NAICS 621420 Quarterly Industry Report
Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 621420Sector: Health Care and Social Assistance (62)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (NAICS 621420) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[10], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], SAMHSA[7], and SBA size standards database[8]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, behavioral health investors, and healthcare analysts with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers industry.
NAICS Sector
62
Health Care and Social Assistance
Industry Definition & Overview
Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (NAICS 621420) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing outpatient services related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders and alcohol and other substance abuse per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Centers may provide counseling, therapeutic intervention, medication-assisted treatment, and crisis stabilization on a day or outpatient basis. Covered establishments include outpatient mental health clinics, community mental health centers, alcoholism treatment centers, and drug addiction treatment facilities.
Roughly 15,313 establishments employ approximately 269,000 workers per Census data and the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. Market size reached $31.4 billion in 2024 with 7.2 percent annual growth. About 23.4 percent of U.S. adults - roughly 59.3 million people - experienced mental illness in 2022, yet only 52 percent received any treatment per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration[7]. Acadia Healthcare operates as one of the largest behavioral health facility operators with over 260 locations, while Universal Health Services, Promises Behavioral Health, and Community Health Systems maintain substantial outpatient networks.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], the size standard is $16.5 million in average annual receipts. Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 26.4 percent through 2034 per the BLS[9]. State licensing requirements for behavioral health facilities vary, with 46 states requiring certification. SAMHSA oversees federal grant programs including the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs using buprenorphine and methadone have expanded sharply, with DEA registration required for opioid treatment programs. Telehealth delivery of behavioral health services has become standard, with virtual mental health visits representing roughly 37 percent of all behavioral health encounters.
What's Included in This Industry
- Outpatient mental health counseling and therapy programs
- Substance abuse and addiction treatment day programs
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder
- Crisis stabilization and emergency psychiatric intervention
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP) behavioral health services
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP) day treatment
- Group therapy and psychoeducation session delivery
- Community mental health center grant-funded operations
- Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders
- Telehealth behavioral health consultation services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Health Care and Social Assistance | 62 |
| Subsector | Ambulatory Health Care Services | 621 |
| Industry Group | Outpatient Care Centers | 6214 |
| NAICS Industry | Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | 62142 |
| National Industry | Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | 621420 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 621330 | Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | Offices of Mental Health Practitioners provide individual and group therapy through private practice settings, while outpatient centers deliver higher-intensity programs including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment for more severe conditions |
| 621112 | Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists | Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists employ psychiatrists who prescribe medication and provide evaluation, with outpatient centers serving as referral destinations for patients requiring structured treatment programs beyond individual office visits |
| 622210 | Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals provide inpatient stabilization for patients whose conditions exceed outpatient management, with hospital discharge planning creating referral flow to outpatient centers for step-down continuing care |
| 624120 | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities address aging populations with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse needs, with geriatric behavioral health programs coordinating between disability services and outpatient treatment centers |
| 624190 | Other Individual and Family Services | Other Individual and Family Services provide social support programs that complement clinical treatment, with case management, housing assistance, and family counseling services coordinating with outpatient behavioral health centers |
| 621410 | Family Planning Centers | Family Planning Centers serve patient populations with co-occurring reproductive health and behavioral health needs, with substance abuse treatment programs coordinating care for pregnant and postpartum patients |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9.8% | 1,562 |
| 2 | Florida | 5.2% | 832 |
| 3 | Ohio | 4.6% | 732 |
| 4 | New York | 4.3% | 683 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 4.1% | 654 |
| 6 | Texas | 3.9% | 614 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 3.6% | 577 |
| 8 | Illinois | 3.4% | 542 |
| 9 | Arizona | 3.3% | 518 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 3.2% | 511 |
% Of Establishments
0%
10%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
920
Total SBA Loans
$372.8M
Total Loan Volume
$405K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.49%
Average Interest Rate
14,832
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (NAICS 621420) has a size standard of $16.5 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[11] support facility acquisition, treatment program expansion, and clinical technology investment for qualifying behavioral health center operators. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[12] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[13] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 48 | $41.1M | $857K |
| 2 | FWBank | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 2 | Mission Valley Bank | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 4 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 72 | $24.9M | $346K |
| 5 | Northeast Bank | 112 | $22.0M | $196K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for outpatient mental health centers?
NAICS 621420 covers outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers providing counseling, therapeutic intervention, medication-assisted treatment, and crisis stabilization per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
How large is the outpatient behavioral health market?
Roughly 15,313 establishments employ approximately 269,000 workers, with market size reaching $31.4 billion in 2024 and 7.2 percent annual growth per Census Bureau[10] and industry data.
What is the SBA size standard for outpatient mental health centers?
The SBA size standard[8] is $16.5 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How many Americans experience mental illness?
About 23.4 percent of U.S. adults - roughly 59.3 million people - experienced mental illness in 2022, yet only 52 percent received any treatment per SAMHSA[7] national survey data.
What is the job outlook for behavioral health counselors?
Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 26.4 percent through 2034 per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], far exceeding the average for all occupations.
What licensing do outpatient behavioral health centers require?
State licensing requirements vary, with 46 states requiring facility certification per state health department regulations. SAMHSA oversees federal programs, and DEA registration is required for opioid treatment programs providing medication-assisted treatment.
How common is telehealth in behavioral health centers?
Virtual mental health visits represent roughly 37 percent of all behavioral health encounters per community health analysis data, with telehealth delivery becoming a standard service channel following pandemic-era adoption.
Who are the largest outpatient behavioral health operators?
Acadia Healthcare operates over 260 locations as one of the largest behavioral health facility operators per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] industry data, with Universal Health Services and Community Health Systems maintaining additional networks.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration samhsa.gov
- [8]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [9]BLS bls.gov
- [10]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [11]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [12]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [13]504 loans sba.gov
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