Health Insurance Providers Actions Concerning Mental Health

Below are just a few examples of the work health insurance providers are doing every day.

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• Amerigroup Georgia is confronting foster care gaps in the state through its latest strategic partnership with Dr. John DeGarmo. The obstacles include the pressing need for more available foster homes to accommodate the 12,000 children in foster care, the demand for caregivers trained to address high acuity needs of youth in foster care, and the vital need to provide foster parents with better access to essential resources and specialized training to address issues like trauma, stress, and caregiver burnout effectively. To address these challenges, Dr. DeGarmo and Amerigroup are offering comprehensive virtual and in person training and support to foster parents throughout the state. This program provides over 75 hours of free training, equipping foster parents with essential tools and knowledge to establish nurturing and stable homes for children in need.

• Amerigroup Texas, and EVERFI from Blackbaud have launched an initiative to connect middle and high school students across the state with critical mental wellness and healthcare literacy courses. Amerigroup provided a $300,000 grant to deploy EVERFI’s digital curricula to Texas students in grades 8 to 10, most of whom are in underserved parts of the state.

• The Confess Project of America (TCPA), a national not-for-profit organization, and AmeriHealth Caritas Georgia, are teaming up to help combat mental illness in Georgia communities. As part of the collaboration, AmeriHealth Caritas is donating $25,000 to boost a TCPA mental health initiative. The organization’s support of TCPA will support program expansion in rural areas and provide mental health training programs for barbers to become mental health advocates in their communities.

• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield earned a 2023 Pinnacle Award from the Ohio Association of Health Plans for advances in personal digital care management, behavioral health treatment. The program offers dedicated care managers who collaborate with members to create personalized care plans aimed at helping them achieve and sustain their health goals.

• The Anthem Blue Cross Foundation has awarded $1.2 million in substance use disorder grants to 5 California-based organizations. The multi-year grants will help those experiencing mental health and substance use disorders transition from treatment, incarceration, or other high-risk settings to stable housing environments and provide access to evidence-based resources for prevention, treatment, and recovery in Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Francisco counties.

• Communities In Schools of Appalachian Highlands (CIS-AH) has announced a partnership with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to help reduce risk factors among students that lead to mental health and substance use disorder. The $750,000, 3-year investment from Anthem will help CIS-AH add new elements to its evidence-based programming that will strengthen the support provided to thousands of students, families, and staff at 51 schools across Southwest Virginia. CIS-AH places Student Support Coordinators within schools to cultivate relationships and become support systems for students – putting them in a unique position to intervene at the first sign of an adverse experience. Coordinators provide targeted, individualized services to the most at-risk students, while also offering school-wide education and support.

• 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.

• 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.
  

• 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.
  

• 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.

• Blue Shield of California posted tips for helping people who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts. Signs of struggle can include talking about dying, withdrawing from friends and activities, and increased alcohol or drug use. Blue Shield also included a number of resources where people can find help, including the 988 Lifeline and the TEEN hotline for youth mental health issues.

• Blue Shield of California is joining the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) in supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to combat the youth mental health crisis in the United States through trauma-informed approaches to behavioral health care. BCBSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies nationwide are investing more than $10 million over 4 years, which will help Boys & Girls Clubs of America implement trauma-informed practices in its more than 5,000 Clubs by 2026 and train over 48,000 staff to better support the emotional and mental well-being of over 3.6 million children.

• Four Blue Shield of California clinicians recently shared their thoughts on the current state of mental health care, and where the future might lead. They discussed the need to remove the stigma around mental health, as well as the need for more mental health and addiction clinicians.

• 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 Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has awarded $3.8 million to 76 nonprofit organizations committed to improving the health and wellness of Illinois residents. Award recipients include NAMI Illinois, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with mental health disorders and their families through support, education and advocacy, and the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, which is developing a local coalition — including school staff and SIU School of Medicine faculty — to establish a peer-to-peer program to mobilize students to become agents of change for mental health and well-being on their campuses.

• 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 (BCBSMT) and National Fitness Campaign are increasing access to fitness and reducing barriers to physical and mental health by collaborating to bring free, outdoor Fitness Courts® to communities across Montana .BCBSMT is contributing $250,000 in grants to help fund 10 new Fitness Courts across the state. The sites will begin construction as early as fall 2024 with the goal of being available for use in spring 2025.
• Funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana and other contributors is helping provide mental health training for up to 45 Montana pediatricians and primary care providers annually for 3 years. So far, about 40 medical professionals have received training through the REACH Institute, a nonprofit that offers mental health courses for health care providers to help better treat and manage patients with behavioral health conditions. The group meets monthly to follow up and review cases, as well as provide feedback and encouragement. BCBSMT’s support for the behavioral health training program is part of its larger vision to create more medical and behavioral health access and better care management for members.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has invested more than $4.3 million in partnerships, programs, and initiatives to support children, youth and families involved with the child welfare system. Since 2019, these investments have helped to increase the number of available foster families, address the mental health needs of children, strengthen families across the state and provide opportunities for youth transitioning out of foster care.
  
• 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 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 (BCBSTX) and Huston-Tillotson University have outlined the new Boldly B.L.U.E. program, which stands for birthing, learning, understanding and empowering. The program is part of BCBSTX’s expanded Special Beginnings initiative, which is focused on improving maternal health, including expanding access to behavioral health care during the preconception, prenatal and postpartum periods.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has announced an expansion of its Special Beginnings program, increasing offerings for members, and making significant investments in community partners aimed at improving the health of greater numbers of mothers and babies in Texas. The expansion will lead to greater access to comprehensive health services, including behavioral health care during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods.
• 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 announced a $300,000 investment to expand access to behavioral health care among adults aged 55 and older. The funding will be used by community nonprofit organizations to address behavioral health risks among older populations and embark on projects that aim to help them better manage chronic conditions, reduce isolation and loneliness, and improve their quality of life.
• 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 the Baltimore Ravens have made a grant to Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing. Nexus-Woodbourne was chosen for its commitment to supporting Maryland youth recovering from trauma. The $50,000 Huddle Up for Health grant will allow Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing to increase its ability to extend the safe, structured, and therapeutic community as youth successfully transition back into their external communities.
• Focused on providing awareness and support to the community by addressing health disparities, the “Huddle Up for Health” program is the latest collaborative initiative between the Baltimore Ravens and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The program continues the ongoing community wellness and health equity initiatives established by the 2 organizations, while broadening focus to include other health challenges individuals face throughout Maryland. This year, the Huddle Up for Health program will distribute a grant to a select Maryland-based nonprofit to build new programming or enhance current initiatives centered around mental health support and awareness. Eligible nonprofits can apply to receive up to $50,000 in grant funding.
• CareOregon is hosting a free, 4-part learning series about Youth Substance Use and Disorders. The training series aims to increase knowledge of youth-serving staff and medical providers regarding key issues impacting youth and how to navigate the substance use disorder treatment landscape.
• CareOregon, in partnership with Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Division, youth foster agency Maple Star and mental health agency Catholic Community Services, has launched the Response and Support Network Pilot Program (RSN) in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties to help support children and young people in foster care, and the families who care for them. Challenges such as lack of timely support, resources and mental health services increase the risk of placement instability for children and young people in foster care. The RSN pilot works to tackle this issue by providing whole family support for resource parents and children and young people in foster care.
  
• 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.
  
• Ser Familia recently announced a partnership with CareSource to increase outreach efforts to the state’s Hispanic community. With a focus on entire families, this initiative will help diagnose and assess behavioral risks – including post-partum depression – and create case plans for CareSource members in Georgia in their language of preference and with empathy for their cultural background. Thanks to a $30,000 commitment from CareSource, Ser Familia will also be able to expand the services it provides.
• CareSource announced a partnership with Attend Behavior, a mobile platform designed to empower parents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other behavioral conditions. This strategic collaboration aims to equip caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively engage with their children and promote positive behaviors.
• 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’s Project Health initiative deploys mobile vans into local communities nationwide to locations such as churches, community centers and homeless shelters to conduct physical and mental health screenings for early identification of health conditions. CVS Health has added nearly 100 community organizations over the past year to host its Project Health mobile units and plans to host nearly 2,000 Project Health screening events in 2023. This year, free depression screenings were also added.
• CVS Health is providing resources to help historically marginalized communities across America that face unique mental health challenges. At more than 1,000 MinuteClinic® locations in the U.S., patients can access depression screening services. At select MinuteClinic locations, patients can receive in-person and virtual mental health counseling services for depression, stress and anxiety from licensed mental health providers. Since the launch of MinuteClinic behavioral health services in 2021, 99% of new MinuteClinic patients have been able to see a mental health provider within 7 days, and 80% reported a reduction in depression symptoms. In 2019, CVS Health conducted about 200,000 mental health virtual visits. Since then, CVS Health has conducted approximately 30 million visits. To better address mental health in underserved communities, CVS Health also added free depression screenings for everyone who uses Project Health services. Anyone who screens positive for any physical or mental health conditions has an on-site consult with a nurse practitioner and is provided a directory of local health care providers.
• 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.
• in 2021, the Elevance Foundation committed to investing up to $30 million over a three-year period to support programs that address mental health, with a focus on Substance Use Disorder. To date, the Foundation has awarded $20.5 million across the country. The final round of the Foundation’s Substance Use Disorder grant RFP opened January 1 with applications due January 31. The Foundation is focused on identifying grants that advance health equity with a primary goal of improving the percentage of people receiving alcohol and/or substance dependence treatment among the most socially vulnerable communities.
• 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.
• Evernorth Health Services is launching a measurement-based care program for its behavioral health network. As part of the program's initial launch, Evernorth will work with over 44,000 providers, with plans to expand over time. Evernorth has identified key metrics for the program to ensure that customers have quick access to high-quality care, including how long it takes a patient to get an appointment, avoidance of a higher level of care, and total cost-of-care savings. The program will add to these measures over time as Evernorth engages with providers to align on best metrics.
• Florida Blue Foundation announced a $3.1 million investment to enhance mental health for children, teens, families, and older adults. Ten nonprofit organizations across the state share in the investment, which support community-based programs and partnerships that will increase access to mental health services and support.
• 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.
• Health Care Service Corporation is leading a strategic investment in Headway as part of the company’s Series C funding round. The transaction strengthens an ongoing strategic partnership between HCSC and Headway, which offers HCSC members access to Headway’s technology-enabled network of 26,000 behavioral health providers. Members can select the type of care they need – with options for virtual and in-person visits, different clinical specialties, as well as individual preference on language, race and ethnicity of the clinician.
• Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) is dedicating additional support and resources to help improve the health of mothers and babies. The company is launching an expanded program to aid moms along their pre- and post-natal journey. It comes as rates of maternal and infant deaths remain unacceptably high and amidst growing concern around access to care for new moms, including behavioral health. The enhanced initiative includes development of a unique service model for members and adds additional community supports to impact even more women and babies. The program aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps, and educating and engaging residents on a community level.
• Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Buffalo Bills celebrated Mental Health Advocates of WNY as the Highmark Community Hero during a playoff game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Highmark and Mental Health Advocates of WNY recently developed #weareHOPE, a collaborative effort to address the mental health needs of the community following multiple traumatic events in Buffalo over the last several years. As part of the initiative, the coalition of partners created a mental health resource guide for the community, which is available at mhawny.org.
• Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield employees delivered 45 handmade blankets, along with a $500 donation, to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) for adolescent patients ranging from 7-17 years old in ECMC’s Behavioral Health Center.
• Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York announced $2.65 million in Blue Fund grants to support 17 major health-based projects, led by local nonprofits across all 8 counties of Western New York. Olean General Hospital, for example, was awarded $200,000 to construct a private space within the emergency department dedicated to mental health patients and update the in-patient Mental Health Unit with safe furniture to suit the needs of these patients. Back to Basics Outreach Ministries, Inc. also was awarded $100,000 to support Buffalo HEAT, a program led by Buffalo Peacemakers that uses mentoring, nutrition, exercise, and restorative practices to empower youth to learn to resolve conflicts nonviolently, form habits that lead to health, develop life skills and self-confidence, and build a positive life purpose.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has put together 6 tips to help college students stay mentally healthy. Tips include emphasizing the importance of routines and good health habits as well as learning about campus resources and continuing to discuss mental health.
• The Humana Foundation announced a series of grants advancing its regional health equity mission by supporting seniors and school-aged children in living connected, healthy lives. The 23 grants spanning 4 geographies – Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana and Texas – and 4 Health Equity Innovation Fund projects will help beneficiaries create healthy emotional connections and shape a healthier approach to nutrition for lifelong wellbeing. The investment totaling $12.9 million includes a $4.9 million grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to initiate and elevate mental health programs at chapters in the 4 geographies, including mental health first aid training for mentors and related coursework for youth.
• The Humana Foundation has announced a partnership with Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) to help small business mental health providers scale their operations and increase sustainable services to victims of trauma in the city. Grants between $50,000 and $100,000 will be awarded for projects that enable providers to significantly increase the number of people receiving mental health services. Priority will be given to applicants who commit to addressing categories of mental health that are in dire shortage – such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and youth counselors – and applicants prioritizing care to diverse and underrepresented populations.
• Independence Blue Cross was recognized with a first-place award for its How I Know my Mind video and blog campaign focused on mental health. The How I Know My Mind campaign is the next chapter in the Know Your Mind campaign launched in Fall 2020. The campaign was launched to advance the company’s commitment to “whole-person health” – acknowledging that mental health is a fundamental part of a person’s overall health. The award, known as a Pepperpot, was given by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
• In collaboration with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation is supporting an integrated tele-behavioral health model for students in Philadelphia schools. The program was piloted at Girard College, a private residential school for 1st-12th grade students — 80% of whom have experienced some form of trauma. In the initiative's first year, more than 300 individual counseling sessions were conducted and more than 200 students with untreated behavioral health needs were referred to care.
• Kaiser Permanente is working to improve the mental health crisis and better coordinate care with public-facing systems, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Kaiser supports a range of options, including strengthening access to crisis services, advancing residential crisis programs, and building mobile crisis teams.
  
• 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.
• L.A. Care is investing $4,050,000 in a Street Medicine Initiative to expand access and improve the quality of medical care available to unsheltered people where they are and on their terms. 9 organizations offering street medicine will each receive up to $500,000. Among other services that will be provided through this initiative are enhanced care management, preventive screenings, vaccinations, screenings for severe mental illness, and connections to housing and social services.
• Magellan Healthcare, Inc., has been selected by the State of Idaho to serve as the state-wide contractor for the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. The plan offers a system of medically necessary, integrated care and crisis services for individuals with a serious mental illness, severe and persistent mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, substance use disorder, and those with co-occurring disorders. The contract includes Medicaid and non-Medicaid services, creating a transformational and seamless behavioral health system for Idahoans.
• 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.
• MetroPlus Health reported significant positive patient outcomes two years after completing the insourcing of behavioral health (BH) services. MetroPlus' program outperforms the New York State average by 6 points for expeditious outpatient follow-up care of individuals admitted for substance use. The new model makes it easier for the health plan to identify, monitor, and partner with its members and providers to successfully treat their physical and mental health needs and their social determinants, the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. The MetroPlusHealth model also includes peer support, where support workers share similar lived experiences of being diagnosed with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both.
• Molina Healthcare of Florida and BeMe Health have teamed up to support over 22,000 Molina Medicaid member teenagers through BeMe's behavioral health app. The app connects teens with customized mental health and well-being content, skill-building activities, and personalized one-on-one coaching. It also offers clinical services and crisis support.
• The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Texas, presented $15,000 to Border Region Behavioral Health Center in support of enhancing mental health and behavioral health services in the region. The Center provides support in planning, planning, policy development, coordination, resource allocation and resource development for and oversight of mental health and developmental disability services in the local service area.
• The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Passport by Molina Healthcare, presented a $10,000 grant to Metro United Way in support of its Black L.O.V.E. (Live, Own, Vote, Excel) Philanthropic Partnership. The initiative aims to address racial inequality by funding multiple area organizations addressing gaps in education, mental and physical health, food access, and more. The Partnership uses philanthropic resources, such as this donation offered by the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, to invest in the growth of the 7 core areas recommended by the Black Social Change Funders Network to correct systemic inequality. In all, 19 community organizations and agencies are funded by the program.
• The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Passport by Molina Healthcare, presented a $15,000 donation to Home of the Innocents. The funds will help Home of the Innocents to implement their multisystemic therapy services program for adolescents in the Greater Louisville area. Multisystemic therapy service is an evidence-based program tailored to the needs of each family, supporting children ages 12 through 17 who show chronic or serious anti-social behavior and have a high risk of out-of-home placement. The program uses a home-based model of service delivery, including therapy that educates families on the effects of trauma.
• The Ohio Association of Health Plans named Molina Healthcare of Ohio a Pinnacle Award winner for its Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED) care model and Helping Other People through Empowerment (HOPE) team. This effort is designed to help adults with SMI and children with SED diagnoses manage their condition by providing specialized supports, including education and empowerment for members and their caregivers to effectively manage their condition.
• The MolinaCares Accord, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Virginia, is launching its MolinaCares Partnership for Petersburg initiative with an initial investment of over $430,000 to improve access to care and community health for the city of Petersburg. The Partnership is supporting calming rooms and spaces in Petersburg City Public Schools that provide a safe environment for students who need support when they become frustrated or overwhelmed. The spaces will also be used to support teachers who need positive tools for struggling students. MolinaCares has invested over $83,000 in volunteer time, supplies, and furniture to create spaces for over 4,200 students in every Petersburg City Public School – spaces that students will be able to access during the school day by September of 2023.
  
• Peach State Health Plan announced a new partnership with Pyx Health to combat social isolation, loneliness, and depression in young Georgians. More than 305,000 Peach State Health Plan members ages 13 to 17 now have access to Pyx Health's interactive platform, evidenced based screening, and trained human support from young adults with shared life experience called ANDY’s (Authentic, Nurturing, Dependable and Your friend) for loneliness and depression, while proactively connecting them with critical resources to improve their overall health, resiliency and social supports.
• 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 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.
• Sunflower Health Plan and the Centene Foundation have announced a $390,000 grant to Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled to bring the Smart Living Model to Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. LADD's Smart Living Model uses technology and training to increase independence and promote high quality care. The partnership with LADD will involve initial collaborative efforts with Johnson County Developmental Supports in Lenexa, KS, and Cottonwood, Inc., in Lawrence, KS, who will help coordinate and oversee the implementation through their residential services. The partnership aims to offer technology and support to give members with IDD more options for living in the most integrated setting possible, in a community of their choice.
• 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.
• San Antonio Independent School District has announced a new partnership Hazel Health and Superior HealthPlan to offer comprehensive health care services at 3 schools. For schools that are engaged in the program, Hazel Health is on track to double access to support for mental well-being, and 70% of students who have received teletherapy have seen clinically significant improvement.
• In recognition of National PTSD Awareness Month in June, Superior HealthPlan encourages Texans to learn about PTSD and how to seek help, whether for themselves or their loved ones. There are 2 primary treatments for PTSD: psychotherapy and medications. Superior HealthPlan also has multiple programs and resources to help people who have PTSD and other behavioral health needs. These include:
  
  • myStrength – This is a free online tool for Superior members and is available 24/7. It offers personalized resources to help take charge of mental health.
    
  • Teladoc – This virtual option is available for all Superior members and offers 24/7 access to healthcare services, including behavioral health services.
    
  • 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 behavioral health support.
• 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 and UPMC clinicians have announced the launch of the health system's new community-based Health Access Initiative for Recovery (HAIR). Working with community partners, UPMC Health Plan created the HAIR program to train Allegheny County-based Black barbers and stylists on how to talk to their clientele about substance use, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, and how to properly refer them to resources and help. The goals of the HAIR initiative include improving health outcomes in the Black community through increasing culturally meaningful outreach, supporting ongoing engagement and education, and reducing health disparities that can impact prevention, early intervention, and treatment in underserved communities.
• 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.