Galen Mental Health Taps Ex-Refresh Exec as CEO

Galen Mental Health has named Kristen Scheel its CEO. Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt and Dan Davidson co-founded the Alachua, Florida-based outpatient mental health provider. The company operates a network of mental health treatment centers that care for those with mental health, eating disorders and dual diagnoses. It also offers care via intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and […]

Optum Acquired Refresh Mental Health, CARE Counseling To Attack Wait Times

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 […]

‘There’s No Question’ Buyers Want In On the Outpatient Mental Health Space Post-CARE Counseling-Optum Deal

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 […]

Optum-Backed Refresh Mental Health Acquires CARE Counseling

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. […]

5 Mental Health Companies to Watch in 2024

After a rocky 2023, mental health providers are considering new approaches to growth and sustainability. In the wake of the bursting venture funding bubble and cooling M&A market, providers are taking stock of their assets and looking for new revenue generation. Some providers have opted for new partnership opportunities with public entities, such as state […]

Refresh Mental Health Shutters Eating Disorder Treatment Division

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 […]

5 Mental Health Companies to Watch in 2023

With macroeconomic headwinds leading to declining valuations and less M&A activity, the mental health space is at a crossroads. The notoriously fragmented industry is still prime for maturation, but many companies are facing growing pains. Several companies that came onto the public market during the 2021 boom year are struggling to keep up with investor […]

Patient Matching Sets Providers and Patients Up for Success — If Done Right

The pressure on behavioral health providers to improve outcome measures may make patient-matching technology a crucial part of their tech stack. The hope is that providers and patients alike are set up to succeed at the outset of treatment, accelerating the development of the oft-vaunted therapeutic alliance in behavioral health. If behavioral health organizations successfully […]

UnitedHealth Group Announces Free Behavioral Health Coaching

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) gave select health insurance members free access to virtual behavioral health coaching. The company announced Thursday that certain commercial health insurance members gained access to the service on Jan. 1, 2023. The move impacts 5 million members on fully insured plans. Self-insured employers may purchase access to the service, according to […]

Top 10 Behavioral Health Stories of 2022: How ABA Layoffs, Value-Based Care and Dealmaking Defined the Year

The year 2022 saw several growing pains and tough lessons in the behavioral health industry. Two years after the onset of a world-altering pandemic, the behavioral health industry saw adjustments and reactions to a lot of new developments. The industry did so while grappling with several of its chronic headaches such as workforce shortages and […]