What Medicare pays for therapy in 2026
Medicare's 2026 rate for every psychotherapy and psychiatry code, in every Medicare locality, for psychologists and psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and PAs, and LCSWs, LMFTs and LPCs. Computed from CMS's own fee schedule files and checked, to the cent, against the payment amounts CMS publishes.
Medicare's 2026 national amount for a 60-minute psychotherapy session (90837) is $167.00 for a psychologist or psychiatrist, $141.95 for a psychiatric nurse practitioner or PA, and $125.25 for an LCSW, LMFT or LPC; a 45-minute session (90834) is $113.90. Where you practice moves it from $161.03 in Arkansas to $232.44 in Alaska. Telehealth to a patient at home pays the same office rate, and the patient pays 20% of it after the Part B deductible. For 2027, CMS proposes $184.89 for 90837 (+10.7%).
Medicare rates for therapy codes, 2026
The national amount before the adjustment for your locality, by who bills it. The first three columns are the office rate, which also pays telehealth to a patient at home; the last is the rate when the patient is in a facility such as a hospital. Conversion factor $33.4009 per RVU (clinicians who are not qualifying APM participants), from CMS's RVU26D files.
| Code | Service | Psychologists, psychiatrists100% | Psychiatric NPs, PAs85% | LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCs75% | In a facility100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychotherapy sessions | |||||
| 90832 | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes | $85.84 | $72.96 | $64.38 | $69.47 |
| 90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 minutes | $113.90 | $96.82 | $85.43 | $91.85 |
| 90837 | Psychotherapy, 60 minutes | $167.00 | $141.95 | $125.25 | $135.27 |
| 90847 | Family or couples psychotherapy, with the patient | $109.55 | $93.12 | $82.16 | $102.87 |
| 90846 | Family psychotherapy, without the patientRestricted coverage in CMS's file | $105.88 | $90.00 | $79.41 | $99.20 |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy (per patient) | $30.39 | $25.83 | $22.79 | $24.38 |
| 90839 | Crisis psychotherapy, first 60 minutes | $160.32 | $136.27 | $120.24 | $129.60 |
| Evaluations and assessments | |||||
| 90791 | Diagnostic evaluation (intake) | $173.35 | $147.35 | $130.01 | $137.28 |
| 90792 | Diagnostic evaluation with medical services (prescriber intake) | $202.08 | $171.77 | – | $159.32 |
| 96127 | Brief emotional or behavioral assessment (scored questionnaire) | $5.01 | $4.26 | $3.76 | $5.01 |
| Medical visits (psychiatrists, psychiatric NPs and PAs) | |||||
| 99204 | New-patient medical visit, moderate complexity | $177.36 | $150.76 | – | $116.90 |
| 99213 | Established-patient medical visit, low complexity | $95.19 | $80.91 | – | $57.45 |
| 99214 | Established-patient medical visit, moderate complexity | $135.61 | $115.27 | – | $84.50 |
| 99215 | Established-patient medical visit, high complexity | $192.39 | $163.53 | – | $125.59 |
| Add-on codes (billed with another code; those added to a medical visit are prescribers') | |||||
| 90840 | Crisis psychotherapy, each added 30 minutes | $77.16 | $65.59 | $57.87 | $62.46 |
| 90785 | Interactive complexity (add-on) | $14.70 | $12.50 | $11.03 | $11.69 |
| 90833 | Psychotherapy with a medical visit, 30 minutes (add-on) | $81.50 | $69.28 | – | $65.80 |
| 90836 | Psychotherapy with a medical visit, 45 minutes (add-on) | $103.21 | $87.73 | – | $83.17 |
| 90838 | Psychotherapy with a medical visit, 60 minutes (add-on) | $136.61 | $116.12 | – | $110.22 |
| G2211 | Ongoing-care add-on to a medical visit | $17.37 | $14.76 | – | $14.36 |
Medicare therapy rates by state, 2026
90837 and 90834 in each state, office and telehealth-to-home rate. A state with several Medicare localities shows its lowest to its highest; open a state for every code in every locality and the counties each covers.
| State | 90837 (100%) | 90837 (75%) | 90834 (100%) | 90837 in 2027 | Localities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $161.70 | $121.28 | $110.14 | +8.1% | 1 |
| Alaska | $232.44 | $174.33 | $158.15 | +8.4% | 1 |
| Arizona | $165.67 | $124.25 | $112.94 | +8.9% | 1 |
| Arkansas | $161.03 | $120.77 | $109.66 | +5.6% | 1 |
| California | $172.69 to $198.30 | $129.52 to $148.73 | $117.70 to $135.25 | +11.0% to +13.3% | 29 |
| Colorado | $170.94 | $128.21 | $116.55 | +11.6% | 1 |
| Connecticut | $172.76 | $129.57 | $117.88 | +10.3% | 1 |
| Delaware | $167.09 | $125.32 | $113.92 | +10.0% | 1 |
| District of Columbia | $181.03 | $135.77 | $123.52 | +10.7% | 1 |
| Florida | $165.58 to $169.67 | $124.19 to $127.25 | $113.01 to $116.06 | +9.1% to +10.5% | 3 |
| Georgia | $162.80 to $168.16 | $122.10 to $126.12 | $111.03 to $114.73 | +8.1% to +11.7% | 2 |
| Hawaii | $172.21 | $129.16 | $117.41 | +10.9% | 1 |
| Idaho | $163.45 | $122.59 | $111.33 | +7.5% | 1 |
| Illinois | $163.89 to $169.49 | $122.92 to $127.12 | $111.86 to $115.76 | +8.4% to +10.2% | 4 |
| Indiana | $163.74 | $122.81 | $111.53 | +8.4% | 1 |
| Iowa | $163.19 | $122.39 | $111.14 | +7.6% | 1 |
| Kansas | $162.83 | $122.12 | $110.90 | +7.4% | 1 |
| Kentucky | $162.50 | $121.88 | $110.76 | +7.4% | 1 |
| Louisiana | $162.37 to $164.73 | $121.78 to $123.55 | $110.68 to $112.35 | +7.7% to +8.8% | 2 |
| Maine | $163.55 to $166.40 | $122.66 to $124.80 | $111.43 to $113.40 | +7.8% to +8.4% | 2 |
| Maryland | $168.69 to $181.03 | $126.52 to $135.77 | $115.03 to $123.52 | +10.5% to +10.7% | 3 |
| Massachusetts | $171.01 to $179.88 | $128.26 to $134.91 | $116.60 to $122.71 | +10.6% to +11.5% | 2 |
| Michigan | $163.60 to $166.06 | $122.70 to $124.55 | $111.57 to $113.39 | +8.0% to +9.1% | 2 |
| Minnesota | $167.70 | $125.78 | $114.23 | +11.0% | 1 |
| Mississippi | $161.26 | $120.95 | $109.87 | +5.9% | 1 |
| Missouri | $161.46 to $165.08 | $121.10 to $123.81 | $110.05 to $112.57 | +6.0% to +8.6% | 3 |
| Montana | $167.00 | $125.25 | $113.90 | +8.2% | 1 |
| Nebraska | $163.50 | $122.63 | $111.35 | +7.8% | 1 |
| Nevada | $166.93 | $125.20 | $113.81 | +9.1% | 1 |
| New Hampshire | $168.56 | $126.42 | $114.95 | +10.8% | 1 |
| New Jersey | $175.81 to $181.42 | $131.86 to $136.07 | $119.93 to $123.77 | +10.4% to +10.8% | 2 |
| New Mexico | $163.81 | $122.86 | $111.73 | +9.0% | 1 |
| New York | $164.80 to $183.23 | $123.60 to $137.42 | $112.31 to $125.18 | +9.7% to +11.1% | 5 |
| North Carolina | $164.08 | $123.06 | $111.80 | +9.1% | 1 |
| North Dakota | $166.61 | $124.96 | $113.50 | +8.8% | 1 |
| Ohio | $163.52 | $122.64 | $111.49 | +8.7% | 1 |
| Oklahoma | $162.57 | $121.93 | $110.78 | +7.3% | 1 |
| Oregon | $166.65 to $173.30 | $124.99 to $129.98 | $113.59 to $118.17 | +9.7% to +11.7% | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | $163.68 to $171.05 | $122.76 to $128.29 | $111.59 to $116.70 | +8.3% to +10.0% | 2 |
| Rhode Island | $170.65 | $127.99 | $116.36 | +10.2% | 1 |
| South Carolina | $163.86 | $122.90 | $111.69 | +8.4% | 1 |
| South Dakota | $166.56 | $124.92 | $113.45 | +9.1% | 1 |
| Tennessee | $163.05 | $122.29 | $111.07 | +8.0% | 1 |
| Texas | $163.35 to $169.51 | $122.51 to $127.13 | $111.35 to $115.60 | +8.6% to +11.7% | 8 |
| Utah | $164.53 | $123.40 | $112.17 | +8.3% | 1 |
| Vermont | $166.27 | $124.70 | $113.29 | +8.8% | 1 |
| Virginia | $166.13 to $181.03 | $124.60 to $135.77 | $113.23 to $123.52 | +10.3% to +10.7% | 2 |
| Washington | $170.61 to $182.29 | $127.96 to $136.72 | $116.32 to $124.34 | +11.7% to +12.5% | 2 |
| West Virginia | $162.04 | $121.53 | $110.55 | +7.0% | 1 |
| Wisconsin | $164.86 | $123.65 | $112.27 | +9.4% | 1 |
| Wyoming | $166.83 | $125.12 | $113.72 | +9.4% | 1 |
What Medicare proposes to pay for therapy in 2027
National amounts under CMS's 2027 proposed rule (CMS-1848-P, values released Jul 21, 2026) against 2026. The final rule usually comes out in early November; these figures change to it when it does.
The therapy codes rise even though the conversion factor falls, from $33.4009 to $32.8409 (CMS fact sheet). Their own values go up: 2027 is the fourth and last year of the 19.1% increase to the work values of timed psychotherapy codes that CMS finalized for 2024, and CMS also proposes new practice-expense values. CMS writes that its proposals “would have a significant positive impact on clinical psychologists and clinical social workers” (Federal Register). Medical visit codes, by contrast, fall slightly.
By locality, 90837 would change from +5.6% in Arkansas to +13.3% in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara County), CA. The smallest rises are where the 1.0 floor on the work cost index lifts pay today: CMS's 2026 index file notes the floor is extended through January 1, 2027, and its proposed 2027 index is published without it.
| Code | Service | 2026 | 2027 proposed | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90791 | Diagnostic evaluation (intake) | $173.35 | $172.74 | -0.4% |
| 90792 | Diagnostic evaluation with medical services (prescriber intake) | $202.08 | $201.64 | -0.2% |
| 90832 | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes | $85.84 | $94.58 | +10.2% |
| 90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 minutes | $113.90 | $125.45 | +10.1% |
| 90837 | Psychotherapy, 60 minutes | $167.00 | $184.89 | +10.7% |
| 90847 | Family or couples psychotherapy, with the patient | $109.55 | $126.11 | +15.1% |
| 90846 | Family psychotherapy, without the patient | $105.88 | $121.18 | +14.5% |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy (per patient) | $30.39 | $33.83 | +11.3% |
| 90839 | Crisis psychotherapy, first 60 minutes | $160.32 | $176.68 | +10.2% |
| 90840 | Crisis psychotherapy, each added 30 minutes | $77.16 | $84.07 | +9.0% |
| 90785 | Interactive complexity (add-on) | $14.70 | $14.45 | -1.7% |
| 96127 | Brief emotional or behavioral assessment (scored questionnaire) | $5.01 | $4.60 | -8.2% |
| 99204 | New-patient medical visit, moderate complexity | $177.36 | $171.76 | -3.2% |
| 99213 | Established-patient medical visit, low complexity | $95.19 | $93.27 | -2.0% |
| 99214 | Established-patient medical visit, moderate complexity | $135.61 | $132.68 | -2.2% |
| 99215 | Established-patient medical visit, high complexity | $192.39 | $184.57 | -4.1% |
| 90833 | Psychotherapy with a medical visit, 30 minutes (add-on) | $81.50 | $87.36 | +7.2% |
| 90836 | Psychotherapy with a medical visit, 45 minutes (add-on) | $103.21 | $110.67 | +7.2% |
| 90838 | Psychotherapy with a medical visit, 60 minutes (add-on) | $136.61 | $146.14 | +7.0% |
| G2211 | Ongoing-care add-on to a medical visit | $17.37 | $17.08 | -1.7% |
Get the final 2027 Medicare rates by email
CMS's final rule for 2027 usually comes out in early November. When it does, these pages change to its rates and you get one short email with what changed. The same list tells you when a therapy platform changes its pay, fees or requirements.
Paid AI-training work for clinicians
AI companies hire licensed clinicians as remote contractors to write and grade mental-health material for their models: 8 roles open today, at $45 to $155 an hour as posted.
Building your own practice instead?
The Practice Academy, from Practice of the Practice, is a paid membership with courses, coaching and a community for therapists starting or growing a private practice. Referral link: OnlineTherapy.me earns a fee from Practice of the Practice if you join through it. It never changes what these pages report about any platform.
Spending evenings on notes?
Blueprint is AI software for therapists that drafts progress notes, treatment plans and client letters, and handles claims and eligibility; it runs alongside the EHR you already use or as its own all-in-one EHR. Referral link: OnlineTherapy.me earns a fee from Blueprint if you join through it. It never changes what these pages report about any platform.
How much of the rate each clinician is allowed
Medicare allows a share of the fee schedule amount by who bills it, as CMS's mental health booklet states. Medicare pays 80% of the allowed amount and the patient 20% after the Part B deductible.
100%
Psychologists, psychiatrists
Clinical psychologists (PhD, PsyD) and physicians, psychiatrists included (MD, DO).
90837: $167.00 · 90834: $113.90
“We pay at 100% under the PFS only if you accept assignment.” CMS
85%
Psychiatric NPs, PAs
Nurse practitioners (PMHNP included), physician assistants and clinical nurse specialists.
90837: $141.95 · 90834: $96.82
“We pay for professional services at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of the amount a physician gets under the PFS.” CMS
75%
LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCs
Clinical social workers (LCSW), marriage and family therapists (LMFT) and mental health counselors (LPC, LMHC, LCPC).
90837: $125.25 · 90834: $85.43
“You must accept assignment. We pay 75% of the PFS amount for CPs.” CMS
The patient's part: “After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for visits to your health care provider to diagnose or treat your condition” (Medicare.gov). Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors have been able to enroll in Medicare and bill it themselves since January 1, 2024 (CMS).
Medicare pays telehealth therapy at the office rate
CMS's telehealth booklet: “We pay for telehealth services you provide to patients in their homes at the non-facility PFS rate” (MLN901705). A video session with a patient at home is billed with place of service 10 and paid the office amount every table here shows first; place of service 02 is for a patient somewhere other than home.
Working through a platform instead of billing Medicare yourself? What each online therapy company pays clinicians, what it charges them and how it credentials is on its therapist page, and who is hiring today is on the jobs page. Patients looking for an online service that takes Medicare can start at online therapy that takes Medicare.
Medicare therapy rates, answered
What is the Medicare reimbursement rate for 90837 in 2026?
The 2026 national Medicare amount for 90837 (psychotherapy, 60 minutes) is $167.00 in an office or by telehealth to a patient at home, and $135.27 in a facility. It is adjusted for where you practice: from $161.03 (Arkansas) to $232.44 (Alaska). A psychologist or psychiatrist is allowed the full amount, a psychiatric nurse practitioner $141.95 (85%) and an LCSW, LMFT or LPC $125.25 (75%).
What does Medicare pay for 90834 in 2026?
$113.90 nationally for a 45-minute session by a psychologist or psychiatrist, $96.82 for a nurse practitioner or PA, and $85.43 for an LCSW, LMFT or LPC, before the adjustment for your locality.
How much does Medicare pay an LCSW, LMFT or LPC?
75% of the fee schedule amount a clinical psychologist gets, as CMS's mental health booklet states for clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors ("You must accept assignment. We pay 75% of the PFS amount for CPs."). For 2026 that is $125.25 for 90837, $85.43 for 90834 and $130.01 for a 90791 intake, nationally.
How much does Medicare pay a psychiatric nurse practitioner?
85% of the physician amount. For 2026 that is $115.27 for a 99214 medication visit and $69.28 for 30 minutes of psychotherapy added to it (90833), $171.77 for a 90792 intake, nationally.
Does Medicare pay the same for telehealth therapy?
Yes, for a patient at home. CMS's telehealth booklet says: "We pay for telehealth services you provide to patients in their homes at the non-facility PFS rate." That is the office rate shown first in every table here.
How much of the rate does the patient pay?
After the patient meets the Part B deductible, they pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for therapy visits (Medicare.gov), and Medicare pays the rest. The amounts on this page are the whole approved amount.
Who is paid the full Medicare rate?
Clinical psychologists (PhD, PsyD) and physicians, psychiatrists included (MD, DO). Nurse practitioners (PMHNP included), physician assistants and clinical nurse specialists are allowed 85%, and clinical social workers (LCSW), marriage and family therapists (LMFT) and mental health counselors (LPC, LMHC, LCPC) 75%, of the same fee schedule amount.
What will Medicare pay for therapy in 2027?
CMS's 2027 proposed rule would pay $184.89 for 90837 nationally (+10.7% on 2026) and $125.45 for 90834 (+10.1%), even though its conversion factor falls from $33.4009 to $32.8409: the therapy codes' own values rise. The final rule usually comes out in early November, and these figures change to it when it does.
Medicare therapy rates in each state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Where these numbers come from
- CMS, PFS Relative Value Files, RVU26D (released Aug 26, 2026)
- CMS, PFS National Payment Amount File (2026)
- CMS, CY 2027 PFS proposed rule (CMS-1848-P) and its addenda
- Federal Register, CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (2026-14327)
- CMS fact sheet, CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (Jul 14, 2026)
- CMS MLN booklet, Medicare & Mental Health Coverage (MLN1986542, March 2026)
- CMS MLN booklet, Telehealth & Remote Patient Monitoring (MLN901705, December 2025)
- Medicare.gov, Mental health care (outpatient)
Each amount is CMS's formula, (work RVU × work GPCI + practice expense RVU × PE GPCI + malpractice RVU × MP GPCI) × conversion factor, from CMS's RVU26D relative value and GPCI files, read Oct 29, 2026. We checked it against every 2026 amount for these codes in CMS's national payment amount file. A clinician's share is then applied to that amount, giving the Medicare-approved amount. CPT codes are the American Medical Association's; the descriptions here are our own.