Talkspace Expands Affordable Mental Health Care Offering for 40 Million Americans

Digital behavioral health leader Talkspace has announced the launch a new campaign, in partnership with Michael Phelps, to highlight coverage for over 40 million Americans. The goal of this partnership campaign is to promote access to affordable mental health services on a HIPAA-compliant web and mobile platform. Currently, Talkspace is covered by the nation's largest health insurers, including Cigna, Optum, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana. Talkspace also offers coverage plans directly through employers, educational institutions and other large member organizations. - Digital Health Times

COVID-19 Unmasked: Mental Health | Valera Health Expands Telemental Health Services to Support CDPHP Members

Valera Health has officially expanded its telemental health services to members of the Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP). Members can now receive care in the comfort and safety of their own homes. First announced in 2019, CDPHP will employ Valera's digital tools and advanced data analytics to amplify the impact of clinical services and maximize patient engagement and outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pandemic and social isolation can increase stress and anxiety, and these feelings are also known to increase the risk of suicide. The CDC recommends focusing on emotional well-being and seeking treatment via in-person or telehealth services.

Oscar Receives $225 Million in New Funding & Cigna+Oscar Update

Oscar, the first direct-to-consumer health insurance company, announces today that it has closed a $225 million funding round. The round positions Oscar to continue growth off of a $2 billion revenue base and puts the company on a path to further advance its mission of making health care simple. This was a big week for Oscar. Earlier in the week, Cigna and Oscar released more details on their Cigna+Oscar partnership to provide affordable, customized health plans to small businesses.

The Move to Digital Therapeutics: AireHealth Announces Agreement to Acquire BreathResearch

AireHealth will consolidate BreathResearch’s employees and intellectual property, expanding its footprint into the digital therapeutics space. The combined organization will develop the industry’s first complete virtual care platform for respiratory illness to reduce costs and improve outcomes.

This acquisition allows AireHealth to complement its existing portable nebulizer through digital respiratory health care services to complement its existing portable nebulizer. The VitalBreath virtual care platform will empower patients, caregivers, and clinicians to be more informed and collaborative in respiratory care, enabling faster response to exacerbations and translating to fewer emergencies and fewer hospitalizations.

Cigna Expands Virtual Support for Mental Health | Talkspace Now Covers 40 Million US Insured

May is Mental Health Awareness month and effective today, Cigna is making it simpler and more convenient for its customers to access an expanded suite of virtual support services for mental and emotional health. Cigna is adding Talkspace to its behavioral provider network, allowing its 14 million customers enrolled in employer-sponsored plans the ability to talk and text with licensed therapists, who are available on-demand.

FDA Issues EUA for First COVID-19 Standalone At-Home Sample Collection Kit

The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Everlywell, Inc. for the Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit. Everlywell’s kit, a self-collected nasal swab, is authorized to be used by individuals at home who have been screened using an online questionnaire that is reviewed by a health care provider. This marks the first standalone sample collection kit to be granted a proper EUA by the FDA. The FDA has also authorized two COVID-19 diagnostic tests, performed at specific laboratories, for use with samples collected using the Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit. These tests have been authorized under separate, individual EUAs.

COVID-19 Digital Tools & Resources | Apple, Google Partner Up to Offer COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Apple, Google Partner Up to Offer COVID-19 Contact Tracing Recently Apple and Google partnered together on contract tracing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Contact tracing makes it possible to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus by alerting participants of potential exposure to someone who they have recently been in contact with, and … Continue reading COVID-19 Digital Tools & Resources | Apple, Google Partner Up to Offer COVID-19 Contact Tracing →