Benchmarks
Mental Health financial benchmarks
How does your mental health practice compare? Key metrics cited to specialty association data and cross-checked against Sorso client engagements.
Benchmarks are published industry ranges and Sorso-observed ranges from our client engagements. They are directional, not prescriptive — use them as a starting point for diagnosis, not a target.
Data reflects 2024 reporting cycles where available, with 2023 data used when a newer survey has not yet been published.
Profit Margin
15%
Range: 10%–22%
Overhead Ratio
80%
Range: 75%–85%
Revenue / Provider
$150K–$300K
Annual range
Collection Rate
88%
Range: 85%–92%
Denial Rate
15%
Range: 12%–20%
A/R Days
40 days
Range: 30–55 days
Source: Industry benchmarks compiled from MGMA, specialty association surveys, and practice management databases. Updated 2026.
How your practice compares
Where the money goes
| Category | % | Description |
|---|---|---|
| staffing | 52% | Clinical and administrative staff wages, benefits, and payroll taxes |
| rent | 12% | Facility lease, utilities, and maintenance costs |
| supplies | 3% | Clinical supplies, office supplies, and consumables |
| equipment | 4% | Equipment leases, maintenance, and depreciation |
| marketing | 8% | Digital advertising, website, patient acquisition |
| insurance | 6% | Malpractice, general liability, and property insurance |
| Other | 15% | IT, professional fees, continuing education, miscellaneous |
Payer mix
Typical payer distribution for mental health practices. A balanced payer mix reduces dependency on any single source and improves revenue predictability.
Collection rates by payer
What top performers look like
Profit Margin
28%+ (APA Practice Research Network, 2024)
Collection Rate
93%+ (SAMHSA Behavioral Health Workforce data, 2024)
Denial Rate
< 8% (APA Practice Research Network, 2024)
A/R Days
< 28 days (MGMA DataDive: Behavioral Health, 2024)
KPIs specific to mental health
| KPI | Benchmark | Description |
|---|---|---|
| No-Show / Late Cancel Rate | < 12% (APA Practice Research Network, 2024) | Percentage of missed appointments; mental health has higher rates than most specialties |
| Sessions per Provider per Week | 25–32 (SAMHSA Behavioral Health Workforce, 2024) | Weekly patient session volume per clinician; balances throughput with burnout prevention |
| Credentialing Turnaround (Days) | 60–90 (MGMA DataDive: Behavioral Health, 2024) | Time to get a new provider credentialed with insurance panels; delays cost revenue |
| Telehealth Utilization Rate | 40–60% (SAMHSA; APA Telehealth Tracker, 2024) | Percentage of sessions delivered via telehealth; reduces overhead and expands reach |
From Sorso
In the behavioral health groups Sorso works with, denial rates above 15% almost always trace to credentialing lag and payer-specific code rules — not clinical documentation.
Sources
- American Psychological Association (APA) — Practice Research Network (2024)
- SAMHSA — Behavioral Health Workforce data (2024)
- MGMA DataDive — Cost & Revenue: Behavioral Health slice (2024)
- CMS Medicare data — behavioral health utilization (2024)
Data reflects the latest available specialty association and MGMA reports through 2025; re-verified April 2026.
Founder of Sorso. 18 years in corporate finance. Managed a $450M loan portfolio before building a fractional CFO firm exclusively for healthcare clinics.
Want to see where your practice falls?
Take our free financial health assessment and get a personalized comparison against these benchmarks.
Get your free assessment