therapistrates.org

Home›Rates›BCBS

Payer rate page

What BCBS pays therapists

Therapists reported 177 BCBS rates between October 2013 and December 2026. The median for a 90837 was $122 across 142 reports, with a range of $69 to $284. Reports came through Headway, Grow Therapy, and Alma, and from clinicians holding their own BCBS contract, which allows the same code to be compared across routes.

Reported 90837: median $122, range $69–$284, middle half $105–$139, about 97% of the 2026 national Medicare reference for a master's-level clinician (142 reports · 177 across all CPTs · updated 2026-10-07)

BCBS 90837 by license

LicenseMedianRangeReports
LPC/LMHC$126$72–$18952
LCSW$124$78–$21052
LMFT$106$86–$18511
PhD/PsyD$150$122–$28410
LCPC/LPCC/LCMHC$113$91–$1345
MD/DO$109single report1

BCBS 90837 by route

While direct-contract reports for a 90837 put the median at $134, Headway reports for the same code sit about $25 lower at $109. Direct-contract reports come from a different mix of states, so part of the difference likely reflects geography. Fees, billing work, and payment risks depend on the applicable contracts and are not measured here.

RouteMedianRangeReports
Direct contract$134$82–$28490
Headway$109$81–$15241
Grow Therapy$83$69–$1176
Alma$127$107–$1393
Tava Health$115single report1
Availity$113single report1

BCBS 90837 by state

StateMedianRangeReports
Texas$105$92–$12810
Oregon$150$120–$1539
Illinois$134$129–$1919
Maryland$109$103–$1199
California$103$86–$1488
Virginia$150$113–$1717
Massachusetts$139$131–$1407
Washington$128$120–$1536
New Jersey$126$115–$1656
Pennsylvania$113$95–$1316
Wisconsin$127$119–$1325
Colorado$98$98–$1275
Rhode Island$133$128–$1344
Arizona$113$82–$1404
Florida$91$78–$1154
Iowa$181$173–$1813
North Carolina$138$138–$1393
District of Columbia$110$88–$1153
New York$102$98–$1103
Georgia$93$72–$983
Nebraska$234$185–$2842
Mississippi$184$180–$1892
Montana$156$156–$1562
Alabama$127$127–$1272
Tennessee$116$96–$1362
Louisiana$105$105–$1052
Kentucky$100$91–$1092
Oklahoma$93$81–$1052
Wyoming$210single report1
Idaho$187single report1
Arkansas$166single report1
Michigan$164single report1
Nevada$143single report1
Kansas$117single report1
Connecticut$117single report1
Indiana$110single report1
Ohio$91single report1

Other codes: 90791 (intake) median $123 (14 reports); 90834 (45 min) median $83 (13 reports); 90847 (family, with client) median $98 (3 reports); 90846 (family, no client) median $77 (4 reports).

BCBS by state, in detail

All 177 BCBS reports

RouteStLicenseCPTRateEffectiveNote / source
AvailityMDLMFT90837 (60 min)$113.48December 2026Increased from 109.97 submitted
HeadwayPALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$100October 2026submitted
HeadwayTNLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$96October 2026submitted
Direct contractWALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$152.52October 2026Regence of OR (Clark County only) submitted
HeadwayALLCSW90837 (60 min)$127October 2026submitted
HeadwayCOLCSW90837 (60 min)$98October 2026submitted
HeadwayTXLCSW90834 (45 min)$61.28October 2026submitted
AlmaWIPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$127October 2026submitted
HeadwayFLLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$95October 2026Does pay 12 dollars extra for 'interactive complexity' code on top of the base rate. submitted
HeadwayCALMFT90834 (45 min)$106.40October 2026submitted
Direct contractTXPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$127.81October 2026submitted
Direct contractMALCSW90837 (60 min)$140.12September 2026This is for an independently licensed clinician as a sole proprietor in private practice (LICSW) submitted
HeadwayPALCSW90837 (60 min)$95September 2026Independence Blue Cross - Virtual Network submitted
HeadwayPALCSW90837 (60 min)$100September 2026Highmark BCBS submitted
HeadwayWILMFT90837 (60 min)$119September 2026submitted
Direct contractORLCSW90837 (60 min)$152.52September 2026submitted
Direct contractNCLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$138September 2026submitted
AlmaCOLCSW90837 (60 min)$107September 2026submitted
HeadwayCOLCSW90837 (60 min)$98September 2026submitted
HeadwayKSLCSW90837 (60 min)$117August 2026submitted
HeadwayMDLCSW90837 (60 min)$119.07August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyGALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$81.35August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyGALPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$45.60August 2026submitted
HeadwayORLCSW90837 (60 min)$120August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyGALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$71.91August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyGALPC/LMHC90846 (family, no client)$44August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyGALPC/LMHC90847 (family, with client)$53.60August 2026submitted
Direct contractORLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$152.58August 2026submitted
Direct contractMTLCSW90837 (60 min)$156.19August 2026submitted
Direct contractILLCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90837 (60 min)$133.67August 2026submitted
HeadwayNYLPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$125August 2026submitted
HeadwayNYLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110August 2026submitted
HeadwayNYLPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$83August 2026submitted
HeadwayNYLPC/LMHC90847 (family, with client)$98August 2026submitted
HeadwayNYLPC/LMHC90846 (family, no client)$95August 2026submitted
HeadwayOKLPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$96.25August 2026submitted
HeadwayOKLPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$55.13August 2026submitted
HeadwayOKLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$81.26August 2026submitted
HeadwayOKLPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$111.99August 2026submitted
HeadwayOKLPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$64.15August 2026submitted
HeadwayMDLCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90837 (60 min)$119.07August 2026submitted
Direct contractIALCSW90837 (60 min)$180.80August 2026submitted
Direct contractMALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$139.06August 2026submitted
Direct contractPALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$131.29August 2026submitted
Direct contractPALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$125.07August 2026submitted
Direct contractVALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$171August 2026$161 in 2025 submitted
Direct contractKYMD/DO90837 (60 min)$109August 2026submitted
HeadwayINLCSW90837 (60 min)$110August 2026submitted
Direct contractCTLPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$132.30August 2026submitted
Direct contractMALCSW90837 (60 min)$139.06August 2026submitted
Direct contractTXLMFT90837 (60 min)$104.75August 2026submitted
Direct contractTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$104.75August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyFLLCSW90837 (60 min)$87August 2026submitted
Direct contractLALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$104.69July 2026submitted
Direct contractLALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$121.70July 2026submitted
Direct contractMILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$163.56July 2026submitted
Direct contractMILPC/LMHC90847 (family, with client)$107.30July 2026submitted
Direct contractORLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$150July 2026submitted
Direct contractPALCSW90837 (60 min)$131.29July 2026submitted
Direct contractIALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$180.80July 2026submitted
Direct contractORLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$152.52July 2026submitted
Direct contractORLCSW90791 (intake)$242.47July 2026submitted
Direct contractORLCSW90837 (60 min)$152.52July 2026submitted
Direct contractIALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$187.70July 2026submitted
Direct contractTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$104.75June 2026submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90837 (60 min)$133.67June 2026submitted
HeadwayNJLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$115June 2026submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90837 (60 min)$131.48May 2026submitted
Direct contractWYLCSW90837 (60 min)$210May 2026submitted
Direct contractNCLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$139.47April 2026submitted
Direct contractMALCSW90837 (60 min)$139.06April 2026Small decrease submitted
Direct contractNYLCSW90791 (intake)$116.02March 2026submitted
Direct contractNYLCSW90837 (60 min)$102.50March 2026submitted
HeadwayMDLCSW90837 (60 min)$109January 2026Down from 115 in 2025 submitted
Direct contractMTLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$156.19January 2026submitted
Direct contractNCLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$138January 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$93January 2026submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90837 (60 min)$133.67January 2026submitted
Direct contractTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$104.75January 2026Increased from 94.75 submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$113January 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$61January 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90846 (family, no client)$59January 2026submitted
Direct contractILLMFT90837 (60 min)$133.67January 2026submitted
Direct contractWALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120.24January 2026submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90837 (60 min)$158.10January 2026submitted
Direct contractMALCSW90791 (intake)$152.30January 2026submitted
Direct contractMALCSW90837 (60 min)$139.06January 2026submitted
Direct contractKYLCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90837 (60 min)$91.23January 2026since 2023 submitted
Direct contractTXLMFT90837 (60 min)$104.75January 2026submitted
HeadwayOHLCSW90837 (60 min)$91January 2026submitted
HeadwayMALCSW90837 (60 min)$131January 2026submitted
Direct contractLALCSW90837 (60 min)$104.69January 2026submitted
Direct contractVA—90837 (60 min)$150December 2025Anthem, independent contract, masters level, rounded source
Direct contractMDLCSW90837 (60 min)$104.33December 2025submitted
Direct contractMDLCSW90837 (60 min)$106.60December 2025submitted
Direct contractNYLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$97.94December 2025submitted
Direct contractMDLCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90837 (60 min)$104.33December 2025$104.33 for PPO; $106.60 for HMO submitted
Direct contractMDLCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90837 (60 min)$113.40December 2025Increase from 110.9 prior to December 2025 submitted
Direct contractRILCSW90837 (60 min)$132.86December 2025For LICSW, not LCSW (RI has both distinctions) submitted
HeadwayCALMFT90837 (60 min)$106December 2025submitted
Direct contract—LCSW—$101.91November 2025solo practice, DC/MD/VA source
Direct contractRILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$132.86November 2025submitted
Direct contractVALCSW90837 (60 min)$170.99October 2025submitted
Direct contractVALCSW90837 (60 min)$113.40October 2025submitted
HeadwayTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$92.04October 2025submitted
Direct contractCTLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$116.82October 2025submitted
Direct contractORLCSW90837 (60 min)$149.33October 2025submitted
Grow Therapy——90837 (60 min)$68.51September 2025Same clinician reported $104 for the same BCBS session through Headway. source
Headway——90837 (60 min)$104September 2025Comparison figure from a clinician credentialed on both Grow and Headway. source
HeadwayNJ—90837 (60 min)$115September 2025Horizon BCBS NJ, masters level source
Direct contractMAPhD/PsyD90834 (45 min)$135.19September 2025submitted
Direct contractMALCSW90834 (45 min)$101.98September 2025submitted
HeadwayTX—90837 (60 min)$92.04August 2025BCBS PPO, masters level source
HeadwayDCLCSW90837 (60 min)$114.97August 2025CareFirst; $5 above poster's direct contract source
Direct contractTX—90837 (60 min)$93.88August 2025BCBS PPO and HMO, masters level; Medicare Advantage $124.99 source
Direct contractRILCSW90837 (60 min)$128August 2025LICSW source
Direct contractIA—90837 (60 min)$172.90August 2025masters level; 90791 $187.10, 90834 $116.70 source
Direct contractDCLCSW90837 (60 min)$109.97August 2025CareFirst; increased to $113.40 in December 2025 source
Direct contractIDLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$187.40August 2025submitted
Tava HealthFLLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$115August 2025submitted
Direct contractCALCSW90837 (60 min)$133August 2025submitted
Direct contractNJPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$164.28August 2025submitted
Direct contractNEPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$284.19July 2025Increased from 277 last July submitted
Direct contractNELMFT90837 (60 min)$184.73July 2025submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90791 (intake)$187.08June 2025submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90834 (45 min)$107.81June 2025submitted
Direct contractINPhD/PsyD90791 (intake)$227May 2025submitted
Direct contractILPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$191May 2025submitted
HeadwayVALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$126March 2025They received an increase from anthem in July 2026 and refuse to pass it on. submitted
HeadwayALLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$127February 2025submitted
HeadwayILLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$129January 2025submitted
Direct contractCOLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$127January 2025submitted
Grow TherapyFLLCSW90837 (60 min)$78.46January 2025submitted
Headway——90837 (60 min)$110December 2024Clinician reported Headway billed BCBS $220 for the session and paid $110; the claim was later denied as too expensive. source
Grow TherapyDCLMFT90837 (60 min)$87.98December 2024submitted
HeadwayCA—90837 (60 min)$86November 2024San Francisco. The commenter reports the directly credentialed rate is about the same and that BCBS refused to negotiate. source
Direct contractOR—90837 (60 min)$137November 2024Reported as rising to about $148 on December 1, 2024. source
Direct contractIL—90837 (60 min)$131November 2024Reported as the BCBS PPO rate, not renegotiated in several years. source
HeadwayWAPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$152.27October 2024submitted
Grow TherapyVALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$117.34August 2024submitted
Direct contractAZLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$104.59August 2024Started at 95.88 and received three raises submitted
HeadwayCOLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$98August 2024submitted
Direct contractCALCSW90837 (60 min)$100August 2024submitted
HeadwayGALCSW90837 (60 min)$98August 2024submitted
AlmaMALCSW90837 (60 min)$139.18August 2024* in MA the LCSW is pre licensed. LICSW is the independent licensure submitted
AlmaMALCSW90834 (45 min)$91August 2024*licensure in MA is LICSW submitted
Direct contractWALCSW90837 (60 min)$120.25August 2024submitted
Direct contractWALCSW90837 (60 min)$135.39August 2024submitted
HeadwayTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$92.04August 2024submitted
HeadwayCALMFT90837 (60 min)$86August 2024submitted
Direct contractVALCSW90837 (60 min)$152.66August 2024submitted
Direct contractRILCSW90837 (60 min)$134August 2024submitted
Direct contractNJLPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$91.54July 2024submitted
Direct contractNJLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$137.26July 2024submitted
Direct contractNJLPC/LMHC90846 (family, no client)$110.54July 2024submitted
Direct contractWALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$121July 2024Some report an Increase from this amount? submitted
HeadwayWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$119June 2024submitted
Direct contractMSLCSW90837 (60 min)$180June 2024submitted
Direct contractNVLMFT90837 (60 min)$142.83May 2024submitted
Direct contractARLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$166.19April 2024submitted
Direct contractCAPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$148.46January 2024submitted
Direct contractOKLCSW90837 (60 min)$105.33November 2023submitted
HeadwayNJLCSW90791 (intake)$115.72August 2023submitted
HeadwayNJLCSW90837 (60 min)$115August 2023submitted
HeadwayNJLCSW90834 (45 min)$74August 2023submitted
HeadwayCALCSW90837 (60 min)$107August 2023submitted
HeadwayAZPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$140August 2023submitted
Direct contractAZPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$122August 2023submitted
Direct contractORLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$149.33March 2023submitted
Direct contractAZLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$82.50March 2023submitted
Direct contractNJPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$164.71August 2022submitted
Direct contractTNLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$136July 2021submitted
Direct contractWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$131.98May 2021submitted
Direct contractMDLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$103August 2019submitted
Direct contractMSLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$189May 2018submitted
Direct contractCALMFT90837 (60 min)$94.50July 2014submitted
Direct contractWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$131.96October 2013submitted

Get an email when BCBS rates change.

One report a month, one more if BCBS or a platform cuts. Never displayed, sold, or shared.

Limitations

These figures have three limitations. First, every rate is self-reported and unverified. Second, the sample is self-selected: 14% of all reports come from California. Third, license is missing on 66 of 789 rows. These per-payer reports describe this sample; additional reports can change the median and widen the range. How this data is collected and checked.

Add your BCBS rate See these rows in the full table