When the COVID-19 emergency hit the U.S. in March, behavioral health organizations quickly pivoted their operations out of necessity. Treatments that had traditionally been delivered in person were reimagined remotely in an effort to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Federal and state flexibilities made it possible, paving the way for the wider adoption of […]
Category: Technology
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 emergency has led to higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression, telehealth tools and other resources to address those mental health symptoms remain underutilized. That’s according to a recent study commissioned by Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), one of largest hospital management companies in the nation. The King […]
For years, the U.S. has struggled with a shortage of behavioral health professionals. In recent months, the coronavirus has only exacerbated the problem further: Depression and anxiety rates have risen, largely due to the isolation, death and economic hardship the COVID-19 virus has caused. To help those people and others receive care, behavioral health startup […]
The American Psychological Association (APA) is asking states and insurers to temporarily remove roadblocks that make it harder for mental health providers to offer telehealth services. Doing so is especially important in light of COVID-19, the APA says. “This is an extraordinary public health crisis with vast and unpredictable implications for the nation’s mental health,” […]
Quit Genius, a San Francisco-based digital provider of addiction treatment services, has raised $11 million in Series A funding, the company recently announced. The money brings the company’s total funding raised up to $13.6 million, according to the fundraising tracking website Crunchbase. The round was led by British venture capital firm Octopus Ventures. Founded in […]
The nation’s behavioral health care workforce shortage has been well documented for years and is only expected to worsen over the next decade. Now, the shortfall has become even more pronounced amid COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, 56% of Americans were seeking behavioral health assistance for themselves or loved ones, according to research co-conducted by […]
There’s no doubt about it: The coronavirus is boosting the demand for behavioral health care. That’s especially true for services that can be delivered virtually, due to how easily COVID-19 can be spread. While traditional providers have been scrambling to move to remote models and keep up with ever-changing telehealth regulations, digital behavioral health providers […]
The Trump administration continues to loosen health care regulations in an attempt to better equip providers to deal with COVID-19. For the behavioral health industry, the newfound flexibilities make it much easier for providers to deliver comprehensive telehealth services. Due to the crisis, the government is looking past certain HIPAA rules, allowing providers to deliver […]
Mental health benefits manager Lyra Health will provide all Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) employees and eligible family members with up to 20 sessions per year with therapists and coaches starting April 6. The Seattle-based coffee giant announced the move Monday. All sessions will be free of charge to users. Burlingame, California-based Lyra provides similar services to […]
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is expanding its efforts to fight the opioid epidemic and will make social determinants of health a bigger part of the equation. The Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based pharmacy and health care company is partnering with social care coordination company Unite Us to expand the resources of CVS’s program aimed at combating opioid […]