Digital health fundaMentals

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year it comes at a pivotal time in our country’s recovery from the pandemic—roughly one-third of Americans report symptoms of anxiety or depression. Startups and large organizations alike continue to offer up solutions. Transcarent is rolling out a program to ensure patients can access virtual or in-person therapy appointments within three days. Amwell announced a virtual mental health offering with access to Amwell therapists and psychiatrists and programs from acquired SilverCloud Health. Companies like Pinterest and Bumble are also in the mix: the former with new mental health activations and content for users seeking resources; the latter with free online trauma support for relationship abuse survivors via a partnership with Bloom. Google has shared new resources too, across Search, YouTube, FitBit, and more.

Meanwhile, the other shoe is beginning to drop: economists are concerned that a rush of private equity firms into mental health could cause the cost of care to skyrocket; companies that prescribe controlled substances are re-evaluating their approach; plus downloads of the top mental health apps have declined by over 30% since January 2021. Digital health remains key to solving the supply and demand issues plaguing mental healthcare—but determining the business models that will make access sustainable is still a work in progress.

RockHealth.org is excited to launch the second cohort of Rock Health Summit Innovation Fellows! The Rock Health Summit Innovation Fellowship program is a year-long engagement designed to create opportunities for emerging digital health leaders. Click here to learn more and apply by June 17.

Headlines

Providers Must Choose Words Carefully When Pushing For Telehealth Expansion
Telehealth, telemedicine, virtual care, and digital health are not interchangeable MedCityNews

Google And Samsung Join Forces To Make It Easier To Sync Fitness Data
New platform for developers syncs data between Android devices, apps The Verge

Digital Health Startups Are Finally Building For Medicaid Users
Medicaid beneficiaries’ self-reported use of digital health tools greater than Medicare, uninsured populations Axios

FDA Smiles On Second Cavity-Spotting AI In A Month
Weeks after VideaHealth scored FDA clearance, Overjet follows suit Fierce Healthcare

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