Finding a therapist in the network has been a challenge for a long time, and with More people experience anxiety and depression During the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not become easier.Many startups are solving this problem-either by providing Remote therapy or self-directed exercises.
A company called Alma is taking a different approach to make it easier for therapists to grow their business and purchase insurance when they choose. The New York-based startup recently raised $50 million in a Series C financing led by Insight Partners as it added more therapists to its membership service.
So far, the company has won more than 2,000 therapists through this method, most of whom have participated in its insurance plan.
“At Alma, we are establishing a new model of mental health care that puts therapists at the forefront of everything we do,” CEO Dr. Harry Ritter said in a press conference. “We cannot talk about the $221 billion mental health crisis per year without acknowledging the providers on the front lines of this crisis. In the past year, we have doubled the tools and services to support our suppliers and expand us The wide range of insurance products allows suppliers to easily accept insurance and obtain financial returns.”
Ritter founded the company in 2017 and previously worked for the insurance company Oscar It went public earlier this year. The original goal was to help therapists provide face-to-face care, but since the beginning of the pandemic, many of them have begun to provide virtual visits. According to an internal survey, 95% of Alma’s providers plan to continue to provide remote treatment and will continue to pay for these visits the same as face-to-face treatment.
Alma’s membership costs $125 per month, which allows clinicians to use its software, billing and scheduling tools, and insurance support. It requires some large insurance companies, including Ritter’s former employers, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare.
It also provides a service to help patients find the right therapist based on their needs, schedule and budget. Otherwise, the therapist can still carry out their own practice, including deciding their schedule and how many patients to see each week.
This startup plans to use the funds to bring in more therapists and expand its footprint in the United States. Another startup, Headway, is Take a similar approach, Act as an independent contractor by establishing your own network of therapists.
Photo credit: Olga Strelnikova, Getty Images
