Choice does not require a referral for outpatient behavioral health. You can book directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Local Choice the same as Anthem?

The Local Choice is the benefits program your employer participates in, and Anthem administers the network and the claims. We are contracted with both, so you are in network either way.

My district is in Fairfax County. Am I covered?

It depends on whether your specific employer participates in The Local Choice, since some larger localities run their own plans. Check the front of your card, then call the number on the back and ask which plan you are enrolled in. If it turns out to be a different Anthem product, we very likely accept that too.

Do I need a referral?

No. Outpatient behavioral health does not require a referral under The Local Choice.

Can I be seen entirely by video?

Yes. Psychiatric visits at this practice are conducted by secure video, available anywhere in Virginia. You are also welcome in person at the Fairfax office.

I am burned out rather than depressed. Is that worth an appointment?

Yes. Burnout and depression overlap heavily and are not always easy to tell apart from the inside. An evaluation can sort out which one you are dealing with, and the answer changes what actually helps.

What will it cost me?

That depends on your copay and deductible, which vary by which Local Choice plan your employer selected. Call the number on your card and ask specifically about outpatient behavioral health.

Other coverage we accept

Anthem BCBS Anthem HealthKeepers Commonwealth of Virginia (COVA) Out-of-state Blue Cross ADHD care with Anthem Medicare Medicaid Every Anthem plan we accept
Ready when you are

You spend the year taking care of everyone else.

In-network with The Local Choice. No referral needed, by video anywhere in Virginia or in person in Fairfax.

A note on urgency

If you are in crisis right now, please do not wait for an appointment.

Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free, confidential, available 24/7.
For emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Alice Tran Psychiatric Care does not operate 24/7 and does not provide crisis services. Emails, voicemails, text or portal messages are typically responded to within 24 to 72 business hours.