Therapy Session Rates by CPT Code

Daren Reifsneider

June 13, 2019

As you build your practice and client list, you may struggle with one important question – how much should you charge? While we can’t answer that question for you, we can provide insight into what others in your area charge for specific services (i.e., CPT codes 90791, 90834, or 90837).

In this article, we look at one of the several important factors to consider when setting session rates: what others in your area are charging. This, along with specialty, degree, and years of experience, helps determine what rate is right for your business. So, if you have ever had any uncertainty about what to charge or how much to increase your session rates, keep reading. A U.S. map showing the variation in median therapy session rates by state. Below the map, the top cities session rates are listed.

Understanding your market

To survive in any industry, you need to charge an amount that enables you to stay in business. That’s Business 101. At the same time, both you and your clients need to feel that your fees are fair. But without knowing what the “market rate” is in your area, it’s difficult to feel confident that your rate is fair.

The market rate, also known as the going rate for a session of therapy, refers to the range of rates which vary by locality. While this information is just one of many data points you should consider when setting your rate, it’s arguably one of the most important.

For some professions, you can get the market rate from a 2-minute web search. Unfortunately, for therapists, it’s not quite as easy. The reason for this is simple: We live in a society that is close-lipped when it comes to money. Plus, rates tend to be very personal since it associates a value with your service. If your rate is too low, does that mean you offer less value? If your rate is too high, are you not delivering the care that drew you to your practice in the first place?

U.S. median session rates

Among the three CPT codes we included in this study, the initial intake interview (CPT code 90791) had the highest median session rate at $150. Since this is generally a more lengthy session, it makes sense that the rate is highest. The national median rates for the other two CPT codes, 90834 (45 minutes of psychotherapy) and 90837 (60 minutes of psychotherapy) were $125 and $130, respectively as shown in Figure 1.
FIGURE 1. National median session rates for CPT code 90791, 90834, and 90837: 2018

Guide

Complete SimplePractice Sessions Rate Report

While national median rates are a good overview, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the most expensive U.S. city to live in, the rates at the city-level, included in the full report, will be more reliable and provide a more accurate “market rate.”

Download the SimplePractice Session Rates Report today! (see above)

**How to read the table**

The below table includes rates, by state, for the following CPT codes:

**90791** – Psychiatric/psychological diagnostic interview without medical services (intake interview)

**90834 –** Individual psychotherapy, 45 minutes

**90837 –** Individual psychotherapy, 60 minutes

*Table 1. Session rates by state and CPT code: 2018*
State	CPT 90791			CPT 90834			CPT 90837
State	Pctl 25	Median	Pctl 75	Pctl 25	Median	Pctl 75	Pctl 25	Median	Pctl 75
Alaska	$115	$150	$180	$135	$200	$200	$120	$140	$160
Alabama	$96	$100	$140	$125	$160	$160	$136	$136	$150
Arkansas	$170	$200	$220	$125	$135	$150	$150	$155	$165
Arizona	$150	$178	$200	$100	$125	$140	$140	$150	$170
California	$110	$130	$160	$95	$120	$150	$102	$130	$150
Colorado	$104	$125	$150	$85	$100	$120	$100	$120	$140
Connecticut	$130	$150	$175	$111	$135	$150	$100	$125	$150
DC	$109	$125	$170	$130	$150	$150	$125	$150	$175
Delaware *	$150	$150	$150	$110	$125	$125	$120	$130	$150
Florida	$120	$150	$175	$100	$150	$150	$87	$125	$150
Georgia	$120	$140	$150	$100	$117	$125	$110	$125	$135
Hawaii	$150	$150	$200	$95	$100	$130	$138	$150	$200
Iowa	$150	$165	$170	$100	$125	$150	$150	$155	$160
Idaho	$130	$150	$155	$100	$100	$115	$120	$125	$130
Illinois	$150	$160	$185	$100	$130	$150	$135	$150	$170
Indiana	$135	$150	$175	$100	$100	$120	$120	$125	$140
Kansas	$150	$150	$160	$110	$125	$125	$125	$145	$155
Kentucky	$150	$155	$175	$100	$125	$125	$100	$125	$150
Louisiana	$115	$140	$175	$80	$100	$100	$100	$110	$140
Massachusetts	$130	$150	$195	$110	$130	$150	$125	$148	$175
Maryland	$150	$150	$175	$100	$125	$160	$125	$140	$150
Maine	$135	$150	$150	$100	$120	$150	$100	$125	$150
Michigan	$141	$160	$185	$120	$120	$128	$125	$150	$160
Minnesota	$180	$195	$200	$140	$150	$150	$165	$170	$175
Missouri	$100	$125	$150	$90	$100	$125	$100	$125	$145
Mississippi	$110	$118	$150	$90	$110	$150	$120	$150	$200
Montana	$150	$165	$190	$125	$125	$125	$135	$140	$150
North Carolina	$125	$150	$160	$100	$100	$125	$100	$125	$140
North Dakota *	$190	$200	$200	$123	$125	$131	$200	$200	$200
Nebraska	$150	$170	$195	$100	$120	$125	$125	$150	$150
New Hampshire	$130	$145	$160	$100	$125	$140	$120	$138	$155
New Jersey	$130	$165	$199	$125	$135	$165	$125	$150	$175
New Mexico	$125	$150	$164	$100	$125	$125	$110	$128	$156
Nevada	$140	$195	$200	$100	$120	$125	$125	$150	$160
New York	$120	$150	$160	$95	$140	$180	$100	$125	$150
Ohio	$140	$150	$165	$100	$115	$125	$110	$130	$150
Oklahoma	$120	$130	$150	$94	$110	$220	$110	$125	$130
Oregon	$105	$150	$180	$104	$125	$150	$120	$144	$155
Pennsylvania	$125	$140	$150	$100	$100	$110	$100	$125	$150
Rhode Island	$130	$150	$180	$100	$100	$130	$100	$150	$160
South Carolina	$100	$125	$150	$80	$95	$110	$100	$112	$125
South Dakota *	$180	$200	$200	$115	$150	$150	$163	$195	$200
Tennessee	$85	$120	$150	$70	$100	$125	$85	$100	$130
Texas	$110	$130	$150	$100	$115	$125	$100	$125	$150
Utah	$130	$150	$155	$100	$105	$125	$120	$125	$145
Virginia	$125	$150	$155	$100	$120	$150	$100	$125	$150
Vermont	$120	$140	$150	$100	$100	$125	$100	$120	$125
Washington	$150	$160	$180	$113	$125	$145	$125	$140	$160
Wisconsin	$160	$175	$200	$95	$125	$150	$150	$150	$175
West Virginia *	$185	$190	$200	$130	$130	$150	$150	$165	$175
Wyoming *	$150	$150	$180	$120	$120	$120	$120	$125	$165
Total	$125	$150	$175	$100	$125	$150	$120	$130	$150

NOTE: Asterisks indicate small sample size, so rates may be less reliable.

Our friends at Zencare published a similar study that found rates to be in the same range as ours for New York City.

Additional resources

Another way to think about setting your rate is to calculate all your practice expenses and then determine your rate based on this information. For example, your rates may be too low based on the amount of your monthly business expenses (e.g., rent, liability insurance, continuing education, and practice management software). To truly have a successful practice, you need to be profitable.

To this end, we created a downloadable Income Calculator to help you determine a session rate that will cover your monthly expenses.

Additionally, here are some related articles to consider regarding your practice’s overall financial health:

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