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California

Cost of a Psychiatric Evaluation Visit
in California

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

California's severe psychiatrist shortage creates significant access barriers, with roughly half the per-capita mental health specialists needed statewide. Patients in California typically pay between $80 and $267 for a psychiatric evaluation, with a median of $267 based on negotiated rates across insurers. California has 274 active psychiatrists with rates filed for diagnostic evaluations with medical services, and patients can browse all psychiatric evaluation providers in California to compare costs and availability.

Average

$205

Median

$267

Lowest

$81

Highest

$267

Providers

274

National avg: $217California: $205

6% below national average

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Compare Similar Procedures

How does psychiatric evaluation compare to related procedures in California?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Family Medicine Visit

Standard office visit with a family medicine physician

99214$70$140$2501,828
Internal Medicine Visit

Standard office visit with an internist

99214$80$85$2502,792

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 90792 — Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 90792 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 90792 (Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 90792 covers: the provider's professional fee for psychiatric evaluation. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Why Psychiatric Evaluation Visit Costs Vary Across California

California's high cost of living and severe psychiatrist shortage create dramatic pricing disparities, particularly between coastal metropolitan areas and inland counties. The state has roughly half the per-capita psychiatrist supply needed, with major access gaps in rural and Central Valley communities.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

California's geography creates major access disparities between urban and rural areas for psychiatric services. The Bay Area and Los Angeles have hundreds of psychiatrists, while inland counties like Imperial, Kings, and Lassen have fewer than five psychiatrists each. This supply imbalance drives up costs in underserved areas and creates long wait times for initial evaluations.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based outpatient psychiatry departments typically charge higher rates than independent practices due to facility overhead and administrative costs. Large health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Dignity Health dominate California's market and often have higher negotiated rates than solo practitioners. Academic medical centers associated with UC campuses and private medical schools also tend toward the higher end of the cost range.

Insurance Market Competition in California

California's relatively concentrated insurance market affects negotiated rate variations across the state. The competitive dynamic between major health plans influences psychiatric evaluation pricing, with some insurers achieving better rates through volume contracting. Regional variations exist based on local market penetration and provider network adequacy requirements.

Physician Supply and Demand in California

California has 274 active psychiatrists with filed negotiated rates, representing a fraction of the estimated 7,000 psychiatrists needed statewide. This severe shortage drives up pricing power for existing providers and contributes to the $267 median cost being 44% above national averages. Wait times for new patient appointments often exceed eight weeks in many California counties, creating additional pressure on pricing.

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Cost by Procedure Type

Psychiatric Evaluation can be billed under different CPT codes depending on what's done during the procedure in California.

CPT 90791347 providers

CPT 90791

$267
Range: $80 – $267
CPT 90792274 providers

CPT 90792

$267
Range: $81 – $267

Costs shown are median negotiated rates. Your actual cost depends on your insurance plan and provider.

JP

Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Psychiatric Evaluation Costs in California

What is the average cost of a psychiatric evaluation in California without insurance?

Psychiatric evaluations in California cost between $80 and $267 without insurance, with a median of $267 for diagnostic evaluations that include medical services. California rates run roughly 44% above the national median of $186, driven by high cost of living and severe psychiatrist shortage statewide. The final cost depends on the provider type, with hospital-based psychiatrists typically charging toward the higher end of the range.

Does Medi-Cal cover psychiatric evaluations in California?

Yes, Medi-Cal covers psychiatric evaluations as medically necessary services for eligible beneficiaries. Specialty mental health services are typically delivered through county mental health plans for patients with serious mental illness, while general psychiatric evaluations may be covered through regular Medi-Cal managed care plans. Prior authorization may be required depending on the specific evaluation type and provider.

How do I find an affordable psychiatric evaluation in California?

Compare costs across different provider types, as independent practices often charge less than hospital-based clinics. Community mental health centers and federally qualified health centers offer sliding-scale fees based on income. Telepsychiatry options may provide access to lower-cost providers in other California regions, and many psychiatrists offer cash-pay discounts for uninsured patients.

What is the difference between CPT 90791 and 90792?

CPT 90791 is a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation without medical services, typically used by therapists and psychologists who cannot prescribe medication. CPT 90792 includes medical services and is used by psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who can prescribe medications and address medical aspects of mental health. Both codes have similar costs in California, with medians around $267.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a psychiatric evaluation in California?

Yes, both Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts cover psychiatric evaluations as qualified medical expenses. This benefit is particularly valuable for patients with high-deductible health plans who pay the full $267 cost initially before meeting their deductible. Keep receipts and documentation for HSA/FSA reimbursement purposes.

How does telepsychiatry affect the cost of psychiatric evaluations in California?

California requires insurance parity for telepsychiatry, meaning insurers must cover virtual psychiatric evaluations at the same rate as in-person visits. Telepsychiatry has significantly expanded access in underserved California counties and may offer access to providers with lower overhead costs. The negotiated rates are typically the same whether the evaluation is conducted virtually or in-person.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$120
$418

Office visit (CPT 90792)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage↓
1California
Range: $81 – $267
$205
Psychiatric Evaluation in Other States