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National price data · 1,656 hospitals

Psychotherapy session (60 minutes) cost

What a psychotherapy session (60 minutes) costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.

Pillar 1 · The BaseRate™ CompositeHow 1.00× Fair BaseRate Works: Raw price averages unfairly penalize hospitals in high-wage cities or trauma centers treating sicker patients. We adjust for local CMS hospital wage levels and patient complexity first. A 1.00× score means right at the fair price average, 0.85× means 15% cheaper than fair market, and 1.30× means 30% above fair market.Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark
1.00×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair PriceRight at U.S. Average (0%) 1.00× (center of the bar) is the U.S. fair price average after accounting for local hospital wages and patient complexity. Left of center (<1.00×) is below fair price; right of center (>1.00×) is above fair price.

Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

Pillar 2 · VeriRate™ Data TrustHow VeriRate™ (0–100) Works: Hospitals are legally required to publish machine-readable price files, but some bury fake $0.01 numbers or omit cash discounts. VeriRate audits each file across 5 checks (hover any badge below to see what it tests).86/100 · Verified
86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited
File Completeness90Provenance (File Completeness): Checks whether the hospital published a complete, up-to-date machine-readable price file with valid CPT and MS-DRG billing codes instead of leaving blanks.
Price Logic88Coherence (Price Logic): Checks whether the hospital’s numbers make basic sense — e.g., self-pay cash price is lower than gross list price, with no fake $0.01 or $999,999 placeholder numbers.
Peer Alignment86Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing83Regularity (Clean Billing): Checks whether rates are structured consistently across procedures without erratic statistical spikes or hidden unbundled facility fees.
Real Cash Discount84Cash Honesty (Real Cash Discount): Checks whether the hospital offers a genuine self-pay cash discount that beats or matches commercial insurance rates instead of billing full sticker price.
Pillar 3 · Clinical Quality & ER SpeedChecks whether higher hospital prices actually buy better clinical quality — combining CMS Star Ratings, hospital safety scores, and emergency room wait times.Regional Value Leader
CMS Star RatingNot RatedOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety ScoreNot ScoredComposite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER WaitNo ER DataMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.

Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintUpper-Quartile Spread · +101% Tail Jump

Wide Procedure Spread · Upper-Quartile Skew Pricer

This hospital prices routine shoppable procedures at 1.9× Medicare (median 1.05× Fair BaseRate) while upper-quartile commercial rates jump +101% to 2.11× Fair BaseRate. Self-pay cash discounts and comparing specific CPT procedure codes before scheduling yield the strongest savings.

#146 of 307 in TX · 47th State Percentile#1,953 of 3,385 in U.S. · 57th National Percentile
Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

  • Bottom-quartile procedures (Q25) price at 0.55× the peer BaseRate benchmark
  • Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 0% of shoppable procedures (50/100 Cash Honesty)
  • 2-Star CMS clinical rating with 63% patient recommendation (60/100 safety score)
  • Binding Good Faith Estimate rights under 45 CFR § 149.610 protect self-pay patients before scheduling
Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

  • Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
  • Commercial insurance median sits at 1.05× Fair BaseRate (1.9× Medicare), so insured patients should always compare the self-pay cash price before paying.
  • Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 2.11×) jump +101% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 1.05×)
  • Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 8.3× Medicare (20¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
1.9× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER0.47× Divergence
0.9× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+101% Upper Tail
Q25 0.55× · Q50 1.05× · Q75 2.11×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.
Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×
Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable
1.9× MedicareGood
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
0.7× MedicareGood
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
1.8× MedicareGood
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
2.1× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
0.9× MedicareGood
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
0.8× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
0% Cash Edge · 50/100Elevated
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
2 CMS · 60/100Elevated
National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram

National State Price Index Heatmap · Psychotherapy session (60 minutes)

State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories

<0.93× Below Fair Price 0.93–1.05× Near Average 1.05–1.18× Elevated >1.18× High-Cost State
PR0.77×1.1× MedAR0.80×0.9× MedUT0.80×0.9× MedWV0.80×0.9× MedID0.81×0.9× MedVT0.85×0.9× MedMI0.86×0.9× MedAL0.87×0.9× MedKY0.87×0.9× MedIN0.88×1.0× MedCO0.89×1.0× MedHI0.89×1.0× MedMS0.89×1.0× MedPA0.89×1.0× MedKS0.90×1.0× MedLA0.90×1.0× MedMN0.90×1.0× MedND0.90×1.0× MedSD0.91×1.0× MedNC0.92×1.0× MedNH0.93×1.0× MedTN0.93×1.0× MedNM0.94×1.0× MedWI0.95×1.0× MedOH0.96×1.0× MedOK0.97×1.0× MedVA1.01×1.1× MedFL1.02×1.1× MedTX1.03×1.1× MedCT1.04×1.1× MedNJ1.04×1.1× MedIL1.05×1.1× MedIA1.06×1.1× MedNV1.07×1.2× MedMO1.08×1.2× MedWY1.09×1.2× MedNY1.12×1.2× MedGA1.13×1.2× MedMT1.14×1.2× MedNE1.14×1.2× MedMA1.15×1.2× MedRI1.17×1.3× MedME1.18×1.3× MedOR1.19×1.3× MedWA1.21×1.3× MedDC1.22×1.3× MedDE1.24×1.3× MedCA1.25×1.4× MedAK1.36×1.5× MedAZ1.49×1.6× MedMD1.75×1.9× MedSC1.75×1.9× Med
5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)
PR0.77×(1.1×)AR0.80×(0.9×)UT0.80×(0.9×)WV0.80×(0.9×)ID0.81×(0.9×)
5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)
SC1.75×(1.9×)MD1.75×(1.9×)AZ1.49×(1.6×)AK1.36×(1.5×)CA1.25×(1.4×)
The BaseRate high confidence
$183
the fair national price for a psychotherapy session (60 minutes)
typically $135–$315 across 1,656 hospitals · how we calculate it
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
1,656
hospitals priced
52
states
2.3×
price spread — where shopping matters
1.1×
vs. Medicare

Across 1,656 hospitals in 52 states, a psychotherapy session (60 minutes) has a fair BaseRate of $183 and typically costs $135–$315. The cheapest state is UT; the priciest is SC.

Cheapest hospitals for a psychotherapy session (60 minutes)

Psychotherapy session (60 minutes) cost by state

AK $246 5 hospitals AL $158 21 hospitals AR $145 13 hospitals AZ $269 19 hospitals CA $227 96 hospitals CO $161 43 hospitals CT $188 15 hospitals DC $220 3 hospitals DE $224 4 hospitals FL $184 98 hospitals GA $204 41 hospitals HI $161 11 hospitals IA $192 57 hospitals ID $147 10 hospitals IL $190 65 hospitals IN $159 55 hospitals KS $163 42 hospitals KY $158 25 hospitals LA $162 34 hospitals MA $208 25 hospitals MD $317 3 hospitals ME $213 17 hospitals MI $155 65 hospitals MN $162 50 hospitals MO $195 40 hospitals MS $161 24 hospitals MT $207 8 hospitals NC $166 37 hospitals ND $163 8 hospitals NE $206 34 hospitals NH $168 5 hospitals NJ $189 46 hospitals NM $171 7 hospitals NV $193 13 hospitals NY $202 78 hospitals OH $173 60 hospitals OK $175 35 hospitals OR $215 24 hospitals PA $161 53 hospitals RI $211 4 hospitals SC $317 34 hospitals SD $165 8 hospitals TN $169 36 hospitals TX $187 125 hospitals UT $144 31 hospitals VA $183 23 hospitals VT $154 7 hospitals WA $219 30 hospitals WI $172 54 hospitals WV $144 11 hospitals WY $198 3 hospitals
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%

Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)

Fair BaseRate™ $183
Medicare Rate $106
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $181
Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark
Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines
2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person
Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 501(r) AGB Cap: $158 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $158

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $158).

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Request Prompt-Pay Quote

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target +$251 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $183 Fair BaseRate ($106 Medicare)

Your bill ($434) is $251 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($183) and 4.1× the $106 Medicare rate.

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.