Charting a New Course

Is DTx ready for a comeback? Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) fee schedule called for reimbursement of digital therapeutics. In February of this year, Happify Health, which became Twill, was acquired by Dario Health. Then, in April, Curio won FDA approval for its postpartum depression digital therapeutic, and for Otsuka’s digital treatment for depression. Perhaps no industry went from “hero to zero and possibly back to hero…” in the post-Covid world faster than the digital therapeutics industry.

An industry plagued by claims of poor outcomes and faulty data has seen a renaissance in 2024. In the next two episodes, Brendon Kelly and Dr. Zucker (a long-time veteran and advocate of the DTX space) walk us through the state of the union for digital therapeutics. 

Completing the epic trilogy on care, coordination, and collaboration, Nate and Brendon discuss the bottom of the sales funnel. In this EP they discuss four companies: Dyna Health, Helper Bees, Care-point Health and Navi Health.

Are there sexier words in the English language than "mid-funnel patient engagement"? 

In this episode we discuss Remedy Health, Prevent Scripts, Baby Scripts, and Glooko. We explore the integration of electronic health records (EHRs), the need for personalized behavior change strategies, and the role of coaching and affinity groups in patient engagement. 

We're back!

In season two of Charting a New Course, Brendon Kelly and Dr. Murray Zucker are unaffiliated and unhinged, joined by show producer, Nate Purpura. 

In EP1, the trio discuss the challenges of the healthcare system and the importance of aligning incentives with desired outcomes. We dig into three healthcare startups: Auxa Health, Endear Health, and Socially Determined.

Auxa Health  https://www.auxahealth.com
Endear Health - https://www.endearhealth.com
Socially Determined - https://www.sociallydetermined.com 

What role will technology and digital solutions play in streamlining healthcare so that it is more impactful and efficient for patients, employers, healthcare providers, and government agencies? Brendon and Murray are joined by healthcare executives and thought leaders Kevin Pereau and Henry Loubet in this provocative round table, spanning mental health, artificial intelligence, best practices for sustained engagement in digital health, and more. 

Kevin Pereau is Founder and CEO of TranscendIT Health, a healthcare strategy and management consulting firm focused on helping healthcare providers, payers, and innovators better connect with consumers. 

Henry Loubet is the CEO of Bohemia Health, which identifies high-potential companies and accelerates their growth in the healthcare marketplace. Henry’s tenure in healthcare spans 30+ years, and his roles include CEO of the Western region for United HealthCare, and Chief Strategy Officer for Keenan. 

Eight million Americans suffer from psoriatic arthritis. You can be diagnosed at any time. The disease affects everyone in different ways — physically, mentally, and emotionally. From rashes to arthritis, psoriasis is unpredictable. And unfortunately, those who suffer don’t always manage the disease up to the level that it needs. In this episode, Murray discusses the partnership between the National Psoriasis Foundation and Happify Health with NFP CEO Leah Howard, and Theo Ahadome, an SVP at Happify Health. The goal of the partnership is to unleash the tools and resources needed—including digital therapeutics— to help those who suffer, manage, and even thrive with their disease. Tune in for a lively and informative discussion. 

NPF CEO Leah Howard has 20 years of experience working with national health and disability organizations, local governments, and leading health care and research institutions. She has a bachelor of arts degree in government and international relations from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from George Mason University School of Law. 

In this week’s podcast, Dr. Murray’s co-host is Eliane Boucher, Happify Health’s Senior Director of Research Strategy. They will share some news that will give hope to patients dealing with psoriasis. They’re joined by Theo Ahadome, SVP of commercialization at Happify, and Mohanad Fors, the Head of Global Commercial Digital Innovation at the global biopharmaceutical company, Almirall. 

The discussion goes in depth about an innovative new whole-patient approach to psoriasis, and without spoiling too much, we’re excited to announce that Happify and Almirall are teaming up to help psoriasis patients, with the rollout of a digital solution called CLARO. Almirall has made impressive strides in the fight against psoriasis. And now, Happify is joining forces with them to offer digital programs to patients in order to fuel more well-rounded solutions that support mental health issues associated with the disease like anxiety and depression. Happify Health’s evidence-based and clinically validated platforms deliver mental health solutions to patients who deal with chronic diseases like psoriasis. 

Tune in to learn more about CLARO and the benefits it will deliver. 

Mohanad is the Head of Global Commercial Digital Innovation & Head at Digital Garden at Almiral. This digital innovation hub has a specific focus in HealthTech. Mohanad’s accolades include the European Excellence, Clio, and Cannes Lions awards for innovative health-first projects, like the first navigation application on smart watches, for visually impaired patients.

At least 50% of the population has panic attacks, or have had one. So, what happens when those people must go to work? Panic attacks and many other types of mental health events and illnesses don’t step aside just so you can get that email out on time. In this episode, Brendon and Murray talk with Alison Cupito, the Global Mental Health & Wellness Program Lead at Accenture, about the evolving nature of mental health in the workplace. 

Alison shares how the international consultancy Accenture has developed a culture where peers, from C-Suite to entry level, check in on one another—in the firm’s offices all around the world. Additionally, the group discusses racial, and geographic inequities and stigmas when it comes to addressing mental health, and the positive conversations that happen to initiate openness, comfort, and change. And Alison outlines methods Accenture takes to create more empathetic leadership, foster meaningful conversations about mental illness (even in job interviews), and accommodate employees with mental health challenges. 

Based in Texas, Alison’s had a decade-long career at Accenture, and her expertise in the field of mental health is driving change in the consulting industry. 

Mental Health America CEO Schroeder Stribling joins Brendon and Murray in a lively conversation about the 2022 report on Mental Health in America in 2021. 

There’s no question that the pandemic brought our collective mental health crisis into sharp relief, but what can be done about it now? Stribling discusses with Brendon and Murray what can be done, proactively, at a policy level, to start getting more Americans the help they need, in the ways they need it. 

That fact is that three-quarters of the people seeking help for mental health now have never sought help before. Many of these people are multiracial and LGBTQ youth. In a world where almost everyone needs a some level of care, Mental Health America aims to answer some of the most immediate questions, like: How can community, and peers play a role in helping alongside leadership? How can the new 988 mental health crisis phone number rolling out in July be a valuable resource for everyone? What role do Mental Health America’s local affiliate partners play? How will this take the pressure off of 911 responders? How can we assist broad populations without missing the cultural nuances that set them apart? 

All of these questions and more are addressed in this new episode. 

Schroeder Stribling is the President and CEO of Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. She is a lifelong social justice advocate with over 20 years of experience managing organizations focused on mental health, homelessness, poverty, and racial justice. 

One in six people have symptoms of depression and don’t recognize it. In this episode of Charting a New Course, Brendon and Murray are joined by members of Happify Health’s research team to take a closer look at the impact that unrecognized depression has in minority populations whose primary source of health coverage comes through Medicaid. 

Our country’s mental health resources are woefully inadequate. To overcome the gaps in care, President Biden pledged over $6B in his 2023 budget to ensure funding for mental health support services. Of the $6 billion pledged to this cause, $455 million was earmarked for researching new care models and expanding early intervention services with a focus on “Black and Brown communities (which) are disproportionately undertreated – even as their burden of mental illness has continued to rise.”  

As the U.S. continues to endure a mental health crisis, will this budget pledge help turn the corner? Tune in to learn more.