Speech-language therapy: Medicaid rates by state
6 states publish a Medicaid rate for speech-language therapy, compared at the therapist slp level. The median is $72.16 per hour; per hour, rates range from $30.84 in New Jersey to $198.64 in New Mexico.
- States
- 6
- Median per hour
- $72.16
- Highest
- $198.64New Mexico
- Lowest
- $30.84New Jersey
- Rates on file
- 4,921
Speech-language therapy: highest and lowest states
Headline rate per state for the same provider level, converted to an hour.
How speech-language therapy is compared
States publish speech-language therapy under their own codes, modifiers and units. To compare them, this page picks the rate in each state that matches the same service and provider level.
- Provider level. States are compared at the speech-language pathologist level. Rates for other levels on file (physician or licensed psychologist, therapy assistant, any qualified provider and case manager / support coordinator) are kept separate, never mixed into this ranking.
- Unit. All 6 states publish their headline rate per 15 min, so the amounts compare directly. The ranking converts every time-based rate to an hour of service, so states that bill by the 15 minutes and by the hour compare directly.
- Variants. 6 of the 6 states publish more than one rate for this service (by modifier, program, setting or provider type); the headline rate is the one that matches the comparison, and the workspace lists every variant.
- Depth. 4,921 rates for this service are on file across all states, versions and provider levels; this page shows one headline rate per state.
Why speech-language therapy rates differ between states
The highest-paying state, New Mexico, pays $198.64 per hour; the lowest, New Jersey, pays $30.84 per hour, a 6.4x gap. 3 of the 6 states pay above the median of $72.16 per hour. Common reasons rates for therapy (PT/OT/speech) services spread this way:
- Visit limits, prior authorization and annual caps vary by state and change how much a single code is worth to a practice.
- States pay therapy by CPT code, but many pay therapy assistants a reduced percentage and some pay differently in outpatient hospital, private practice and home settings.
- Children's therapy is driven by the EPSDT benefit, so some states maintain separate pediatric rates or programs.
Billing notes
Many treatment codes are timed in 15-minute units, while evaluations and re-evaluations are billed once per session. Medicare applies a rule for counting timed minutes into units; Medicaid programs may follow it or set their own, so check the state's therapy manual.
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays the most for speech-language therapy?
New Mexico: $49.66 per 15 min ($198.64 per hour).
Which state pays the least for speech-language therapy?
New Jersey: $7.71 per 15 min ($30.84 per hour).
What is the average Medicaid rate for speech-language therapy?
Across 6 states the median is $72.16 per hour, comparing the same provider level in each state. 3 states pay above it.
How are the states compared?
One headline rate per state, matched on the service and the speech-language pathologist level and converted to an hour of service. Rates for other provider levels and add-ons are not mixed in.
What unit is speech-language therapy billed in?
All 6 states publish it per 15 min, so the amounts compare directly.
Do managed-care plans pay these rates?
It depends on the state. Each state's managed-care page shows whether plans must pay at least the published rate, follow a state-set rate, or negotiate their own for this service line.