Digital substance use disorder (SUD) provider Pelago is teaming up with brick-and-mortar providers in its new Centers of Excellence Network launch.
The network’s goal is to help patients who need a higher level of acuity of care to access inpatient services. Pelago’s first two partners are facility-based SUD operators Recovery Centers of America (RCA) and Banyan Treatment Centers.
“Around 5 to 10% of Pelago’s population needs some higher level of care,” Yusuf Sherwani, CEO of Pelago, told Behavioral Health Business. “While our in-house, nationwide network of providers has allowed us to refer out to higher levels of care when needed, this formalized inpatient network ensures that each partner we refer patients to has undergone a rigorous assessment process to ensure they can deliver the appropriate care. This includes: passing our proprietary outcomes and performance evaluation; meeting the highest levels of accreditation, licensure, clinical results, and training; and achieving best practices in quality metrics reporting and data sharing.”
Pelago provides tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and opioid use disorder programs. Participants can tap into Pelago’s cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy and contingency management programs. It offers the bulk of its programs through payers and employer partnerships.
The provider recently closed a $58 million Series C funding round, bringing its total fundraise to roughly $151 million.
Both Pelago’s new partners provide a variety of care levels. Pompano Beach, Florida-based addiction treatment provider Banyan Treatment Centers offers outpatient, intensive care, residential, inpatient and medical detox. Additionally, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based RCA offers inpatient, outpatient, telehealth, detox and medication-assisted-treatment programs.
“When Pelago members need more intensive care, our 17 locations across the country can seamlessly complement Pelago’s personalized approach,” Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne, chief medical officer for Banyan Treatment Centers, said in a statement. “Our unique and innovative treatment programs have been meticulously designed to support patients at every single step of their recovery process, ensuring their utmost wellbeing and success.”
How the program works
Pelago’s platform is designed to identify members needing a higher level of care. The provider can assess the patient’s needs using both its multidimensional assessment (MDA) and
Prioritization, Assessment, Categorization, and Triage (PACT) capabilities. These assessments help the provider determine a patient’s SUD diagnosis, severity, suicidality risk and current behavioral and physical health state.
Pelago can then match patients to the best facility-based provider for them.
“Once the member is matched with a treatment facility, Pelago provides a seamless transition for the member to the facility with white-glove service,” Sherwani said. “This service, which transitions the member to the facility, and includes: expedited access to care; access to Pelago’s concierge travel service; personal, secure release of information and documentation to the facility; and care coordination with the patient’s primary care provider. Upon discharge, Pelago continues to support the member with a 100% post-discharge follow-up rate to ensure treatment success.”
While digital addiction treatment platforms have garnered the attention of payers and employers, some industry insiders have pointed to the platforms’ limitations. Digital might be the best course of treatment for the right group of individuals, but some may need access to a higher level of services.
“[We can’t] treat every single substance use patient as the same person with the same chronicity, the same severity and the same access to treatment,” Alexandra Plante, senior advisor of SUD at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, previously told Addiction Treatment News.
While Pelago’s new initiative is a first for the industry, we could see more of these types of deals in the future as demand continues.
“The future of digital health is likely to see more partnerships between virtual care companies and traditional in-person providers,” Sherwani said. “This trend is driven by the need for integrated care, improved accessibility, and patient convenience.”
