ADHD Evaluation in Massachusetts by Telehealth
A careful ADHD assessment by secure video, then evaluation and treatment, including medication when appropriate.
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Clinically reviewed by Joseph Lavoie, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC · Last reviewed
The short answer
An ADHD evaluation looks at attention, focus, restlessness and impulsivity across your whole life, checks for other causes, and ends with a plan. At Journey Psychiatric Care, your ADHD evaluation happens by telehealth anywhere in Massachusetts, and care continues with the same clinician, Joseph Lavoie, PMHNP-BC.
Why an ADHD evaluation takes care
ADHD is common, and it is real. It is also easy to mistake for other things. Anxiety, depression, poor sleep, trauma, thyroid problems and substance use can all make it hard to focus. A good evaluation sorts out what is driving the trouble before deciding how to treat it.
Many adults first wonder about ADHD after a child is diagnosed, after a big jump in work or school demands, or after reading a list of signs of ADHD in adults. Those are good reasons to ask. They are not a diagnosis on their own.
ADHD symptoms start in childhood, even when nobody noticed at the time. So the evaluation looks back at your early years as well as at today.
Joseph is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, not a psychiatrist. He diagnoses and treats ADHD and can prescribe in Massachusetts when medication fits. This is not a same-day prescription service. The diagnosis comes first.
What the evaluation looks at
Symptoms now
How attention, organization, restlessness and impulsivity show up at work, school and home.
Childhood history
School experiences, old report cards if you have them, and what parents or siblings remember.
Other causes
Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, mood disorders and substance use, which can look like ADHD or show up with it.
Health and medications
Heart health, blood pressure, current medications and anything else that affects which treatments are safe.
Daily impact
Missed deadlines, money trouble, strain in relationships and the workarounds you have built over the years.
Rating scales
Standard questionnaires may be used, sometimes with input from someone who knows you well.
Treatment after an ADHD diagnosis
If ADHD is diagnosed, you will talk through the options together. Treatment can include medication, skills for planning and time, therapy for the stress ADHD has caused, and care for anything that shows up alongside it, such as anxiety or depression.
ADHD medications include stimulants and non-stimulants. Each has benefits, side effects and safety checks. Whether medication fits, and which kind, depends on your history and your health. No type of medication is promised before the evaluation is done.
Joseph does prescribe stimulants by telehealth when they are the right fit. Stimulants are controlled substances, and federal and state rules apply to prescribing them by telehealth. Joseph will explain what those rules mean for you, including follow-up visits and any in-person requirements. The guide on ADHD medication by telehealth in Massachusetts covers this in more detail.
If ADHD turns out not to be the answer, you still leave with something useful: a clearer idea of what is going on and a plan for it.
How an ADHD evaluation works
- Book a new-patient visit. Start on the new-patient page or book online.
- Fill out intake forms. Forms go through the secure patient portal. Bring any past evaluations or school records you have.
- Have your evaluation by video. A longer first visit that covers your history, symptoms and health.
- Follow up if needed. Some evaluations need a second conversation, questionnaires or records before a diagnosis is clear.
- Start a plan. You agree on next steps and when you will check in again.
Related conditions
Kids and teens
Children and teens can be evaluated for ADHD too, with a parent or guardian involved from intake onward. Coverage questions? See the insurance page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an ADHD evaluation online in Massachusetts?
Yes. Journey Psychiatric Care does ADHD evaluations by secure video. You need to be in Massachusetts during each visit and have a private place to talk.
Will I get ADHD medication after the evaluation?
That depends on what the evaluation finds and on your health. Care here is evaluation and treatment, including medication when appropriate. No medication is promised in advance, and some people do best with other treatment or a mix.
Can a nurse practitioner diagnose ADHD?
Yes. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are trained to diagnose and treat ADHD, and they can prescribe in Massachusetts. Joseph Lavoie is board certified as a PMHNP.
How long does an ADHD evaluation take?
The first visit typically runs about an hour, longer than a follow-up. Some evaluations wrap up in one visit. Others need a follow-up or records before the picture is clear.
Can adults be diagnosed with ADHD for the first time?
Yes. Many adults are first diagnosed later in life, often after years of working around their symptoms. The symptoms still began in childhood, even if nobody named them then.
Do I need school records or past testing?
They help, but they are not the only path. If you have old report cards, past evaluations or a prior diagnosis, bring them. If you don’t, the evaluation relies on your history and, when possible, input from someone who knew you as a child.
Does insurance cover an ADHD evaluation?
Most commercial plans cover a psychiatric evaluation, including one for ADHD. Journey Psychiatric Care is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Aetna, Cigna and Evernorth, Oscar Health, Oxford, Point32Health and UnitedHealthcare (UHC/UBH). Separate psychological testing, if ever needed, may have different coverage rules.
Take the next step in your journey.
Same clinician every visit. Telehealth anywhere in Massachusetts.
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