logo
Talkspace, Blue Cross Idaho partner to improve behavioural health access

Talkspace, Blue Cross Idaho partner to improve behavioural health access

Yahoo3 days ago
Talkspace has announced a new partnership with Blue Cross of Idaho, aiming to enhance behavioural health access across the region.
The collaboration integrates Talkspace's virtual mental health services into Blue Cross Idaho's network, providing members with asynchronous message-based therapy and live video sessions from licensed clinicians.
Talkspace chief growth officer Erin Boyd said: 'Partnering with Blue Cross of Idaho allows Talkspace to continue our important mission of expanding access to high-quality, convenient mental health care.
'This collaboration will make therapy and psychiatric support affordable for individuals and families across the nation, empowering them to prioritise their mental well-being on their own terms.'
Blue Cross of Idaho became part of TalkSpace's expanding list of health plans, and benefits clients such as Carelon, Aetna, Cigna, Optum, and select Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
With this new partnership, Talkspace now extends its coverage to approximately 200 million people in the US, including those with Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Licensed therapists of Talkspace, available in all 50 states, provide members the choice between asynchronous therapy options and live video sessions.
This flexibility allows users to customise their care and overcome barriers to treatment, thereby increasing engagement.
Blue Cross of Idaho Healthcare Operations vice-president Dawn Atkin said: 'Blue Cross of Idaho members deserve access to mental healthcare that fits into their lives.
'That's why we're proud to partner with Talkspace to significantly enhance mental health services for all of our members, providing a direct line to an experienced, licensed professional anytime and anywhere they need support.'
Members of Blue Cross of Idaho, encompassing couples and teens aged 13 and above, can sign up for therapy and psychiatric medication support (for those 18 and above) through the Talkspace website.
"Talkspace, Blue Cross Idaho partner to improve behavioural health access" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump gives drugmakers 60 days to slash prescription drug prices
Trump gives drugmakers 60 days to slash prescription drug prices

NBC News

time10 hours ago

  • NBC News

Trump gives drugmakers 60 days to slash prescription drug prices

President Donald Trump sent letters to more than a dozen major drugmakers Thursday demanding that they lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. within 60 days. In the letters — which Trump published on his social media platform Truth Social — the drugmakers were told to offer the 'full portfolio' of their existing medications to Medicaid patients at the same prices paid abroad, also known as the 'most favored nation' rule. He also told drugmakers to 'guarantee' that patients on Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance get the same lower prices that are paid abroad for all newly approved drugs 'both upon launch and moving forward.' He also demanded that drugmakers return any additional revenues earned abroad to U.S. taxpayers, and create a 'direct to consumer' option for certain medications that would also be offered at lower prices. 'Make no mistake: a collaborative effort towards achieving global pricing parity would be the most effective path for companies, the government, and American patients,' Trump wrote in the letters. 'But if you refuse to step up, we will deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices.' It's unclear, experts say, whether Trump has the authority to force drugmakers to lower the cost of their prescription drugs without the help of Congress. What's more, any attempt to do so is likely to be met with fierce pushback from the drug industry. 'It may take more than a tough letter from the President to motivate the pharmaceutical industry to drop their prices,' said Tricia Neuman, executive director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. 'The voluntary approach hasn't worked so far to drive down drug prices,' she added. 'Drug prices tend to go down when compelled by law or in response to competition.' Trump has repeatedly complained — during both terms — that people in the U.S. pay far more for prescription drugs than people in other countries. Indeed, prescription drug prices in the United States are notoriously high — up to 10 times more than in other nations of similar size and wealth, according to the Rand Corp., a public policy think tank. More than 3 in 4 adults in the U.S. say the cost of medications is unaffordable, according to a poll from KFF. In May, Trump signed an executive order instructing federal health officials to renew an effort to implement the 'most favored nation' rule — a strategy he pursued unsuccessfully during his first term. The 17 letters were sent Thursday to major drugmakers such as Eli Lilly, GSK, Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Novo Nordisk and Novartis. NBC News has reached out to all 17 companies for comment. A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said the company 'remains focused on improving patient access and affordability, and we will continue to work to find solutions that help people access the medication they need.' A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson said the company was still reviewing the letter, and referred NBC News to the pharmaceutical industry's top lobbying group, PhRMA, for comment. PhRMA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration does have another tool at its disposal to lower the cost of prescription drugs: Medicare drug pricing negotiations. Signed into law by President Joe Biden through the Inflation Reduction Act, the provision allows Medicare to negotiate prices on the costliest medications. The first round of negotiations is estimated to save Medicare $6 billion in 2026, when the prices are expected to go into effect.

Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce
Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

A 65-year-old retiring in 2025 can expect to pay $172,500 on average for healthcare and medical expenses throughout retirement. That's according to Fidelity's 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, which is up 4% from the year before. It highlights the general upward trajectory of health-related expenses that have occurred since Fidelity's first estimate of $80,000 in 2002. The report underscores an even bigger issue: 17% of all respondents have taken no action at all when it comes to planning for health expenses in retirement. One in five respondents said they never consider healthcare needs during retirement. With Gen X, that rises to about one in four. Health Care Costs For Retirees Continue To Soar Fidelity's estimate assumes enrollment in Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Part D, which includes premiums, co-payments and other out-of-pocket costs for medical care and prescription drugs. However, it does not include long-term care expenses. For instance, even with Medicare, retirees are responsible for Medicare premiums, over-the-counter medications, dental and vision care as well as other types of added expenses like long-term care, according to Fidelity. Some of those costs can be offset with enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans, but those require separate monthly premiums. Read On The Fox Business App Chandler Riggs, vice president of financial consultancy at Fidelity Investments, told FOX Business that the rise in healthcare costs is driven by several factors, notably longer life expectancies, as well as a healthcare inflation rate that has outpaced general inflation. Despite the daunting figure, Riggs called Fidelity's estimate an "important wake-up call for all generations." "It's not just a benchmark for retirement readiness but also underscores the importance of planning as early as possible," Riggs said. Social Security Confidence Hits 15-Year Low As Younger Americans Increasingly Lose Faith In System Matthew Gregory, planning director for private wealth management firm The Bahnsen Group, said people grow accustomed to a hands-off approach during their working years since a meaningful piece of the cost can come directly out of their paycheck. "They may not be thinking about the need for supplemental coverage on top of Parts A and B of Medicare, as well as the fact that Medicare does not cover most long-term care costs. Those expenses can snowball quickly and become a reality check," he said. Likewise, Riggs said that people who have health coverage through their employer won't consider how they'll cover medical expenses when they retire and are no longer enrolled in their employer's health plan. This wake-up call for people near retirement could force them to question whether they have saved enough for retirement, if they can accomplish their goals with the funds they have and if they need to delay retirement entirely. "They may also end up settling for a level of coverage that is far less than they would otherwise be comfortable with or leaning on family members to fill gaps in care," Gregory said. This data comes shortly after an AARP study found Americans' confidence in Social Security – often seen as a safety net program because it provides a financial foundation for retirees – was also on the decline. The data, which was published earlier this week, showed that Americans' overall confidence in Social Security dropped from 43% in 2020 to 36% in 2025, the lowest level since it fell to 35% in 2010. Despite these findings on retirement readiness and growing uncertainty about long-term financial support, Riggs underscored that there are always steps someone can take to better position themselves financially, regardless of where they are in their retirement journey. Riggs said saving early and leveraging accounts where savings can be invested are powerful tools to build a "healthcare nest egg, regardless of age." Additionally, Riggs said employees who are enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan should consider using a health savings account. For one, the triple-tax advantage of HSAs makes them a versatile tool to save and pay for health expenses. The contributions are tax-deductible, and the HSA dollars can be spent tax-free when used for qualified medical expenses. Any potential growth in money invested is tax-free as well, Riggs article source: Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store