Second Desk pricing

Hourly rates for behavioral health virtual assistants · Updated November 9, 2026

Medical virtual assistant cost at Second Desk

A trained Second Desk assistant costs $14 per hour on the full-time plan of 40 hours per week, or $16 per hour part time with a 20 hour weekly minimum. Estimate your own cost with the VA vs in-house cost calculator.

How much does a medical virtual assistant cost per week and per 4 weeks?

At the published rates, the part-time minimum is $320 per week and full time is $560 per week.

How the math works: 20 hours x $16 = $320 per week, and 4 weeks x $320 = $1,280. 40 hours x $14 = $560 per week, and 4 weeks x $560 = $2,240. A calendar month can include more than 4 weeks of hours.

What do you get for the hourly rate?

Second Desk provides trained virtual assistants for therapists and behavioral health practices and programs. Assistants handle intake calls, benefits checks, prior authorizations and scheduling. They are based primarily in the Philippines and Latin America, trained for US time zones, and work inside your existing systems, including your EHR and payer portals. They follow our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows. You pay by the hour: $16 part time or $14 full time.

• Behavioral health-trained assistants
• Benefits verification and prior authorization for psychiatric medication
• Intake and scheduling
• Backup coverage
• Playbooks for common EHRs

Who is Second Desk for?

Behavioral health practices and programs that need reliable front-office and billing support, including therapy practices that want an assistant trained on behavioral health payers and intake.

What work stays with your licensed staff?

Your clinicians keep this work:

• Clinical judgment and clinical decisions
• Crisis triage and calls from clients in distress
• Clinical notes
• Diagnosis and clinical history

How does hiring an assistant work?

1. Tell us the role: tasks, systems and hours.
2. Meet candidates: we introduce trained candidates within a week.
3. Start working: your assistant follows our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a medical virtual assistant cost with Second Desk?

Part time is $16 per hour with a 20 hour weekly minimum. Full time is $14 per hour for 40 hours per week. After the first 30 days, it is month to month.

Is there a minimum number of hours?

Part time has a 20 hour weekly minimum. Full time is 40 hours per week.

How much does an assistant cost per week?

At the published rates, the 20 hour part time minimum is $320 per week at $16 per hour, and 40 full time hours are $560 per week at $14 per hour.

To add your management time and compare an in-house salary, try the VA vs in-house cost calculator.

Is there a contract?

Month to month after the first 30 days.

Where are assistants based?

Primarily the Philippines and Latin America as offshore staff, trained for US time zones, with HIPAA training and signed agreements.

What systems do assistants work in?

Assistants work inside your existing systems, including your EHR and payer portals, and bring playbooks for common EHRs. They follow your workflows.

Can assistants work in US time zones?

Yes. Assistants are trained for US time zones, and you set the hours when you describe the role.

How do we get started?

Tell us the role, tasks, systems and hours. We introduce trained candidates within a week. Your assistant then works inside your systems, following our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows. After the first 30 days, it is month to month.

How soon can we meet a candidate?

We introduce trained candidates within a week of hearing the role, tasks, systems and hours you need.

For the steps an assistant follows, read the guide to virtual assistants for therapy practices. For prior authorization for psychiatric medication, use the prior authorization psychiatric medication workflow.