What health insurers are doing in mental health
Along with its network of licensed mental health providers and services for members, which includes consultations and outpatient services, as well as referrals to local community support groups, behavioral coaches, and online resources, Cigna has entered into numerous partnership with behavioral and mental health startups. That includes Happify Health and Prevail Health. It also began a pilot program with Annum Health, a company that combats the problem of alcohol addiction by using technology, with a mobile-first platform.
Since January 2017, the company has also been expanding access to virtual behavioral services. Most recently, Cigna partnered with MDLIVE so that its customers who are enrolled in employer-sponsored plans can schedule appointments online to see behavioral health counselors or psychiatrists either via video or phone. Cigna’s Behavioral Health network consists of more than 18,000 virtual behavioral health providers.
“Many people are affected by mental health problems such as depression or panic disorders. These problems can make it harder to think clearly, manage how you feel, and work with other people. Sometimes you may feel helpless and hopeless. But you’re not alone. Talking with others who suffer from these problems may help. And treatment can help you get back in control. Or maybe you’re worried about someone else and want to help. Our information can answer your questions,” Cigna says on its website.
Blue Care Network plans cover or help pay for mental health and substance use disorder services. The company has also partnered with companies like Quartet Health, beginning in 2018, making mental healthcare more accessible in Pittsburgh. In the first seven months, thousands of physicians, behavioral healthcare specialists, and patients used the service, which then expanded into Pennsylvania’s Butler and Westmoreland Counties.
Blue Shield has also been making mental health services more widely available for children with its BCBSTX STAR Kids Plan in Texas, which includes a partnership Magellan Health Services. Services include counseling, treatment and skills training, as well as emergency and crisis support.
“Staying mentally healthy is important to your overall well-being. Yet many people let the stigma keep them from getting the care they need. In fact, the fear of discrimination and prejudice surrounding mental illness can be as disabling as the illness itself. When you have a mental health issue, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Mental health problems are extremely common, yet 70% of people around the world who suffer from mental illness do not get treated because they fear a real or imagined stigma associated with their condition,” says Blue Shield.
Humana has a network of more than 65,000 credentialed psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, social workers and licensed professional counselors. Some of its services include aftercare follow-up, where, once a person is discharged from inpatient care, Humana provides additional resources and a person to answer questions throughout the patient’s recovery period. It also provides patients with advocacy, where it works with members who have coexisting medical and behavioral health issues, such as diabetes with depression or anxiety with heart condition, to improve both medical and behavioral outcomes.
“At Humana Behavioral Health, we take a holistic, mind-and-body approach to healthcare to address the whole person – encouraging faster recovery and improving clinical outcomes while reducing costs for both the member and employer,” the company writes.
UnitedHealthcare
Kaiser Permanente
Oscar
Aetna
Anthem
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