NEW YORK / Apr 29, 2024 / Business Wire / Today, Talkspace, a leading online behavioral health company, announced the launch of its Behavioral Health Consortium, a curated network of specialty providers featuring Charlie Health, Ria Health, Bicycle Health, and more. This consortium enables Talkspace clinicians to refer insured members to like-minded, in-network, clinically-vetted specialty care providers who provide a higher level of care for higher acuity needs such as treatment for alcoholism, substance use, and eating disorders. As one of the largest in-network digital mental healthcare providers, covering more than 130 million lives, Talkspace is helping patients stay in-network and enhancing access to comprehensive, whole person care.

With almost one-third (28.2%) of all adults with mental illness reporting that they were not able to receive the treatment they needed, and nearly 42% of adults reporting they were unable to receive necessary care because they could not afford it, Talkspace’s Behavioral Health Consortium aims to bridge the gap in care. Patients in need of higher levels of care or more structured treatment programs can benefit from Talkspace's clinical team meticulously vetting these providers and can leverage their insurance to access these specialized services, while remaining in-network and removing financial barriers to accessing essential treatment and quality care.

“We know it is important for our payer partners to keep their members in-network, as they strive to provide them affordable access to the support they need to thrive,” said Erin Boyd, Chief Growth Officer at Talkspace. “With the introduction of this consortium, we are better enabling our members to stay in-network for their specialty care needs, all within their Talkspace member experience.”

“At Talkspace, we recognize that some members may require a higher level of care or specialized treatment programs,” said Nikole Benders-Hadi, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace. “By collaborating with trusted partners, we can offer our members access to clinically-vetted providers while maintaining our commitment to affordability and accessibility. This initiative underscores our dedication to delivering comprehensive, whole-person care to our members, ensuring that their mental health needs are met holistically.”

Carter Barnhart, CEO and Co-Founder of Charlie Health, the leading provider of virtual high-acuity mental health care for young people and a member of the consortium, applauded Talkspace's initiative in supporting those affected by the escalating mental health crisis. Barnhart stated, “As we witness a rising number of young people struggling with severe mental health issues like self-harm and suicidality, it is crucial to prioritize the accessibility of potentially life-saving interventions. We’re encouraged to see Talkspace taking this important step for its members and continuing to innovate in response to their evolving needs."

In addition to provider referrals, Talkspace’s Behavioral Health Consortium can be accessed through Talkspace’s Health Collective, the recently launched wellness ecosystem featuring partnerships with Oura, Evernow, Bicycle Health, Conceive, and Options MD, that provides all members with vetted and curated resources, and member benefits across the entire health spectrum.

About Talkspace

Talkspace (NASDAQ: TALK) is a leading virtual behavioral healthcare provider committed to helping people lead healthier, happier lives through access to high-quality mental healthcare. At Talkspace, we believe that mental healthcare is core to overall health and should be available to everyone.

Talkspace pioneered the ability to text with a licensed therapist from anywhere and now offers a comprehensive suite of mental health services, including therapy for individuals, teens, and couples, as well as psychiatric treatment and medication management (18+). With Talkspace’s core therapy offerings, members are matched with one of thousands of licensed therapists within days and can engage in live video, audio, or chat sessions, and/or unlimited asynchronous text messaging sessions.

All care offered at Talkspace is delivered through an easy-to-use, fully-encrypted web and mobile platform that meets HIPAA, federal, and state regulatory requirements. More than 130 million Americans have access to Talkspace through their health insurance plans, employee assistance programs, our partnerships with leading healthcare companies, or as a free benefit through their employer, school, or government agency.

For more information, visit www.talkspace.com.