Area Insights
Therapy practice market data for North Carolina 28277
ZIP 28277 in North Carolina scores 52 out of 100 (Watchlist) for starting or growing a therapy practice. The area has 73,882 residents, 95% of them insured, and 214 registered therapists. Medicare pays $158.92 for a 60-minute therapy session here.
Opportunity score
52/100
Population
73,882
Median income
$128,627
Insured residents
94.6%
Therapists
214
Therapists per 10K
29.0
Medicare 90837
$158.92
HPSA status
Possible
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 28277?
Of 73,882 residents in 28277, 62.5% hold employer-based coverage, 3.2% are covered by Medicaid, 10.5% by Medicare, 11.5% buy marketplace plans, and 5.4% are uninsured. Payer mix decides what a practice actually collects, so credential where the coverage is.
| Employer-based | 62.5% |
| Medicaid | 3.2% |
| Medicare | 10.5% |
| Marketplace | 11.5% |
| Uninsured | 5.4% |
How many therapists already practice in 28277?
The National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) lists 273 behavioral health providers in 28277: 214 therapists, 51 psychologists, and 8 psychiatrists. That is 29.0 therapists per 10,000 residents, which reads as saturated supply for a market this size.
What does Medicare pay for therapy in 28277?
Medicare's Physician Fee Schedule for the NORTH CAROLINA locality pays $158.92 for a 60-minute psychotherapy session (CPT code 90837), $108.28 for a 45-minute session (90834), and $164.78 for an initial diagnostic evaluation (90791).
| CPT code | Session type | Medicare rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90791 | Initial diagnostic evaluation | $164.78 |
| 90834 | 45-minute psychotherapy | $108.28 |
| 90837 | 60-minute psychotherapy | $158.92 |
| 90847 | Family therapy (patient present) | $105.01 |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy | $28.82 |
Is 28277 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. A county-level designation exists in this county, but local provider density makes qualification at addresses in 28277 unlikely. Verify with HRSA if the incentives matter to your plan.
Nearby ZIPs that score higher
Go deeper on 28277
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 28277.
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 2026-02-14T23:24:47.925Z.