Talkspace, a teletherapy company, recently announced the launch of its Behavioral Health Consortium. This allows clinicians to refer insured members with high-acuity needs to in-network specialty care providers for alcoholism, substance use, and eating disorder treatments. The network includes virtual opioid use treatment company Bicycle Health, outpatient mental health support company Charlie Health, and alcohol use treatment organization Ria Health.
Members of Talkspace can access the Consortium through the company’s new wellness platform called Health Collective. This platform connects patients to high-quality behavioral health care through partnerships with companies like wearables company Oura, women’s health company Evernow, and depression-focused Options MD. Talkspace provides therapy for individuals aged 13 and older, couples, and medication management.
Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, chief medical officer at Talkspace, emphasized the importance of offering specialized treatment programs for members who require a higher level of care. By collaborating with trusted partners, Talkspace aims to provide access to clinically-vetted providers while maintaining affordability and accessibility. This initiative reinforces their commitment to delivering comprehensive care that addresses the mental health needs of their members holistically.
In recent partnerships, Talkspace has worked with Bicycle Health to connect patients with therapists for opioid use disorder treatment. Additionally, the telehealth platform Wheel has integrated Talkspace into its virtual care platform alongside diagnostic services company Health Gorilla and pharmacy-savings company Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. Furthermore, Talkspace has teamed up with telemedicine company Thirty Madison to launch mental health offerings for Thirty Madison’s reproductive health platform Nurx and migraine-focused offering Cove, with Talkspace serving as their primary therapy partner.
This new consortium is an excellent example of how technology can be used to improve access to mental health care for those in need. With more people seeking teletherapy services during the pandemic, it is crucial that companies like Talkspace continue to innovate and expand their offerings in order to meet the growing demand for mental health support.