Molina Healthcare of Florida and BeMe Health have joined forces to address adolescent mental health and well-being. In order to do so, the companies have teamed up to support over 22,000 Molina Medicaid teenage members through BeMe’s behavioral health app.
According to Molina, the app is designed to “connect teens with customized mental health and well-being content, skill-building activities, and personalized one-on-one coaching,” as well as clinical services and crisis support.
Figures from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) show that 180,000 Floridians ages 12 to 17 have depression and 64% of those adolescents did not receive any care pertaining to their condition.
Additionally, 3,567 lives were lost to suicide in the state of Florida in 2020.
“Molina Healthcare of Florida is committed to supporting teen mental health and adding BeMe Health as a partner provides a great resource for our young members,” said Mike Jones, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Florida. “Having this technology available 24/7 allows teens to access help at their fingertips.”
Furthermore, 84% of users acknowledged a positive impact due to BeMe’s app, as well as 90% of users found the platform’s content beneficial, and 84% shared that the app’s coaching was effective. These numbers were found in collaboration with Stanford University.
“Collaboration is pivotal for positive outcomes in mental healthcare,” said Nicki Tessler, PsyD, MBA, CEO and co-founder of BeMe Health. “We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Molina Healthcare of Florida. Together, we can and will bolster mental health support to Florida teens.”
Recently in the Florida Senate, President Kathleen Passidomo (R-FL) pushed forward her healthcare agenda with two bills: SB 7016 and SB 7018.
According to State Senator Gayle Harrell (R-FL) – SB 7016’s sponsor – the bill is designed to create “probably the most comprehensive healthcare bill I have ever seen," said Thursday of her bill.
Pres. Passidomo agreed, explaining the importance of creating and retaining doctors in Florida: “It makes no sense to graduate people from medical school and not have residency programs for them here in Florida and then they go to another state.”
It appears healthcare will be another focal point this legislative session in the Sunshine State.
