To address increasing demand and provider shortages, rural communities are increasingly taking advantage of telemental health or telebehavioral health services, according to the Rural Health Information Hub of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA notes that “a large body of evidence has demonstrated that telemental health programs help increase access to care in areas with limited mental health resources, provide effective treatment for mental health conditions, and improve medication adherence.”
Recognizing that growing need, telehealth company American Well has purchased Aligned Health, one of the largest providers of behavioral telehealth. Aligned Telehealth’s behavioral telehealth and telepsychiatry customers include Dignity Health and Christus Health.
American Well powers telehealth solutions for over 160 health systems comprised of 2,000 hospitals and 55 health plan partners covering over 150 million lives.
The companies said combining Aligned Telehealth’s ability to access a network of clinical experts with American Well’s digital care delivery platform, they will deliver programs that hospitals, health plans and the industry at large can leverage to address the mounting challenges of clinician shortages, fragmented care and societal stigmas impeding adequate behavioral health access and treatment.
“Aligned Telehealth is the leading player in on-demand telepsychiatry services, supporting major medical centers and Medicaid plans in their efforts to meet the needs of patients,” said Ido Schoenberg, M.D., chairman and CEO of American Well, in a prepared statement. “By adding the Aligned clinical network and expertise, American Well can further expand and enhance our virtual behavioral health programs, an exciting and important endeavor that will positively impact patients, their families, and the treatment teams providing their care, while advancing clinical outcomes and reducing overall costs.”
