Riding a wave of demand for its telemedicine technology, and reacting to U.S. adults’ increasing struggles with metal health during COVID-19, Seattle-based 98point6 is launching a new behavioral health service for commercial customers.
With primary care at the center of its focus, the service is designed to provide employers, health plans and health systems access to a single-stop virtual care solution. Care is provided through a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of board-certified physicians, behavioral health coaches and licensed therapists, the company said in a news release Wednesday.
Some of the features of the new service include:
- Licensed therapy: Evidence-based psychotherapy to diagnose mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
- Behavioral health coaching: Support for more common, everyday challenges like unmanaged stress, life transitions or illness.
- Self-paced digital programs: Convenient ways for patients to better understand their issues, motivate behavioral changes and build resilience on their time and at their own pace.
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Collaborative care approach: With coaches focused on behavioral support, 98point6 physicians continue to provide medication management to members who would benefit from more than just a single intervention in their treatment journey.
98point6 has 4.8 million contracted members from nearly 300 commercial contracts with employers, health plans, health systems and retail partners. The startup, founded in 2015, raised $118 million last October and has seen its membership base skyrocket as people look for medical advice without going to a physical doctor’s office during the pandemic.
The pandemic is taking a toll on mental health, according to a July 2020 KFF Tracking Poll which found that 53% of U.S. adults have struggled with mental health during COVID-19. 98point6 believes that on-demand access will help physicians identify mental health issues sooner and encourage individuals to seek help before it becomes more costly. The goal is also to reduce stigma to help normalize behavioral health mindsets.
Seattle startup Joon Care is also addressing the problem, with remote therapy for teens and young adults. The Joon Care app connects customers to a licensed youth-focused therapist. The company raised $3.5 million last fall.
San Francisco-based Modern Health, a mental health and wellness platform, has raised more than $170 million to offer accessible, innovative, and customized mental health management options to workforces worldwide.
