What Does Music Therapy Cost Early Intervention Programs?
So you’re interested in a music therapy program for your Early Intervention program. What will it cost?
If you’re looking to include music therapy in your early intervention program there are a few things to consider that will influence the overall cost. But we can give you a pretty good idea of the number you’d be looking at for your investment here so you can be well informed in the decision making process.
Factors to consider when calculating rates include type of service, quantity of service, scheduling, and commute/travel time. Here’s a little info on each.
Factors Influencing Cost of Music Therapy Services
#1 Type of Service (Group vs. Individual)
As shown in the tables below, different costs are associated with the type of service provided. Groups will enable you to reach more of your patients simultaneously, so they will give you more bang for your buck. However in some cases groups may be less effective for some patients who need 1:1 attention. In those cases, we recommend individual services or consultation.
Base Rates for Music Therapy (subject to change based on factors listed below)
| Session Type | Per Session Rate |
|---|---|
| 30 min Individual | $65 |
| 60 min Consultation | $90 |
| 45 min Group | $90 |
Rates for group sessions are more per hour but less per child. If you’re wondering what’s best for your clients we are happy to help you look at options. You can also check out our article “Two Powerful Ways to Utilize Music Therapy in Early Intervention”.
#2 Quantity of Services
The nice thing about contracting with a music therapist is that you can dip your toe in to see if you like the water without immersing yourself right away. Most programs want to get a taste of what they’re getting before they really jump in, and starting with one or two groups is a great way to do that.
The more back to back sessions you schedule (starting at 3 or more), the lower the per session rate will be. But take note that in order for the cost to decrease based on quantity, the sessions must be scheduled back to back, which leads us to the next point: scheduling.
#3 Scheduling
Two or more back to back groups will cost less than if each group is scheduled at different times throughout the week. If a therapist invests time and mileage to get to your facility multiple times during the week then the base rates will apply with no quantity discount.
So if possible, we highly recommend scheduling multiple sessions while the therapist is already with you. It will directly reduce your cost and deliver more value over time.
#4 Commute and Travel Time
As can be expected, the longer our commute, the more the services will cost. At Harmony, or commute calculator applies for facilities who are outside a 20 mile radius from our central office in Sandy, Utah. If you’re curious what that looks like for you, just let us know and we will calculate your rate.
Other Options
After considering all of these factors, there still may be other options available for your particular business. For example, some companies contract for an hourly rate that covers sessions as well as time for charting and prep.
In these cases we are generally spending more time at the facility (such as a 6-8 hour day), and only charge per hour as opposed to per session. We calculate these rates with each individual facility based on their unique criteria.
If you want to find out what kind of investment music therapy would be for your company, call us to get a quote! We’ll talk with you about the factors listed above and get back with you with a rate proposal.
Then you can get started with the exciting process of including music therapy in your program!
