Virtual mental health and addiction care provider Forge Health is expanding its oncology program to address the intersection of mental health and cancer care.
Patients will be able to access behavioral health services in-person and virtually. The service is designed to meet the needs of individuals who are undergoing oncology treatment, as well as providing counseling for caregivers.
The program will have a particular focus on treating first responders and veterans whose cancer is connected to their exposure to hazardous material.
“Our team is deeply rooted in the commitment to serve veterans and first responders, a mission integral to Forge Health’s founding ethos,” Eric Golnick, CEO of Forge Health’s Veteran and First Responder division, said in a statement. “From our inception, we’ve dedicated ourselves to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by those who have served. As someone who actively championed the PACT Act and as a veteran, I’ve witnessed the toll that burn pit exposure has taken on my peers—too many of whom are now battling cancer. Our program not only acknowledges but embodies this dedication, committing to delivering the respect, care, and support that they, and all who have served, rightfully deserve.”
White Plains, New York-based Forge Health is a hybrid care provider that treats mental health and substance use disorders. The company uses a value-based care model and uses multidisciplinary care teams and patient analytics to streamline care for patients with comorbidities.
The company closed a $10 million funding round in 2020, bringing its total funding to over $22.1 million.
The company made the Inc. 5000 list in 2022, with revenue increasing by 800% from 2018 to 2022.
Payers and providers are increasingly integrating mental health services with cancer care. For example, the large academic medical center Rush University Medical Center has the Support Oncology Program, which brings together social workers, dietitians, chaplains, psychiatrists and psychologists.
Research has shown that integrated services can help improve patient outcomes. For example, patients with cancer who do not receive behavioral health outpatient services are twice as likely to have an avoidable emergency room visit as those who do, according to the Evernorth Research Institute. The average additional costs range from $173 to $243 more per member per year for those not seeking behavioral health services.
Companies featured in this article:
