Frequently Asked Questions
What is a developmental pediatrician?
If you are concerned about your child’s development, learning, or behavior, a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician may be helpful. After medical school, developmental behavioral pediatricians (sometimes called developmental pediatricians or DBPs for short) complete a residency in general pediatrics followed by a three-year fellowship in developmental-behavioral pediatrics. Developmental pediatricians are trained to identify developmental, learning and behavioral differences. We are trained to think about the whole child, incorporating medical, educational and psycho-social factors that may be contributing to a child’s challenges. We work in concert with a child's primary care doctor and other specialists, creating individualized treatment plans that are tailored to meet each child’s needs.
Every child’s developmental journey is unique. As experts in developmental pediatrics, we are trained to identify children’s strengths, seek to understand the reasons for their challenges, and anticipate “next steps” on their journey. When caregivers are empowered with this information, they can more confidently navigate their child’s journey and be their child’s best advocate. Click here for more information.
Do you accept health insurance?
Depending on your specific health care plan, the Center for Developmental Pediatrics may be “in-network” with the following insurance plans. Please note that you will be responsible for any charges not covered by your insurance plan. You may wish to contact your health insurance plan to inquire about coverage prior to your child’s appointment.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Tufts Health Plan (excluding public plans)
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
AllWays
If we are not contracted with your health insurance company, we accept payment at the time of your visit. Some insurance companies will provide partial reimbursement for services. At your request, following your child’s visit, we will provide a detailed billing summary that can be used to request reimbursement from your insurance company. Please call your health insurance provider with questions about “out of network” coverage.
Covid-19 Policies
We are fully vaccinated, will be wearing masks and using hand sanitizer regularly. We will strive to remain 6 feet apart from caregivers and children. All materials and surfaces are sanitized between patients. The exam room features an air purifier. Caregivers will be required to wear masks. Children over 2 years of age are required to wear a mask as tolerated. At this time, we are able to offer telehealth (virtual video) visits for some visit types. Our policies are subject to change as the pandemic situation evolves. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
Why the elephants?
Elephants are strong and gentle. In some cultures, they symbolize protection, wisdom, patience and overcoming obstacles. Parents and caregivers, especially those of children who think and learn differently, embody many of these qualities.
My child has already had an evaluation by a neuropsychologist. How can a developmental pediatrician be helpful?
The services of a developmental behavioral pediatrician and a neuropsychologist can complement one another. Here’s how: Unlike a neuropsychologist or psychologist, a developmental pediatrician is a medical doctor and can provide medical evaluation and treatment including consultation regarding medication management. Whereas most neuropsychological evaluations do not include ongoing follow up for children, developmental pediatricians often provide ongoing care for children throughout childhood. In some cases, a developmental pediatrician will recommend an evaluation by a neuropsychologist if there are unanswered questions following a comprehensive developmental pediatrics evaluation. If your child has had an evaluation by neuropsychologist, we will integrate findings from this evaluations with those from our evaluation.
What if my child already works with other providers like a therapist or a speech and language pathologist?
The training of a developmental pediatrician is broad and multi-disciplinary. During her training at Tufts Medical Center, Dr. Levy regularly collaborated with, learned from and provided training for child psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and educational specialists. There is overlap between the expertise of a developmental pediatrician and that of these other providers. For children who have an established relationship with a provider from another discipline, our goal is to complement the care the child is already receiving. In other cases, our familiarity with the expertise of these providers allows us to guide families as to what additional services will be most helpful for their child.