State rate page
What therapists in North Carolina report being paid
Therapists in North Carolina reported 16 rates. The median 90837 was $116 across 16 reports. That matches the national median of $115 across 568 reports. Most North Carolina reports come from licensed professional counselors.
Reported 90837: median $116, range $62–$139, middle half $104–$138, about 93% of the 2026 national Medicare reference for a master's-level clinician (16 reports · 16 across all CPTs · updated 2026-09-23)
North Carolina 90837 by payer
| Payer | Median | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $138 | $130–$139 | 4 |
| Cigna | $99 | $62–$109 | 4 |
| BCBS | $138 | $138–$139 | 3 |
| Optum / UHC | $114 | $105–$117 | 3 |
| EAP | $115 | single report | 1 |
| Ambetter | $103 | single report | 1 |
North Carolina 90837 by license
| License | Median | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPC/LMHC | $126 | $62–$139 | 12 |
North Carolina 90837 by route
| Route | Median | Range | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct contract | $126 | $62–$139 | 12 |
| Alma | $117 | $95–$130 | 3 |
| Spring Health | $115 | single report | 1 |
North Carolina by payer, in detail
All 16 North Carolina reports
| Route | Payer | License | CPT | Rate | Effective | Note / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct contract | Aetna | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $138 | September 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | BCBS | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $138 | September 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | Cigna | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $109.18 | August 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | Aetna | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $139.18 | July 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | BCBS | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $139.47 | April 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | BCBS | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $138 | January 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | Cigna | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $62 | January 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | Aetna | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $138.61 | January 2026 | submitted |
| Direct contract | Ambetter | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $103 | October 2025 | submitted |
| Alma | Optum / UHC | — | 90837 (60 min) | $116.80 | September 2025 | masters level; 90834 $101.30, 90791 $119.72 source |
| Alma | Aetna | — | 90837 (60 min) | $129.74 | September 2025 | masters level; 90834 $103, 90791 $132.28 source |
| Alma | Cigna | — | 90837 (60 min) | $95 | September 2025 | masters level; 90834 $79, 90791 $110 source |
| Direct contract | Cigna | — | 90837 (60 min) | $103 | September 2025 | Evernorth first offer; poster reports negotiable to $115, then $130 before signing source |
| Direct contract | Optum / UHC | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $104.79 | August 2025 | submitted |
| Spring Health | EAP | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $115 | May 2025 | Up from $95 in 2024; applied for several raises. submitted |
| Direct contract | Optum / UHC | LPC/LMHC | 90837 (60 min) | $113.57 | April 2023 | submitted |
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-state reports describe this sample; additional reports can change the median and widen the range. How this data is collected and checked.