Bridging the Gap: How MD Live is Modernizing Behavioral Health Support

The behavioral health crisis in the United States continues to deepen. One in 5 adults in the United States experiences behavioral health issues each year.1 Children and teens are suffering in unprecedented numbers, and people of all ages are going untreated:

• Among children and adolescents, 1 in 6 people between the ages of 6 and 17 experience a behavioral health disorder each year.2
• Over half (54.7%) of adults experiencing a behavioral health issue are going untreated.3
• 28.2% of those with untreated behavioral health issues have not received care for themselves or sought care for their loved one because they didn’t know where to go or how to access treatment.4

The good news is that 82% of Americans believe behavioral health is just as important as physical health,5and more people are willing to access and use available resources. In addition, improving access to care has become a priority for plan sponsors. According to Evernorth’s 2024 Healthcare in Focus Report, 89% of employers indicate they currently offer behavioral health benefits and will continue to prioritize them in the future.

So, how do we increase access to care?

Virtual care options are at the forefront of increasing access to behavioral health care by removing some of the most common barriers -- such as time, travel, and social stigmas -- by allowing patients access to care from the privacy of home.

• 1

  https://mhanational.org/mentalhealthfacts

• 2

  https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/#:~:text=1%20in%206%20U.S.%20youth,and%2075%25%20by%20age%2024

• 3

  https://mhanational.org/issues/2023/mental-health-america-adult-data#six

• 4

  https://mhanational.org/mentalhealthfacts

• 5

  https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/while-americans-view-their-mental-and-physical-health-equally-important-they-dont-think-healthcare

With services ranging from psychiatric care to therapy to digital coaching tools, MD Live is committed to addressing the behavioral health needs of members with busy lifestyles. MD Live provides members with the support they need to address behavioral health needs holistically, at a faster rate than industry norms, and with care that is just as effective as receiving care in person.

How MD Live Behavioral Health offerings are different than other virtual care solutions.

• Fully integrated support

  MD Live behavioral health support goes beyond counseling sessions. Therapists and psychiatrists have the option of assigning Well-being Tools to help keep patients on track on their behavioral health journey. These digital tools also allow behavioral health professionals to address adherence issues and treatment needs more easily.
  
  

• More personalized experience

  Unlike many direct-to-consumer solutions, we offer more than just quick texts or chats with a behavioral health professional. MD Live focuses on creating strong relationships between patients and their therapists and psychiatrists by providing an experience more like an in-office visit than other teletherapy providers. This results in more meaningful interactions and improved outcomes.
  
  Patients can choose their behavioral health professional, continue their care with that same professional, or switch to a different provider anytime, for any reason.7 Our broad network of therapists and board-certified psychiatrists offers patients more choices and empowers them to find a provider that best meets their needs.
  
  

• Counseling and psychiatry offerings

  Some behavioral health conditions can be treated through talk therapy. Other conditions require medication assistance as well. With MD Live, patients have access to therapy and psychiatry providers, and if they need both, their providers can collaborate to provide the patient with the best possible care. MD Live Behavioral Health professionals can also coordinate with a patient’s primary care physician if requested.
  
  

• Treat adolescent patients 10+

  71% of teens between the ages of 13-19 agree that the state of the world today makes it hard to maintain good behavioral health.8 MD Live is one of the only virtual care providers able to offer treatment for those who are 10+ and above. Additionally, we provide ongoing support for patients from youth to adulthood, all on the same platform, with the same professional.
  
  

• Family and couples counseling

  MD Live supports the whole family, offering family and couples counseling sessions. Behavioral health issues often impact the entire family, and frequently, joint counseling sessions are needed.

Improving patient engagement between visits with MD Live Well-being Tools.

Expanding our services with digital tools has helped MD Live support patients beyond what is typically offered, even in traditional behavioral health in-person visits.

MD Live Well-being Tools are offered through the MD Live Health Coaching app to help patients remain engaged in their care and feel supported in their behavioral health journey between visits. These digital tools help patients manage stress and anxiety, stay mindful, and track their progress – all in one app, which offers:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) action plans
• Guided meditations
• Journaling
• Mood trackers
• Anxiety trackers
• Sleep trackers

• 7

  Patients may switch providers up to two times following their first appointment but may not exceed three providers in total.

• 8

  https://www.mdlive.com/business/resources/download/MDLive_FamilyMatters_FINAL%208.10.pdf

With the Well-being Tools, patients can gain skills to self-manage issues without waiting for their next session, which helps boost progress and improve outcomes:

• 54% of members who have used or are open to using behavioral health services think progress tracking is important to their care.10
• 42% of members open to using behavioral health services find self-guided exercises helpful.11
• 71% of current and prior patients want supportive features that help maintain and boost progress between sessions.12

MD Live therapists and psychiatrists can assign Well-being Tools to patients once they complete their initial visit. Mood, anxiety, and sleep tracking data entered into the app by the patient is securely stored and shared with a patient’s provider. Journaling and open-ended written prompts remain confidential.

Providers can then use the tools to identify treatment needs earlier, track progress, and personalize interventions for their patients.

• 10

  MD Live Mental Health Research Insights & Actions. January 2022. from members who have used or are open to using mental health services.

• 11

  MD Live Mental Health Research Insights & Actions. January 2022. from members who have used or are open to using mental health services.

• 12

  https://www.mdlive.com/business/resources/download/MDLIVE_Behavioral-Health-B2B_FNL_WEB.pdf

3 Ways MD Live is bringing equity to behavioral health services.

While digital tools help support patients who have already had a behavioral health visit with MD Live, the more significant challenge is ensuring all patients have easier access to behavioral health care.

MD Live is working to expand behavioral health equity by ensuring all patients can access behavioral health care conveniently and safely without having to travel, suffer social stigmas, or endure long waits.

1. Allows patients to get care without having to travel

   Nearly half of Americans, or 46%, have had to or know someone who has had to drive more than an hour roundtrip to seek treatment for behavioral health issues.13

   With MD Live, patients can get care without traveling to a physical office. Virtual care helps empower people with physical or transportation limitations or those limited by the scarcity of care, such as in rural or underserved areas.

   For those who don’t have easy access to in-person therapy or psychiatry, virtual appointments help close gaps in care.

• 13

  https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/news/lack-of-access-root-cause-mental-health-crisis-in-america/ (This source is from 2018 (7 years old.) Client needs to provide newer source)

2. Mitigate the negative stigma surrounding behavioral health illness and care

   Telehealth sessions can help mitigate the stigma associated with receiving behavioral health care. MD Live allows patients to get care within the privacy of their homes, allowing patients the confidentiality and security many need to feel comfortable accessing behavioral health care resources. Nearly 70% of patients preferred telehealth sessions over in-person visits for therapy sessions.15Patients can get the care they need in a familiar and safe environment.
   
   

3. Reduce wait times to get help

   According to a 2023 annual survey by the American Psychological Association, more people are seeking care for anxiety disorders, depression, and stress-related disorders, adding to already long waitlists. The average wait time for therapy appointments in the United States is three months or longer, and it continues to grow steadily.16

• 15

  American Psychological Association (APA) 2023 Telepsychology Practice Survey

• 16

  https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/practitioner/2023-psychologist-reach-limits