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What Optum / UHC pays therapists

Therapists reported 113 Optum / UHC rates between September 2013 and October 2026. The median for a 90837 was $116 across 87 reports, with a range of $88 to $190. Reports came through Headway, Alma, and Grow Therapy, and from clinicians holding their own Optum / UHC contract, which allows the same code to be compared across routes.

Reported 90837: median $116, range $88–$190, middle half $110–$121, about 92% of the 2026 national Medicare reference for a master's-level clinician (87 reports · 113 across all CPTs · updated 2026-10-08)

Optum / UHC 90837 by license

LicenseMedianRangeReports
LPC/LMHC$110$88–$19033
LCSW$118$93–$15929
LMFT$120$88–$1328
PhD/PsyD$134$116–$1626
LCPC/LPCC/LCMHC$122single report1

Optum / UHC 90837 by route

While Headway reports for a 90837 put the median at $119, direct-contract reports for the same code sit about $3 lower at $116. Direct-contract reports come from a different mix of states, so part of the difference likely reflects geography.

RouteMedianRangeReports
Direct contract$116$89–$19049
Headway$119$102–$12516
Alma$117$103–$14315
Grow Therapy$93$88–$964
Collective Counseling Solutions$120$120–$1202
Tava Health$88single report1

Optum / UHC 90837 by state

StateMedianRangeReports
California$120$88–$12211
Wisconsin$121$88–$1437
Colorado$113$110–$1205
Arizona$110$110–$1475
Washington$150$121–$1594
Maryland$109$96–$1184
Iowa$107$89–$1104
Connecticut$132$132–$1323
Illinois$119$115–$1253
Texas$118$103–$1203
North Carolina$114$105–$1173
New York$110$110–$1223
Pennsylvania$110$92–$1163
Ohio$110$110–$1203
Florida$103$93–$1103
Oregon$168$146–$1902
Massachusetts$137$133–$1412
New Jersey$118$116–$1212
Virginia$115$110–$1202
Georgia$108$103–$1122
Tennessee$106$102–$1102
District of Columbia$162single report1
New Hampshire$126single report1
Minnesota$117single report1
Rhode Island$115single report1
Idaho$110single report1
Nebraska$108single report1
Mississippi$105single report1

Other codes: 90791 (intake) median $131 (11 reports); 90834 (45 min) median $79 (11 reports); 90847 (family, with client) median $92 (1 report); 90846 (family, no client) median $90 (2 reports).

Optum / UHC by state, in detail

All 113 Optum / UHC reports

RouteStLicenseCPTRateEffectiveNote / source
HeadwayTNLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$102October 2026submitted
HeadwayCOLCSW90837 (60 min)$110October 2026submitted
AlmaTXLCSW90834 (45 min)$109.80October 2026submitted
AlmaWIPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$143.06October 2026submitted
Direct contractILPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$125September 2026submitted
Direct contractCALMFT90837 (60 min)$121.33September 2026Not updated or adjusted in at least 3 years submitted
Collective Counseling SolutionsCALCSW90837 (60 min)$120September 2026submitted
Direct contractARLPC/LMHC90846 (family, no client)$104.11September 2026submitted
AlmaCOLCSW90837 (60 min)$120September 2026submitted
AlmaVALCSW90837 (60 min)$120September 2026submitted
HeadwayMDLCSW90837 (60 min)$117.73August 2026submitted
AlmaGALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$121.24August 2026submitted
AlmaGALPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$87August 2026submitted
Direct contractCALCSW90791 (intake)$137.10August 2026submitted
Direct contractCALCSW90837 (60 min)$115.82August 2026submitted
Direct contractCALCSW90834 (45 min)$78.73August 2026submitted
AlmaTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$103August 2026submitted
Direct contractMALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$141.08August 2026submitted
Direct contractPALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110.30August 2026submitted
Direct contractVALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$109.59August 2026submitted
AlmaMDLCSW90837 (60 min)$103August 2026submitted
HeadwayNYLCSW90837 (60 min)$121.80August 2026submitted
Direct contractCTLPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$156.57August 2026submitted
Direct contractCTLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$132.09August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyMDLCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90791 (intake)$101.06August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyMDLPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$64.30August 2026submitted
Grow TherapyMDLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$96.44August 2026submitted
Direct contractWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120.96July 2026submitted
Direct contractLALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$131.15July 2026submitted
Collective Counseling SolutionsOHLCSW90837 (60 min)$120July 2026submitted
Direct contractTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$117.57June 2026submitted
Direct contractRILCSW90837 (60 min)$115May 2026submitted
Direct contractNYLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110April 2026submitted
Direct contractORLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$190March 2026submitted
Direct contractIALCSW90837 (60 min)$104.79February 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$113January 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$75January 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$112January 2026submitted
HeadwayGALPC/LMHC90846 (family, no client)$75.99January 2026submitted
Tava HealthCALMFT90791 (intake)$105January 2026submitted
Tava HealthCALMFT90834 (45 min)$60January 2026submitted
Tava HealthCALMFT90837 (60 min)$88January 2026submitted
Grow TherapyFLLCSW90837 (60 min)$93.15January 2026submitted
Direct contractFLLCSW90837 (60 min)$110.30January 2026submitted
HeadwayOHLCSW90837 (60 min)$110January 2026submitted
Direct contractWALCSW90837 (60 min)$159December 2025United/Optum, group practice, western WA; group Cigna $117 source
AlmaMNLCSW90837 (60 min)$116.80December 2025submitted
Direct contract—LCSW—$121.33November 2025United; solo practice licensed in DC/MD/VA source
AlmaNC—90837 (60 min)$116.80September 2025masters level; 90834 $101.30, 90791 $119.72 source
AlmaNE—90837 (60 min)$107.80September 2025LIMHP; 90834 $92.30 source
Direct contractMDPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$115.82September 2025United Behavioral Health/Optum, Baltimore area source
HeadwayWALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120.55August 2025United source
Direct contractIA—90837 (60 min)$89.25August 2025UHC, masters level source
AlmaFLLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$103August 2025submitted
AlmaMALCSW90837 (60 min)$133August 2025*cut sometime last year from $142 or so submitted
AlmaMALCSW90834 (45 min)$107August 2025Cut from $118 or so in the last year submitted
Direct contractNCLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$104.79August 2025submitted
Direct contractCOLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$113August 2025submitted
AlmaRIPhD/PsyD90834 (45 min)$108.35July 2025submitted
AlmaRIPhD/PsyD90791 (intake)$143.06July 2025submitted
Direct contractDCPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$161.78July 2025submitted
Direct contractWALCSW90791 (intake)$180.89July 2025submitted
Direct contractWALCSW90837 (60 min)$159.45July 2025submitted
Direct contractIDLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110June 2025No longer accept them/in network with them. submitted
Grow TherapyWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$88.22June 2025submitted
AlmaGALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$103June 2025submitted
Direct contractCTLCSW90837 (60 min)$132April 2025submitted
Direct contractIALCSW90837 (60 min)$110February 2025Had received $150 as a single provider agreement os OON, then became part of the UHC network and receive $110 for 90837. submitted
AlmaTXLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120January 2025submitted
Direct contractNYLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110.30January 2025submitted
AlmaWILCSW90837 (60 min)$110.26December 2024submitted
Alma——90837 (60 min)$120November 2024Cut from $130 in the November 2024 Optum rate reduction ($7 across Optum/UHC/UMR/Surest). source
Headway——90837 (60 min)$112November 2024Reported alongside the Alma figure; Optum reportedly pays Headway ~$130 for the session. source
Direct contractOR—90837 (60 min)$146November 2024source
Grow TherapyPALMFT90837 (60 min)$92November 2024source
Direct contractIL—90837 (60 min)$115November 2024Reported as UHC/UMR. source
HeadwayCO—90837 (60 min)$110November 2024source
Direct contract——90837 (60 min)$110.30October 2024Solo-contract rate cited for comparison against platform rates. Same commenter reported Optum pays Alma ~$151 for the identical session. source
Alma——90837 (60 min)$126.80October 2024pre-cut rate; reduced to $116.80 November 2024; 90791 $126.80 cut to $119.72 source
HeadwayCALMFT90837 (60 min)$122October 2024submitted
Direct contractAZLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110.30August 2024submitted
HeadwayCOLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120August 2024submitted
HeadwayCALMFT90837 (60 min)$117.73August 2024submitted
Direct contractILLCSW90837 (60 min)$118.75August 2024submitted
Direct contractTNLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110.30July 2024submitted
Direct contractMSLCSW90837 (60 min)$104.79June 2024submitted
Direct contractWALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$140June 2024submitted
Direct contractNHLCSW90837 (60 min)$125.80April 2024submitted
Direct contractPALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$115.82January 2024submitted
Direct contractIALPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$109.25January 2024submitted
Direct contractCALCSW90837 (60 min)$115.82August 2023submitted
HeadwayNJLCSW90791 (intake)$123August 2023submitted
HeadwayNJLCSW90837 (60 min)$120.55August 2023submitted
HeadwayNJLCSW90834 (45 min)$80August 2023submitted
HeadwayCALCSW90837 (60 min)$120August 2023submitted
Direct contractAZPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$147August 2023submitted
HeadwayAZPhD/PsyD90837 (60 min)$125August 2023submitted
Direct contractNJLPC/LMHC90791 (intake)$137.70July 2023submitted
Direct contractNJLPC/LMHC90834 (45 min)$78.73July 2023submitted
Direct contractNJLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$115.82July 2023submitted
Direct contractNCLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$113.57April 2023submitted
HeadwayCALCPC/LPCC/LCMHC90837 (60 min)$122March 2023submitted
Direct contractAZLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110.30March 2023submitted
Direct contractAZLPC/LMHC90847 (family, with client)$91.77March 2023submitted
HeadwayCALCSW90834 (45 min)$73January 2023submitted
Direct contractAZLPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$110.30December 2022submitted
Direct contractCTLMFT90837 (60 min)$132.09August 2022submitted
Direct contractCALMFT90837 (60 min)$115.82June 2022submitted
Direct contractWILCSW90837 (60 min)$121.10June 2022submitted
Direct contractOHLCSW90837 (60 min)$110June 2022submitted
Direct contractWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120.98May 2021submitted
Direct contractCALMFT90837 (60 min)$121.36August 2020submitted
Direct contractWILPC/LMHC90837 (60 min)$120.96September 2013submitted

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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.

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