99253 Medicaid reimbursement rates by state
Outpatient psychotherapy and diagnostic evaluation. 27 state Medicaid programs publish a fee-for-service rate for 99253 at the physician psychologist level. Rates run from $45.13 in New York to $924.87 in California, with a median of $76.89.
Data as of 2026-10-05. Every rate links to the official document it came from.
- States publishing
- 27
- Median rate
- $76.89units vary by state
- Highest
- $924.87California
- Medicare (non-facility)
- —not on the physician fee schedule
99253 rate in every state
One like-for-like fee-for-service rate per state, highest first. Units can differ between states; the per-hour column converts time-based units.
| State | Medicaid rate | Unit | Per hour | Managed-care plans | % of Medicare | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CaliforniaPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · California Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (DHCS fee schedule for county Mental Health Plans) | $924.87⚠ over 3× mediansince 2026-07-01 | — | — | Paid by the state, outside plans | — | Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Fee Schedules |
| AlabamaPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · Alabama Medicaid (fee-for-service, Alabama Medicaid Agency fee schedules) | $179.81since 2026-09-24 | — | — | Not classified | — | Teaching Facility Fee Schedule |
| New MexicoAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · New Mexico Medicaid (fee-for-service, HCA Medical Assistance Division) | $142.60since 2025-01-01 | — | — | Plans must pay at least this | — | New Mexico Medicaid Fee for Service CPT |
| NebraskaPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · Nebraska Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $125.37since 2026-07-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | Nebraska Medicaid Mental Health and Subs |
| GeorgiaPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · Georgia Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $115.25since 2020-08-14 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | Max Allow Pymt Physician Enhanced Rate C |
| MarylandPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · Maryland Public Behavioral Health System (specialty mental health, SUD and ABA, paid fee-for-service through the Carelon ASO) | $101.55since 2025-08-01 | — | — | Paid by the state, outside plans | — | FY2027 PBHS Fee Schedule – Individual Pr |
| ArkansasAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Arkansas Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $98.56since 2025-05-15 | — | — | Not classified | — | Arkansas Medicaid Oral Surgeon Fee Sched |
| New JerseyAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · New Jersey Medicaid / NJ FamilyCare (fee-for-service) | $94.68since 2025-07-01 | — | — | Plans must pay at least this | — | NJMMIS Procedure Master Listing CPTHCPCS |
| North CarolinaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · North Carolina Medicaid Direct (fee-for-service) | $94.63since 2025-10-01 | — | — | Plans must pay at least this | — | NC Medicaid fee schedule 'ACA Nurse Prac |
| ArizonaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Arizona AHCCCS fee-for-service (AIHP, Tribal ALTCS, TRBHA and other FFS members) | $92.94since 2026-10-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | AHCCCS Arizona Health Care Cost Containm |
| MississippiAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Mississippi Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $84.53since 2026-07-01 | — | — | Plans must pay at least this | — | DOM Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Septembe |
| TexasPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · Texas Medicaid (fee-for-service, TMHP) | $83.75since 2021-11-17 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | TMHP Texas Medicaid Fee Schedule - Physi |
| PennsylvaniaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (fee-for-service) | $78.42since 2023-06-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | PA DHS PROMISe Outpatient Fee Schedule ( |
| FloridaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Florida Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $76.89since 2026-01-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | Practitioner Fee Schedule (2026-01-01) |
| MinnesotaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Minnesota Health Care Programs: Medical Assistance (fee-for-service) | $75.83since 2026-02-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | MHCP Fee Schedule - Current Fee Schedule |
| NevadaPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · Nevada Medicaid (fee-for-service provider-type reimbursement schedules) | $74.77since 2015-07-01 | — | — | Plans must pay at least this | — | Provider Type 77 Physician's Assistant R |
| KentuckyAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Kentucky Medicaid (fee-for-service, DMS fee schedules) | $74.75since 2020-01-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | KY Medicaid Physician fee schedule (2020 |
| MassachusettsAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · MassHealth (fee-for-service, EOHHS 101 CMR rate regulations) | $73.87since 2026-10-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | Emergency Adoption (date filed: Septembe |
| South CarolinaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $73.18since 2024-07-01 | — | — | Not classified | — | SCDHHS Base Physician Fee Schedule (sche |
| VirginiaAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Virginia Medicaid (fee-for-service, DMAS) | $71.23since 2026-07-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | DMAS procedure fee file cptmedical4.csv |
| WashingtonAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) fee-for-service | $68.82since 2026-07-01 | — | — | Plans must pay at least this | — | HCA Enhanced adult primary care fee sche |
| ConnecticutAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Connecticut Medicaid / HUSKY Health (fee-for-service, CMAP) | $66.93since 2012-01-01 | — | — | Not classified | — | CMAP fee schedule: Physician Office and |
| WisconsinAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus (fee-for-service, ForwardHealth maximum allowable fees) | $63.42since 2020-01-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | ForwardHealth max fee schedule: Medical- |
| MichiganAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Michigan Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $63.05since 2026-01-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | MDHHS Vision Fee Schedule database, Janu |
| OhioAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Ohio Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $57.28since 2024-01-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | Appendix DD to OAC 5160-1-60 (Non-Instit |
| IllinoisAny qualified provider (rate does not vary by provider) · Illinois Medicaid (HFS fee-for-service) | $46.45since 2014-10-01 | — | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | HFS Podiatrist Fee Schedule (effective 2 |
| New YorkPhysician or licensed psychologist (incl. BCBA-D) · New York Medicaid (fee-for-service) | $45.13since 2023-01-01 | unit | — | Plans negotiate; applies out of network | — | eMedNY Physician Fee Schedule Sect 2 (Me |
Rates marked ⚠ are more than three times the median for the same unit; they are published as shown but often reflect an office (non-facility) fee or a different scope of service. Rates are per the unit shown for each state; units can differ between states. Medicare amounts are computed from the CMS relative value file and locality cost indices with the CMS formula; states with several Medicare localities show a range. Confirm rates with the payer before billing.
Frequently asked questions
What does Medicaid pay for 99253?
It depends on the state. Of the 27 states with a published fee-for-service rate, the median is $76.89. California pays the most ($924.87) and New York the least ($45.13 per unit).
Which state pays the highest Medicaid rate for 99253?
California, at $924.87, effective 2026-07-01.
Do managed-care plans pay the same rate for 99253?
Not necessarily. Each state's plan contracts decide whether plans must pay at least the fee-for-service rate, pay a state-set rate, or negotiate their own. The table shows the rule for each state, cited to the contract or statute.
Related Behavioral health codes
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Track 99253 in your statesYour codes on one rate card: every payer's rule, Medicare comparison, rank and rate changes.