Area Insights
Therapy practice market data for Washington 98251
ZIP 98251 in Washington scores 61 out of 100 (Moderate Opportunity) for starting or growing a therapy practice. The area has 4,907 residents, 94% of them insured, and 2 registered therapists. Medicare pays $165.24 for a 60-minute therapy session here.
Opportunity score
61/100
Population
4,907
Median income
$83,891
Insured residents
94.2%
Therapists
2
Therapists per 10K
4.1
Medicare 90837
$165.24
HPSA status
Designated
The Practice Opportunity Score weighs market demand, provider supply, Medicare reimbursement, and shortage-area incentives. It assumes a Master's-level credential; adjust the credential in the interactive report.
Who insures the people in 98251?
Of 4,907 residents in 98251, 49.6% hold employer-based coverage, 14.3% are covered by Medicaid, 11.8% by Medicare, 7.8% buy marketplace plans, and 5.8% are uninsured. Payer mix decides what a practice actually collects, so credential where the coverage is.
| Employer-based | 49.6% |
| Medicaid | 14.3% |
| Medicare | 11.8% |
| Marketplace | 7.8% |
| Uninsured | 5.8% |
How many therapists already practice in 98251?
The National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) lists 2 behavioral health providers in 98251: 2 therapists, 0 psychologists, and 0 psychiatrists. That is 4.1 therapists per 10,000 residents, which reads as competitive supply for a market this size.
What does Medicare pay for therapy in 98251?
Medicare's Physician Fee Schedule for the REST OF WASHINGTON locality pays $165.24 for a 60-minute psychotherapy session (CPT code 90837), $112.66 for a 45-minute session (90834), and $171.64 for an initial diagnostic evaluation (90791).
| CPT code | Session type | Medicare rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90791 | Initial diagnostic evaluation | $171.64 |
| 90834 | 45-minute psychotherapy | $112.66 |
| 90837 | 60-minute psychotherapy | $165.24 |
| 90847 | Family therapy (patient present) | $107.84 |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy | $30.04 |
Is 98251 a federal shortage area?
A Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) is a federal designation for areas with too few mental health providers. Practicing in one can qualify clinicians for a 10% Medicare bonus and loan repayment programs. 98251 carries a ZIP-confirmed mental health designation, so those incentives apply here.
Go deeper on 98251
The interactive report adds carrier rankings, demographics, credential-adjusted rates, and a playbook for this market. And if the market looks good, Aria runs eligibility checks and billing follow-up for practices like the ones serving 98251.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-year estimates, the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) provider registry, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) shortage designations, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule. Last refreshed 2026-02-15T00:43:46.804Z.