A new psychedelic (r)evolution
Several digital health startups have sprouted recently to offer virtual, psychedelic-assisted mental healthcare. In 2022, psychedelic mental health startup raises (Fluence, Nue Life Health, Enthea, and Innerwell, to name a few) only represented a small portion of the total $2.1B raised for digital mental health solutions. But 2023 may prove to be a pivotal year with Journey Clinical’s $9M raise and plan coverage announcements already under our belts. Many of these solutions deliver ketamine-assisted therapy along with traditional psychotherapy (virtual, in-person, and hybrid) to treat patients with PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression. There’s growing evidence on the efficacy of clinical interventions—and growing confidence among investors that these solutions can improve mental health outcomes. But it’s a little too soon to call this a surefire approach. In addition to navigating operational, business model, and reimbursement obstacles, digital health companies providing psychedelic interventions face a lagging regulatory landscape. Startups offering tele-prescription of ketamine, in particular, are currently utilizing a prescribing model that's dependent on legislation set to shortly expire, though professional organizations are already lobbying the DEA for a permanent provision. The staying power of these solutions will depend on how broadly policymakers prioritize change.
Headlines
White House Plans To End COVID Emergency Declarations May 11
Giving time to address telehealth barriers and determine Medicaid eligibility Fierce Healthcare
Data Interoperability At The Federal Level Requires Cross-Sector Collaboration
How the private and public sectors can work together to share data MobiHealth News
GoodRx Leaked Sensitive Health Information To Facebook And Google, FTC Alleges
FTC moves out for the first time (but likely not the last) under Health Breach Notification Rule STAT
Former Oracle Exec Troy Tazbaz Tapped As FDA Director Of Digital Health
Troy Tazbaz to lead the agency's digital health initiatives Fierce Healthcare
How Employers’ Investment In Health Benefits Has Transformed Over Time
Healthcare navigation companies are proving beneficial MedCity News
Trust, Not Technology, Bonds Patients And Providers
Securing trust is a keystone to successful patient-provider relationships, but remains a challenge Impact Alpha
Telehealth Post-Covid: Going Digital To Reduce Medical Cost?
Data-driven analysis needed to realize the full benefits of telehealth Medical Economics
Recent Funding
- Healthcare data aggregation, management, and analytics firm Clearsense locks in $50M
- Aluna inhales $15M for its connected spirometer to monitor chronic respiratory conditions
- Teal Health finds $8.8M for its at-home cervical cancer screening kit and support programs
- AnswersNow inks $11M to grow its personalized digital autism support and therapy offerings
- Precision nutrition and metabolic health company Levels lands another $7M
- Frontrow Health brings home $3M to build its product marketplace for consumers and providers