Area Insights
Therapy practice market data for Texas 78521
ZIP 78521 in Texas scores 52 out of 100 (Watchlist) for starting or growing a therapy practice. The area has 87,380 residents, 69% of them insured, and 51 registered therapists. Medicare pays $159.71 for a 60-minute therapy session here.
Opportunity score
52/100
Population
87,380
Median income
$44,509
Insured residents
69.3%
Therapists
51
Therapists per 10K
5.8
Medicare 90837
$159.71
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 78521?
Of 87,380 residents in 78521, 20.8% hold employer-based coverage, 24.7% are covered by Medicaid, 8.3% by Medicare, 6.7% buy marketplace plans, and 30.7% are uninsured. Payer mix decides what a practice actually collects, so credential where the coverage is.
| Employer-based | 20.8% |
| Medicaid | 24.7% |
| Medicare | 8.3% |
| Marketplace | 6.7% |
| Uninsured | 30.7% |
How many therapists already practice in 78521?
The National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) lists 56 behavioral health providers in 78521: 51 therapists, 1 psychologists, and 4 psychiatrists. That is 5.8 therapists per 10,000 residents, which reads as saturated supply for a market this size.
What does Medicare pay for therapy in 78521?
Medicare's Physician Fee Schedule for the REST OF TEXAS locality pays $159.71 for a 60-minute psychotherapy session (CPT code 90837), $108.88 for a 45-minute session (90834), and $165.64 for an initial diagnostic evaluation (90791).
| CPT code | Session type | Medicare rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90791 | Initial diagnostic evaluation | $165.64 |
| 90834 | 45-minute psychotherapy | $108.88 |
| 90837 | 60-minute psychotherapy | $159.71 |
| 90847 | Family therapy (patient present) | $105.39 |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy | $29.03 |
Is 78521 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. 78521 carries a ZIP-confirmed mental health designation, so those incentives apply here.
Nearby ZIPs that score higher
Go deeper on 78521
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 78521.
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 2026-02-15T00:18:37.623Z.