Want to know what other private practice therapists in Nebraska charge? The
Association of Private Practice Therapists conducted a survey of its members between July and September 2008, receiving 48 responses.
To give you an idea of the background of those responding, 30 percent of therapists have been practicing for 1-5 years; 20 percent for 6-10 years; and 17 percent for 11-15 years. Another 17 percent have been in practice more than 25 years. Please note that survey responses may be skewed towards younger, more technologically savvy therapists, as the survey was administered online.
The majority of therapists who completed the survey are masters degreed therapists -- 76 percent practice as a LMHP, LCSW, LMFT, or LIMHP. Another 14 percent have a Ph.D. but practice as a LMHP. Four percent practice as a Ph.D., while 6 percent are provisionally licensed.
The size of practice environments represented in the survey responses were quite diverse:
- 27 percent are solo practitioners
- 25 percent are in a group of 1-3 other therapists
- 17 percent practice with 4-6 therapists
- 27 percent practice in a group of 7-10 other therapists.
Nearly half of respondents (45 percent) rent their own office and practice independently. Twenty-three percent rent office space from a group practice. Another 21 percent share office space with a practice group but share expenses and have an ownership role.
Despite declining insurance reimbursement rates, therapists continue to rely on managed care and insurance for the majority of their practice income. Eighty-eight percent of therapists report that less than a quarter of their income is from private pay. Only one therapist derives more than 75 percent of his/her income from private pay sources.
Therapists reported an average fee of
$107.34 for an individual session. Fees ranged from a low of $60 to a high of $150, with $95 as of the most-cited fee (23 percent).
When asked the highest fee they are paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session, the average was $97.69 (91 percent of the average "standard" fee).
With insurance or managed care, therapists report an average "lowest fee" of $53.05 for an individual session, just under half of the average "regular" session fee.
The "lowest" fee paid by an insurance or managed care company was reported to be $30, with $60 the most often-cited lowest fee.
When it comes to couples/family sessions, the average "standard" fee is
$119.02, with a low of $65 and a high of $210.
The responses for the highest fee reimbursed by managed care sessions for couples and family sessions ranged from $65 to $175, with an average of $102.42 (86 percent of the standard fee).
The lowest managed care fee for a couple or family session was $59.45, with lowest fees ranging from $30 to $110.
Therapists were asked to describe changes that affected their change in income. Among those citing an increase in practice income, taking on more clients ("working more!") was the most often-given reason. To attract new clients, therapists report doing more consulting/supervision, incorporating in "niche" treatment options, doing more work in the legal system (especially DUIs), networking more, and generating EAP referrals.
For those who reported a decrease in practice income, higher operating expenses and lower reimbursement rates are the key factors, although variability in client load, an increased number of clients who are unable to pay copayments or deductibles (or without insurance entirely), and fewer private pay clients were also cited by numerous respondents. Other factors were therapists who were out of the office with an illness for a period of time and those who decided not to accept new Medicaid clients.
Other relevant statistics:
Number of hours (on average) therapists report seeing clients and performing administrative tasks:- Fewer than 10 hours - 6 percent
- 11-20 hours - 10 percent
- 21-30 hours - 27 percent
- 31-40 hours - 21 percent
- 41-50 hours - 21 percent
- More than 50 hours - 13 percent
- Other - 2 percent
Changes in practice income during the past two years (2006-07):- No change - 27 percent
- Decrease of 1-25% - 23 percent
- Decrease of 25-50% - 6 percent
- Decrease of over 50% - None
- Increase of 1-25% - 38 percent
- Increase of 25-50% - 6 percent
- Increase of over 50% - None
Average "standard" fee charged:- $90 - 9 percent
- $95 - 23 percent
- $100 - 11 percent
- $110 - 19 percent
- $120 - 9 percent
- $125 - 9 percent
© 2008, Association of Private Practice Therapists. Please contact the APPT Administrator at (402) 393-4600 if you would like permission to reprint these results. For membership information, visit privatepractice.org.
