https://www.prnewswire.com/new...AmeriHealth Caritas offers mental health support through PerformCare. Services include Intellectual and Development Disability (I/DD), emergency interventions and screening, substance use treatment, suicide prevention, housing support, and family resources. The program offerings are focused on member recovery and resiliency and are family and community oriented.
AmeriHealth Caritas posted 5 questions that patients can use to find culturally competent mental health professionals. The questions include:
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- Does the provider ask about your problems in the context of your social network, such as family or friends, others in your community?
- Does the provider ask you what you think the causes of your problems are?
- Does the provider ask about the most important aspects of your background or identity and whether they make a difference to your problem (i.e. discrimination)?
- Does the provider ask about barriers that have prevented you from getting the help you need, including any stigmas or social determinants of health?
- If there are differences in your backgrounds, does the provider ask about your concerns around these differences and what your expectations are?
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire’s is working with Aspire365 to bring in a new in-home mental health program for Granite Staters 12 and older. Aspire365’s approach works through a multidisciplinary team to treat mental illnesses including psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, and neurocognitive disorders, and can also provide treatment for all types of substance use disorders as well as co-occurring disorders for individuals ages 12 and up. The team uses evidence-based treatment methods such as psychiatry, psychotherapy, in-home nursing, family and peer support, and group therapy, tailoring the treatment plan to the needs of the patient and their family.
Hope Means Nevada, a community-based nonprofit focused on eliminating youth suicide across Nevada, has announced the third annual launch of its #Ask5 to Smash Stress social media campaign. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nevada is this year’s campaign sponsor and will jointly host the campaign between Sunday, April 2 and Saturday April 29, in recognition of National Stress Awareness Month. #Ask5 to Smash Stress is a peer-to-peer social media campaign that focuses on engaging teens to connect with their peers and raise awareness that could improve mental wellness and even save lives. Throughout the month, this campaign encourages teens to #Ask5 of their friends how they are doing and provide actionable techniques to foster mental health wellness.
The Anthem Foundation has committed $13 million in grants to promote equity in mental health, particularly for people with substance use disorders. Each program will focus on one of the following goals: prevention and early intervention of risk factors that lead to substance use disorders, improved access and quality of treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality of substance use disorders, and community support to promote lifelong recovery. These grants are part of up to $30 million the Foundation plans to invest over the next 3 years to make significant progress toward reducing substance use disorders and their health impacts.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, through its Student Advantage health plans, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Christie Campus Health to help colleges and universities address escalating rates of anxiety and depression reported on campuses throughout the country. The 2 companies will provide a student-centered mental health platform that helps counseling centers meet the high demand for services. Christie Campus Health currently helps over 40 colleges and universities bring timely and accessible mental health and wellbeing support to more than 430,000 students. Christie Campus Health’s CONNECT@College product will allow Anthem Student Advantage to offer a comprehensive solution that focuses on both the physical and emotional wellbeing of today’s college student.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its family of companies are making assistance available to members who were impacted by the recent severe storms in Arkansas, including activating a dedicated crisis line for members who may need emotional support. Members may call 24/7, toll free, and speak with a licensed clinical professional, at no cost to the member. This service will be active at least until April 17 and extended as needed.
The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, announced that grants are being awarded in 2023 to public schools, universities, and nonprofit groups in Arkansas totaling $3.38 million. The grants focus on behavioral health, social barriers to health, health equity, maternal health, and innovation. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Little Rock, for example, is getting a $50,000 grant to fund a suicide prevention program in 5 school districts in Baxter, Crawford, and Garland counties, while the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Lake Village is getting $150,000 to provide mental health first aid training to Arkansas first responders and other healthcare workers, enabling them to provide additional resources to children and adults in the state. Other grants include $79,750 for Hispanic Community Services, Inc., Jonesboro, which will allow the organization to provide bilingual mental health services and education in Craighead, Crittenden, Green, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph counties.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield members have access to Lucet, which offers personalized mental health support. Lucet also offers members a number of apps to help with mindfulness and stress.
In partnership with Optum, AvMed members have access to the Sanvello app, which provides support improve mental health. The app offers daily check-in and mood tracking, guided journeys, and coping tools. AvMed members also have access to more than 8,600 Florida-licensed clinicians for support, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health counselors.
To respond to growing needs throughout its 72,000-square-mile footprint, Avera Health Plans opened a new four-story wing as part of its Avera Behavioral Health Hospital in Sioux Falls.
The Helmsley Behavioral Health Center adds 60,000 more square feet of space for treating psychiatric needs among children, youth, and adults. This wing adds several new services including 24/7 Behavioral Health Urgent Care, observation care, youth addiction care services, and partial hospitalization for youth.
The wing also will house Avera’s senior behavioral health unit, which is currently located on the Avera Prince of Peace campus. This will provide an opportunity to add to the continuity of mental health services while enhancing and expanding this program. In total, Avera Behavioral Health Hospital will have 146 inpatient behavioral health beds plus 8 addiction residential beds for adolescents – all private rooms.
BlueSky funds school-based programs with one-on-one therapy sessions for students most in need in Alameda and San Diego counties. Blue Shield of California launched the BlueSky initiative to support youth mental health throughout the state. BlueSky also partners with Wellness Together and its team of mental health specialists. This partnership helps maintain a robust schedule of online counseling sessions with youth, offering support to hundreds of students.
Blue Shield of California members now have access to a new private and secure self-care online portal through CredibleMind. The CredibleMind platform offers personalized mental health and resilience, information, tools, and resources. The platform provides a one-stop source of more than 230 mental health topics and links members to science-based information and tools to improve mental well-being.
Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky program has partnered with DoSomething.org, the online hub for youth-centered activism, to create the Vibe Check program. Vibe Check aims to open real conversations about mental health, steer teens toward reliable resources, and help them discuss challenges they or their friends may have. The program's centerpiece is the downloadable DoSomething Vibe Check Guide, which equips teens with the tools to have meaningful conversations about mental health with their peers and their communities. The guide includes tips for active listening, conversation starters, and resources.
Blue Shield of California is investing in 4 organizations that are working to support youth mental health in California. In total, Blue Shield of California is providing more than $1.1 million to the 4 organizations. Mental illness is the number one reason children in the state are hospitalized, and half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by the age of 14. The support is part of Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky Initiative, which provides resources and support for youth, families, educators, and caregivers to promote emotional well-being for youth. Over the last year, BlueSky and its programs almost doubled the number of educators it trained to spot warning signs of mental health concerns in youth, conducted more than 4,000 counseling sessions, and supported cultivating a pipeline of diverse youth to work in the mental health field. The new financial support will continue enhancing these mental health supports with a focus on reducing health disparities.
- Funding from Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative has let the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) California expand its On Campus High School clubs throughout the state, increasing membership from 1,051 in 2020 to 1,271 participants in 80 clubs across 16 counties in 2022. The clubs provide peer-led support for students with mental health conditions, students whose family members have a condition, or students who are interested in the field or in advocacy – all focused on the goal of reducing mental health stigma among youth.
- The Health Care Service Corporation is providing access to an online self-service platform to help fill a gap for some untreated members who have been reluctant to seek care or had difficulty finding it. The platform, provided by an independent company called Learn to Live, offers around-the-clock mental health assessments and online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for mild to moderate depression, substance use, social anxiety, insomnia, and stress, worry, and anxiety. It is available at no added cost to 11 million members, starting at 13 years of age, in most group health plans across its communities in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
- Starting July 1, 2023, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network will offer a new behavioral health care navigation solution to help members find the provider best suited for their mental health or substance use needs more quickly and easily. The virtual care navigation solution will be available at no additional cost to in-state, fully-insured commercial, and Medicare Advantage members ages 18 or older through a partnership with Quartet Health, a behavioral health care technology and services company.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana awarded 4 nonprofits with a $70,000 Big Blue Sky Initiative major grant through the Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® program. All 4 grant recipients will use the funds to help improve pediatric behavioral health. In addition to the 4 grants, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana also made a $15,000 grant to NAMI Montana to bolster the organization’s mission to support, educate, and advocate for Montanans with mental illnesses and their families.
- During Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Blue Cross NC continues its focus on education and providing resources that empower members to get the help they need when and where they want it, whether in-person or virtual care. Blue Cross NC Care Navigators can assist you in finding the right health care provider, while Blue Premier Behavioral Health Advanced with Mindoula provides virtual plus in-person care to help coordinate care for eligible members living with mental health, a substance use disorder or both. Teladoc Behavioral Health helps connects members with doctors over the phone or on video chat, and Headway offers access to in-network mental health providers across specialty, location, virtual or in-person care, personality, and race, language, and ethnicity. Members can choose a date and time and book a first appointment in as soon as 48 hours.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is expanding its network of behavioral health providers through a collaboration with Headway, a mental health care company that works with insurers to deliver high-value mental health care. Together the 2 companies will make it easier for Blue Cross NC members to quickly access – as soon as 48 hours – in-network therapists and psychiatrists who meet their specific needs. The focus of the collaboration is on improving access to care for underserved communities, including rural and socially vulnerable counties, children and adolescents, and individuals across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is investing more than $2 million to support 11 organizations across North Carolina to improve access to behavioral health care services in rural and marginalized communities and in HPSAs (Health Professional Shortage Areas). This funding initiative is part of Blue Cross NC’s statewide commitment aimed at addressing and eliminating racial, health, and geographical disparities in North Carolina and supports the company’s goal to improve access to behavioral health care in rural and underserved communities by 25% in 5 years.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has made a grant to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Oklahoma to support mental health efforts focused on young children. The grant will support the "Meet Little Monster" coloring and mental health activity book created for young children to express and explore their feelings as well as to help foster dialogue between children and the safe adults in their lives. The book is available in English and Spanish for families, organizations, teachers, and young people across Oklahoma at no cost.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas provides care for mental health or alcohol and drug use through Magellan Health Services. One of the programs offered is Learn to Live, a no cost online mental health program. The program is available to members 13 and older and caregivers, and gives self-paced mental health solutions. It offers access to 24/7 therapy coaches for members ,and can help with common challenges like stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and substance abuse.
- CalOptima Health’s Board of Directors approved up to $25.5 million in funding for all 29 Orange County school districts to boost access to behavioral health care for K–12 children and offer innovative services at school. Of the $25.5 million, the school districts will receive up to $10 million for various initiatives, including hiring additional behavioral health clinical staff, such as social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists; enhancing training and development; and implementing electronic health record and billing systems. Up to $12.5 million will be allocated to interventions provided by Hazel Health, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Western Youth Services (WYS).
- CalOptima Health has formed a partnership with National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Orange County to launch a peer support program for Medi-Cal members recently discharged from a psychiatric inpatient hospital stay or emergency room visit. As part of the $5 million grant program, NAMI Orange County will pair trained peer mentors with CalOptima Health members to provide social support and assistance with navigating mental health resources. The program will work with providers and begin during the hospital stay or emergency room visit and last up to 6 months post-discharge, based on members’ needs. Peer support mentors will help members schedule and attend follow-up care with their providers, build a social support network, and access training and other supportive services.
- Cambia Health Foundation is investing $400,000 to improve health outcomes for pregnant people, new parents, and young children. Cambia's grant partners are working to reduce maternal health disparities, increase behavioral health access, or a combination of both. Examples of projects funded with these grants include full integration of behavioral and emotional health for children and their families, early intervention, and increasing the percentage of behavioral health providers who identify with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
- Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan offers members access to 4 virtual mental health care providers. Brave Health is for adults and adolescents 16 and older who live in New York state, and specializes in therapy groups, including Dialectical behavior therapy. Doctors on Demand is available to adults and children living anywhere in the U.S., while Valera is available to adults and children 6 and over living in the U.S. The final option, aptihealth, is available to adults and children 5 and older living in New York state.
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Navigator Healthcare, Inc., an independent healthcare service for those affected by drug and alcohol use, have announced a partnership to improve access for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for CareFirst members and their families. Through the partnership with Navigator, CareFirst Members seeking evaluation and treatment for SUD have access to 24/7/365 support by calling the mental health and substance use phone number on the back of their insurance card. The number connects each individual with a licensed behavioral health clinician with expertise in SUD who helps them understand treatment options and schedules an evaluation on demand in a same-day or next-day timeframe.
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is collaborating with Headway, a tech-enabled company that expands access to in-network mental health care by removing barriers faced by providers, payers, and the people they serve, to support CareFirst’s mental healthcare system. The collaboration will help eliminate obstacles to providing and accessing behavioral health while delivering quality, easy-to-access mental health care for all members. Headway’s secure online platform is available to CareFirst’s network of mental health providers at no cost and will enable efficient scheduling, billing and more. This allows providers to focus on quality care delivery, rather than administrative tasks.
- Portland-based non-profit Bridges to Change has launched a new peer-led housing facility and program—the Tri-County Women’s Stabilization House—to provide crisis stabilization supports for those experiencing cooccurring mental health symptoms and substance use needs. Funds for the program were provided by CareOregon. The $637,000 grant is helping cover staffing, operation and facility related costs. The program aims to support individuals engaging in mental health or substance use treatment services through times of transition, such as between housing situations or levels of care, while helping them engage in healthcare services that encourage and sustain their recovery.
- CareOregon has provided Lutheran Community Services Northwest with a $79,867 grant to help make more culturally specific mental health resources available to newly arriving and already resettled Ukrainian refugees in the region. The funds from the grant will be used to hire 1 additional full-time peer support specialist and 1 Ukrainian speaking clinician that will support the increasing demand for care. The grant will also help fund additional support for the broader Ukrainian community. The peer support specialist will provide timely support to Ukrainian refugees to help address mental health and trauma and connect clients to the appropriate services and resources. Services include individualized psychological first aid such as mental health counseling, emotional support groups, workshops to aid in resettlement and referrals for any additional needs like wellness exams, immunizations, housing, employment and more.
- CareSource and Safe Families for Children, an organization that helps prevent children from going into foster care, have announced the relaunch of Safe Families for Children in Georgia. A $200,000 donation from CareSource expands the Safe Families for Children model through the addition of “health care friends” who will serve as mentors to help Georgia parents, foster parents, and relative caregivers navigate Medicaid resources, health care options, and assistance programs, as well as provide support and care for children in need. The goal of the program is to become a long-term mentoring resource to support vulnerable families and prevent children from having to enter the foster care system.
- BeMe, a digital behavioral health company, and CareSource have announced a new partnership to provide teens enrolled in Indiana’s Hoosier Healthwise coverage access to digital mental health support and interventions designed specifically to address teens’ unique needs. Through the BeMe and CareSource partnership, these individuals will have mobile access to mental health support including content, care activities, and real-time one-on-one coaching, as well as clinical services and crisis support as needed.
- The CareSource Foundation awarded $50,000 to the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas to support their efforts to promote the healing and growth of people and the reconciliation of couples, families, and organizations. Since 2006, the CareSource Foundation has awarded more than $25 million to nonprofits that are working to eliminate poverty, provide services to low- and moderate-income families, and develop innovative approaches to address critical health issues.
- Centene has launched an all-employee training on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity to educate employees on parity law and outline Centene’s policies that ensure delivery of benefits that do not discriminate against individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders. Centene also maintains youth and adolescent programs focused on mental health, including the Choose Tomorrow™ Suicide Prevention Program, which uses evidence-based practices to screen for suicide risk, develop member-driven safety planning, provide connection to community resources, and monitor members’ treatment progress to prevent suicide.
- The Cigna Foundation has made more than $3 million in grants to local nonprofits to help address childhood hunger and mental health concerns as schools return to session. Programs spanning communities in 16 states will receive critical financial support enabling them to positively impact thousands of children across the country. All grants are made available through Cigna Foundation's Healthier Kids For Our Future® program, a 5-year, $25 million global initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of children. Since its inception in 2019, the program has awarded more than $18 million in grants.
- CVS Health announced it is enhancing Project Health, the company's free, community-based health screening program by adding mental health screenings to its services and entering 2 new areas: Greensboro, NC and Petersburg, VA. Project Health will also add nearly 100 organizations this year to host its mobile units in additional under-resourced communities. CVS Health plans to host nearly 2,000 Project Health screening events across the U.S. in 2023. The company hosts these events at CVS Pharmacy locations and community organizations, offering free biometric screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose level and body mass index to detect early risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The screenings will now also offer PHQ-2 assessments, screenings to help identify people who require additional evaluation for depression. Following these screenings, participants have the opportunity to meet with a nurse practitioner who can provide referrals for treatment and advice on follow-up care.
- To help alleviate the stress people face when considering mental health treatment and improve access to convenient care, more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations across the U.S. offer depression screenings. And select MinuteClinic® locations offer in-person and virtual mental health services, including cognitive behavioral therapy.
- MinuteClinic®, the medical clinic located inside select CVS Pharmacy stores, has announced it has launched mental health counseling and care services at 6 MinuteClinic locations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Through these expanded MinuteClinic services, individuals can receive mental health assessments, referrals, counseling, and personalized care plans in-person or via virtual care, with appointments available days, evenings, and weekends.
- CVS Health has launched CVS Health® Virtual Primary Care, a new virtual care offering that provides primary care, 24/7 on-demand care, and scheduled mental health services. If in-person follow-up care is needed, a patient can seek care at any in-network provider, including MinuteClinic. To deliver on-demand and mental health services, a dedicated practice of board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners is supplemented by MinuteClinic providers consisting of nurse practitioners and licensed clinical social workers. In addition, members seeking mental health services will have the ability to consult with psychiatrists.
- Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, a CVS Health company, has provided $9.3 million to 10 residential and community-based service providers across the state that deliver behavioral health services and support social care needs of West Virginians, particularly for Children with a Serious Emotional Disorders (CSED) in foster care and their biological or foster families. The announcement complements Aetna’s previously announced commitment to help residential facilities prepare children and their families to transition to home- and/or community-based settings. The commitment will support local community-based organizations that serve members after they have transitioned.
- Aetna, a CVS health company, and Psych Hub have launched an Adolescent Treatment Training Series to meet the urgent needs of youth and young adults. This joint effort arms the 283,000 behavioral health and employee assistance program providers in Aetna’s commercial network, Aetna’s internal clinicians, and CVS Health’s licensed counselors at MinuteClinics in select HealthHUB locations with access to a no-cost, evidence-based curriculum in the form of courses and resources to identify and treat adolescents and young adults along a full continuum of care, from prevention through intervention, for those at risk of suicide.
- Dean Health Plan offers members Brighter Days, a program that provides information about depression, available treatment options, and tools and strategies for self-management. Brighter Days resources include tools for changing harmful thought patterns, increasing positive contact with others, and understanding depression.
- The Elevance Health Foundation has announced the expansion of its substance use disorder grants through an additional $5.7 million in awards. Each grant will address substance use disorder, focusing on at least one of the following themes: access to care, quality of treatment, and youth prevention and early intervention. This second phase of grants is a part of the $30 million the Foundation plans to invest through 2024 to make significant progress in addressing mental health and well-being in communities, with an emphasis on substance use disorders. This round of grants brings the total awarded so far to more than $19.5 million.
- Elevance Health is working to address the behavioral and mental health care needs of all members, at every age. Through the Sydney Health app, for example, a spectrum of care delivery options is available: digital, virtual, and in-person. Sydney Health can connect eligible members to a virtual text visit or a video visit with a behavioral or mental health provider such as a therapist or counselor. The app allows users to get important information about benefits and claims, track progress toward health goals, access a member ID card, and more. Elevance Health is also dedicated to advancing health equity through a “health equity by design” approach. This approach is personalized and intentional, ensuring that people can receive individualized care.
- The Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue, is honoring nine recipients who are doing exemplary work to provide mental health care services and support to those who otherwise may not have access to this type of care. The awardees will share $525,000 that will allow them to continue to focus on ideas and programs to improve access to mental well-being services in their communities. Each of the programs, organizations, and individuals honored with a Sapphire Award was selected through a robust external review process for their exemplary leadership, innovative ideas, demonstrated outcomes, and excellence. They all have a track record of improving mental well-being outcomes, which directly impact people’s overall health and quality of life.
- The Florida Blue Foundation is making a $3.8 million investment to enhance mental health for Florida's children, families, and seniors. Twelve nonprofit organizations across the state share in the investment, which will support community-based programs that directly improve access to and quality of mental well-being services, particularly for the underserved and uninsured, including racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income populations. The investment will provide mental health counseling and education in schools for under/uninsured students and provide a safe environment for mental and emotional healing for members of the LGBTQ+ community, transgender individuals, victims of hate crimes, and LGBTQ+ seniors, in addition to supporting other mental health programs.
- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) has significantly increased the number of behavioral health providers available to members. By adding Headway as an in-network provider in Illinois and Texas, HCSC has expanded member telehealth and in-person choices for access to behavioral health care. More than 21,000 mental health providers across 26 states practice as a part of the Headway network, with 42% of providers identifying as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial and more than 80 languages spoken.
- A HealthPartners community campaign is helping to reduce the negative stigma of mental illnesses in Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities, according to a survey by the HealthPartners Institute Center for Evaluation and Survey Research. The campaign, Make It OK, focuses on reducing the stigma and changing attitudes about mental health and illnesses. Developed in 2012 and 2013 by HealthPartners, Regions Hospital, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota, and the East Metro Roundtable, the effort aims to increase understanding and create caring conversations.
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, in partnership with Mental Health Advocates and several behavioral health providers, has developed #weareHOPE, a collaborative effort to address the mental health needs of the community following multiple traumatic events in Buffalo. Following the December Blizzard, Highmark BCBSWNY engaged Mental Health Advocates to identify ways to support the mental health needs of the community.
- Highmark is encouraging members to focus on mental health in 2022 and is reminding them of resources that are available to better manage stress, anxiety, and depression. One new option for members is Meru Health, a 12-week evidence-based program to treat depression, anxiety, and burnout that mixes a clinical human touch with technology, self-care, and data via a discreet smartphone app. The 12-week treatment program includes consultation with a dedicated licensed therapist, evidence-based video lessons, guided mindfulness practices, habit-changing activities, and anonymous peer support groups, all done on a mobile device. Members will also have access to on-going support following the completion of the 12-week program.
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey members have access to Equip as an in-network option. Equip offers Family-Based Treatment for eating disorders through a 5-person virtual care team including a therapist, dietitian, medical provider, peer mentor, and family mentor. Equip is designed to replace the residential level of care and support families throughout their journey to really be the last treatment they will need.
- Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey is offering eligible members access to MindRight Health, a mental health coaching service that leverages texting to provide coaching and emotional support to young adults ages 13 to 25. Once users sign up on their phones (no face-to-face meeting or phone call required), they can receive guidance from a team of coaches supervised by licensed mental health clinicians.
- Humana Healthy Horizons has announced investments of $488,000 in community efforts to improve the health and well-being of Texans. The investments made in 2022 focused on several key areas, including mental health services. Bluebonnet Trails Community Services received a grant from Humana supporting basic needs as well as mental health and substance abuse services for students of Round Rock and Jarrell Independent School Districts, along with their families, who have suffered traumatic events. Humana also funded NAMI Texas to support a program to increase access to culturally competent mental health education and support for parents and caregivers with a child or teen experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, as well as supporting the YMCA of Greater San Antonio in offering free or low-cost counseling, as well as peer-to-peer groups, to address mental-health issues in underserved communities.
- Independence Blue Cross has partnered with Quartet to help members connect with the mental health care resources they need. Quartet matches members with a licensed mental health provider or program that's right for them based on their location, insurance, and health needs.
- Kaiser Permanente of the Northwest has awarded $3.3 million in community grants to 11 nonprofit organizations. The grants are part of a new initiative aimed at building social connections and reducing social isolation in diverse communities that have faced discrimination because of race, ethnicity, sexual identity, immigration status, and more. The social and emotional well-being grant initiative was created in collaboration with the Coalition of Communities of Color, an Oregon statewide community-based organization, in response to recommendations from community members who expressed that isolation from their support systems has led to depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Kaiser Permanente has awarded a 2-year, $125,000 grant to the Boulder Valley School District to bolster ongoing efforts to increase mental health among teachers, staff, students, and their families following the recent Marshall Fire. The grant will help the district expand an existing Kaiser Permanente initiative called Resilience in School Environments, or RISE. The program provides emotional support and trauma-informed training to staff members, who then help other staff members and students. The grant will extend support for staff members, students, and families who are experiencing traumatic stress following the Marshall Fire.
- The Los Angeles County Office of Education, through a partnership with L.A. Care Health Plan, Health Net, and the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, is poised to offer access to mental health services for L.A. County’s 1.3 million K-12 public school students. The partnership with school-based telehealth company Hazel Health will use virtual care to deliver mental health support for all students, resulting in shorter wait times to connect with qualified therapists, and enabling earlier intervention. All Local Education Agencies in the county may opt-in to participate in the Hazel Health virtual mental health program. L.A. Care Health Plan and Health Net are allocating up to $24 million to cover the services for all LEAs over two years.
- Magellan Healthcare Inc. has announced free resources for Mental Health Month in May, including a webinar on depression and recovery. During Mental Health Month, Magellan is also collaborating with Inspiring My Generation (IMG) in support of the IMG Encouragement Card Program. Through the program, individuals and groups make encouragement cards for adults and youth hospitalized in mental health facilities to bring them comfort and motivation in their recovery journeys.
- Magellan Health subsidiary Magellan Federal has launched a program that provides United States military families with personalized, digital mental health and well-being support by combining NeuroFlow's technology with evidence-based resources and clinical support provided by Magellan Healthcare. The 18-month long first phase will be launched on three installations through the Military & Family Life Counseling (MFLC) program. NeuroFlow will supplement Magellan’s MFLC counseling services to provide service members and their spouses with personalized, self-directed mental health resources, tools, and support, all from a smartphone. Member usage of NeuroFlow will also produce de-identified, population-level data to highlight mental health trends at each installation without compromising an individual service member’s privacy.
- Martin’s Point Health Care partners with Sweetser to provide easy access to consultation and treatment for depression, ADHD, anxiety, and more. Patients can conveniently access both primary care and mental health services in one facility. They can also schedule mental health services appointments directly with their primary care provider (PCP) as part of their overall health plan. Mental health specialists from Sweetser are available at all Martin’s Point Health Care Center locations.
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan has teamed up with Lyra Health to offer a new solution to expand the availability of mental health support and counseling. Through Lyra, members will be able to seek clinically proven mental health support, find high-quality providers tailored to their individual needs, and book appointments quickly with a therapist or coach by video or in-person securely and confidentially. Lyra will be rolled out in phases beginning June 2022.
- Medica has introduced 2 new support programs to help simplify the mental health care experience and connect children and their families to the support they need. The Family Support Program provides clinical expertise and care navigation support to caregivers of children with complex mental health needs, while the Family Support Navigator is an interactive online tool that helps parents and caregivers find the right resources for children who may have autism or depression. Both programs are available to Medica members who have children with complex mental health needs.
- Molina Healthcare of Florida has taken steps to support community-based organizations focused on improving mental health outcomes. Dozens of Molina volunteers recently joined National Alliance on Mental Illness Walks in Pasco and Miami, helping raise awareness and money to ensure Floridians have access to care. Molina employees helped greet participants and handed out water and snacks.
- The MolinaCares Accord, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Florida, sponsored the third annual BRAVE Summit, presented by Flagler Health+ at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. The BRAVE (Be Resilient and Voice Emotions) Summit created an open dialogue with teens to address the stigma associated with mental health, encouraging them to learn how to foster mental wellness for themselves and their peers. The goal is to provide pathways to support systems for those struggling with mental illness.
- The MolinaCares Accord, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of California, has granted $50,000 to Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in support of the “Step Up, Stand Down” initiative to develop a mental health de-escalation toolkit for healthcare professionals at CDU and CDU-affiliated clinics. Over the next year, CDU will begin engaging residents and organizations in south Los Angeles to address mental health de-escalation strategies, develop an educational curriculum and create a multimedia toolkit to educate professionals on mental health de-escalation approaches in a variety of circumstances, whether it be on the street, in clinics or at the bedside of patients in hospital settings.
- Molina Healthcare of New Mexico has partnered with Pyx Health to expand access to behavioral health services for Molina’s Medicare members. Through a screening process, working with members and data, the Pyx Health platform gauges the emotional state of users. This data is then monitored by support staff that provides actionable recommendations for how to respond, such as calling a user to address their behavioral health needs or offering support during a rough time. By providing access to this platform, Molina will improve behavioral health outcomes for its members.
- A $500,000 matching grant from Point32Health Foundation has helped a Maine community create a behavioral health teletherapy program. A collaborative effort coordinated by Hallowell-based MCD Global Health gives students and staff at Woodland Elementary and Woodland Junior-Senior High School in Baileyville, Maine, and across the county's AOS 90 school district, access to virtual behavioral health services and other needed resources.
- Point32Health and Valera Health, a tele-behavioral health service that provides comprehensive care for kids and adults with mild to severe mental illness, have announced a collaboration to increase access to virtual mental health services and provide evidence-based care to Point32Health members in Massachusetts.
- Providence Health Plan offers a virtual self-directed program called Learn to Live based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It’s confidential, available in English and Spanish, and can be accessible from anywhere. Learn to Live includes 5 online self-help programs covering social anxiety, depression, stress, anxiety, and worry, insomnia, and substance abuse. Learn to Live is backed by one-on-one support from professional coaching.
- Quartz Heath Solutions offers members access to MyStrength. It is a tool members can use for many different wellness activities, including improving emotional health, and reducing stress and anxiety. The digital tool can complement other forms of care, such as medication and working with a behavioral health professional.
- Regence partnered with the Portland Business Journal to gather local leaders and discuss the topic of workplace wellness and offer solutions to navigating employee mental health. The group of panelists included Jared Short, CEO of Regence Health Plans, Gale Castillo President and Co-founder of Canopy, Rob Nosse, an Oregon State Representative, Dr. Randy Kamphaus, Acting Executive Director of The Ballmer Institute, and Kimberly Sewell, Executive Director of Labor Relations & Human Resources at TriMet. The panelists discussed a variety of solutions for supporting employee wellbeing from the importance of peer-to-peer programs to help normalize conversations around mental health to improving access to behavioral health care services, particularly for children.
- Regence has partnered with Equip, a virtual treatment program, to offer in-network access to the virtual provider’s evidence-based care for patients ages 6 to 24. To support patients and their families through eating disorder recovery at home, Equip pioneered a new treatment model that builds upon Family-Based Treatment (FBT), an evidence-based eating disorder treatment method for young people and adolescents. The company provides patients with a five-person dedicated care team, including a peer and family mentor, a medical provider, a therapist, and a dietitian. Because Equip’s platform is fully virtual, families can schedule treatment to fit their individual needs without having to upend their routines or send children away from home.
- San Francisco Health Plan members under the age of 21 have access to Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT) services. BHT includes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other services that have been reviewed and have been shown to work. ABA is a therapy that can help children with autism and some other behavior issues. ABA can help children with communication, social skills, recall, and attention.
- Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan are accepting applications from eligible school districts to implement b.e.s.t.® Universal Screening in the 2023-2024 school year. b.e.s.t. (Behavioral Emotional Social Traits) is an online screening tool designed to help education professionals build the emotional health of students and help identify students who may need additional positive behavioral support. The tool provides educators recommended actions to take with students based on their behaviors.
- Sun Life U.S. is broadening access to health services by enhancing its group life insurance portfolio with AbleTo Self Care+, an on demand, digital wellness program designed to help build everyday resilience and support emotional and mental health. Sun Life members and their families can use Self Care+ at their own pace, and the program provides tailored content and activities to help them reach their wellness goals.
- The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Sunflower Health Plan, in partnership with Olathe Public Schools, KidsTLC, and other statewide partners, hosted the Strong Youth Strong Communities (SYSC) Youth Summits in Olathe. Led by Hall of Famers Darrell Green, Anthony Muñoz, Aeneas Williams, Isaac Bruce and former UNC Women’s Basketball player Iman McFarland, a collective 850 students, ages 13-18 from Olathe middle schools and KidsTLC, attended the summits. The summits focused on mental health and suicide prevention, with the pro athletes sharing real-life stories, life lessons and methods for success.
- Superior HealthPlan helped more than 110,000 members in Texas secure behavioral health services – virtually – in 2022. Superior has multiple partnerships and programs that provide access to behavioral health services – virtually – to members across Texas. These include:
- Teladoc – This virtual option is available for all Superior members and offers 24/7 access to healthcare services.
- eFamilyCare – Superior expanded this partnership this year to more Medicaid and CHIP members, which offers telehealth for family caregivers as they support high-risk, chronically ill adults and children with special needs.
- MedArrive & Brave Health – Announced last year, this joint initiative provides in-home care and identifies certain Medicaid members who have complex care needs that may benefit from virtual behavioral health support. Additionally, Superior has invested $150,000 in partnerships with Connected Nation and C3HIE to conduct studies that will identify the broadband needs and potential solutions for expanding access to healthcare for Texans who live in rural counties. The goals of the program are to support providers who may need help offering virtual care and to increase access to virtual services for the residents in those areas.
- In recognition of Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week, from May 7-13, Superior HealthPlan is highlighting the importance of caring for every child’s mental health and the essential role that positive mental health plays in a child’s overall development. Superior offers many programs and initiatives that support mental health, including Mental Health Targeted Case Management, which provides support for members with severe mental illness as well as behavioral or emotional problems. myStrength is another option. The online tool is available 24/7 and can offer personalized resources for Superior members at no cost to help improve their mood. Through myStrength, members can access wellness resources, self-help tools, online health trackers, and personalized activities.
- Sutter Health Plus members have premium access to Sanvello at no extra cost as part of their behavioral health care benefits through U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, California. Sanvello is an app that offers on-demand clinically proven techniques to manage symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression as they happen. By answering a few questions in the Sanvello app throughout the week to assess mood and track activities like caffeine intake, sleep, and exercise, members can identify patterns in their behavior to make positive lifestyle changes. They can also create progress assessments using past mood and health ratings to discover new connections between their experiences and emotions.
- Leaders at UCare and Kente Circle are seeking make it okay to discuss mental health issues with trusted barbers and stylists. The Confess Project – America’s First Mental Health Barbershop Movement – empowers frontline heroes to support their clients’ mental health and substance use disorder needs. The barbershop or hair salon is often a safe place for clients to discuss their concerns and needs. Armed with the Confess Project training, barbers and stylists will be able to say: “I am more than a pair of clippers. I am improving my community through the barber chair one client at a time.”
- University Health Alliance has a number of resources available to improve mental wellbeing, including a series of podcasts focused on topics including stress and coping, dealing with grief, and lifting the veil on mental health. Other resources include a blog on how financial stress can affect your wellbeing.
- UPMC Health Plan’s Special Needs Plan Severely Mentally Ill team provides community-based care management services to members with a serious mental illness diagnosis. The team services those with the highest needs of physical health and behavioral health indicators as identified by physical, behavioral and pharmacy claims utilization data in a rolling 12-month period. Goals of the program include: care integration for member physical health and behavioral health conditions, development of self-management skills and improved quality of life. Outcomes include improved HEDIS measures, as well as reductions in Emergency Department visits and inpatient admissions. UPMC’s Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, part of the UPMC Insurances Division, is also working with stylists and barbers to develop an innovative community engagement initiative known as Health Access Initiative for Recovery (Our HAIR). This initiative centers on partnering with barbers and stylists in Pittsburgh to build up black and brown communities through increasing familiarity with, comfort around and connection to resources related to behavioral health concerns seen within hair care settings. In the Our Hair initiative, hair stylists/barbers will have an opportunity to participate in a program that teaches them how to talk about and provide resources for mental health and drug/alcohol/substance use concerns within their communities. The goal is to increase engagement, education, and resource dissemination about behavioral health issues within historically underserved communities and to decrease the behavioral health care disparities between Black and White members.
- WPS Health Insurance added 1,037 mental health providers to its networks in 2022. In 2023, it has added an additional 808 so far for a total of 8,022. These numbers are in addition to the mental health care practitioners available through Teladoc® telehealth services. Included in these numbers are all types of mental health care providers, from therapists and alcohol and other drug abuse counselors to midlevel nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and psychiatrists.