The Growing Threat of Vertical Consolidation in Mental Health
Sean K. Shahkarami, CPA, CFF, MAc
Where Personal Revelation Meets Professional Elevation. Helping Leaders Ascend with Purpose.
Many of you already know my stance and ongoing research on the vertical consolidation of mental health by insurance giants and their investment companies like Headway and Alma.
This week, I had the privilege of sitting down again with the Therapy Disruptors podcast to dive deeper into this critical topic. We discussed how major players like BCBS’s holding company, HCSC, United Healthcare (via Optum Ventures), and Cigna are rapidly taking over the mental health specialty—and why this wave of consolidation is even more damaging than what specialists and PCPs experienced in previous rounds of medical consolidation.
This is a vital conversation for mental health providers and allies alike. Please take the time to listen to this episode linked here and share it with your network. Let’s shine a light on this issue and advocate for change.
Co-Founder
6moMy latest dealing with Cigna seemed to confirm a very big change. An dit's not good.I have talked to therapists tat are "BetterHelp" providers and they have not been kind. $20 per session? Really?! What is happening?... Imagine if a surgeon was only paid $250 for their surgery and subsequent care. Wake up People. That is what us counselors are going through.