Payer Rate Benchmarking Report · 2026-Q1
New York Reimbursement Rates
for Independent Therapists
What Aetna, Cigna, Optum/UHC, and BCBS are paying independent therapists in New York. Broken down by CPT code. Updated quarterly.
Independent Contract Rates by Payer
These are estimated reimbursement rates for independently credentialed therapists in New York. Rates vary by contract, location, and negotiation.
| CPT Code | Aetna | Cigna | Optum/UHC | BCBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
90791 Diagnostic Evaluation (Intake) | $198 | $190 | $195 | $205Highest |
90834 Individual Therapy — 45 min | $138 | $132 | $135 | $142Highest |
90837 Individual Therapy — 60 min | $175 | $168 | $172 | $180Highest |
90847 Family Therapy with Patient | $165 | $158 | $162 | $170Highest |
What You're Leaving on the Table with Platforms
This is what the same CPT codes pay through managed platforms vs. your own independent contracts. The difference is money you keep.
| CPT Code | Independent Avg | Headway | Alma | Grow Therapy | You Keep More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
90791 Diagnostic Evaluation (Intake) | $197 | $144 | $150 | $154 | +$53/session |
90834 Individual Therapy — 45 min | $137 | $100 | $104 | $107 | +$37/session |
90837 Individual Therapy — 60 min | $174 | $127 | $132 | $136 | +$47/session |
90847 Family Therapy with Patient | $164 | $120 | $125 | $128 | +$44/session |
What this means for a typical caseload
If you see 25 clients per week using CPT 90837 (60-min individual therapy):
Payer Ranking for New York
Based on average reimbursement across all four CPT codes.
Important Notes
- Rates shown are estimates based on aggregated data from independent therapist contracts in New York. Your actual rates may vary based on license type, specialty, geographic sub-region, and individual contract negotiation.
- Platform rates are calculated using publicly reported platform differentials applied to the independent average for this state.
- This report is updated quarterly. Last update: 2026-Q1.
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