The trend-that-must-not-be-named is back: Layoffs. Behavioral health so often has to paste on a smile while muddling through its many challenges. So often, that leads to worries about being too cheery. The last several weeks have seen seriously positive developments. But another development hauls the industry off cloud nine and back to earth with a […]
Optum
Dealmaking in the behavioral health space is slow these days — there’s no arguing that. But there are still plenty of lessons to be learned from the deals that have been completed thus far in 2024. With less to look at, there’s more to see. With fewer deals, we can spend more time taking in […]
Optum, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH)’s services arm, has reportedly laid off behavioral health managers and other roles in a restructuring effort that impacted at least 100 employees. A significant number of layoffs will impact employees at Optum-owned Landmark, an in-home medical group, according to Fierce Healthcare. Social workers and social work managers were also laid […]
Optum acquired outpatient mental health providers Refresh Mental Health and CARE Counseling in a bid to cut wait times. Top brass at Optum’s parent organization, the health care behemoth UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), explained that Optum is prioritizing providing health plans with comprehensive, timely services that can be offered under value-based care contracts. Optum is the […]
Optum owned Refresh Mental Health’s acquisition of outpatient mental health provider CARE Counseling was a bright spot in a slow dealmaking environment. Still, the transaction may provide insights into the near future of outpatient mental health M&A. The tie-up illustrates that interest in outpatient mental health dealmaking is still strong. It also shows that Refresh […]
A number of licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) across the country are facing a mass clawback effort launched by UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) services division, Optum. The company’s Medicare Advantage plans overpaid the LCSWs “due to an error within a claims payment system,” a representative of Optum Behavioral Health told Behavioral Health Business. Optum Recovery […]
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is keeping details about its behavioral health strategy close to the chest. The health care and insurance company highlighted that its behavioral health business was thriving just a few quarters ago in its Q2 2023 earnings call. Now, despite recently expanding its behavioral health segment, the company is highlighting other aspects […]
Optum-owned Refresh Mental Health has acquired fast-growing outpatient mental health provider CARE Counseling, according to several sources close to the matter. The deal marks the second Optum-affiliated outpatient mental health acquisition in the last few years. In 2022, Optum acquired what was ostensibly the second-largest outpatient mental health company: Jacksonville Beach, Florida-based Refresh Mental Health. […]
Refresh Mental Health, a subsidiary of Optum, will shutter its eating disorder treatment service line. The health care and related services behemoth confirmed Refresh will close its four eating disorder treatment brands. Evolve Healing Eating Disorders was the first center to close, shutting its doors permanently on Dec. 1. Optum is part of Minnetonka, Minnesota-based […]
2023 has been a tumultuous year for the behavioral health space. Macroeconomic headwinds, including rising interest rates plus unrest in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, has slowed dealmaking. Additionally, many providers have struggled to raise more capital as investors tighten their purse strings. At least two major companies in behavioral health care have filed […]
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