This page is not an argument against hiring. Nine California health centers add a behavioral health workforce platform alongside employed staff. Hiring remains a tool. The comparison is about ramp time, unused salary, turnover, and whether a 4:1 PSR exists.
| Typical FQHC hire | This platform | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to a full caseload | 6-9 months from hire | As fast as 6 weeks from signed contract |
| Cost during ramp | Full salary | $0 until encounters |
| Provider turnover | Roughly 30% | Under 3% |
| FTE on the health-center books | Yes | No |
| Dedicated scheduling | Usually shared front desk | PSRs at 4:1 |
After the operating difference is clear, the cost model for a therapist hire is worth stating as a model, not as audited actuals. An LCSW sticker is about $135K. True annual cost lands near $229K once you load 1.4x benefits and tax, about 0.25 FTE of support (about $11K), an amortized recruiter (about $8K), about 30% turnover, and a 6-9 month ramp. $229K is a therapist / LCSW-LMFT model. It is not a psychiatrist figure. The walkthrough lives on the $229K therapist essay.
Nine active FQHC partners across California. 50,000+ encounters/year (about 950/week). 82% utilization. Under 3% provider turnover. Dedicated Patient Service Representatives at 4:1. Psychiatry wait baseline 15-20 weeks. 14% no-show rate.
The assessment is a short operational benchmark. A conversation is available if you want peers and finance in the room.