Vitalic Launches Geriatric Behavioral Health Platform, Partners with VNS Health

BOSTON—Vitalic, a senior-focused behavioral health platform, announced the launch of a new geriatric behavioral health care platform. The company said this tool will focus on treating a vulnerable—and often overlooked—older population that needs mental health care to reinforce physical health and overall wellbeing. Additionally, the company will be partnering with VNS Health, a home- and community-based health care nonprofit, in an effort to improve member outcomes and reduce care costs for Medicare Advantage plans and risk-based providers.

“Despite the fact that this population continues to grow, targeted efforts to address seniors’ specific needs and impact on the health care industry have been too small and fallen far short,” said Ben Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Vitalic. “Our team-based approach supports patients through challenges including medication management, behavioral issues and psychosocial struggles. Through our work with VNS Health, we’re changing the dynamic of geriatric behavioral health care for patients and payers using a proven model that addresses the pressing needs of both stakeholders.” 

Vitalic uses a team-based clinical model that seeks to deploy geriatric-trained behavioral health specialists, such as geriatric boarded psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, licensed therapists and mental health support coaches. The company said this approach aims to coordinate with a patient’s medical health care provider to enhance self-care, emotional well-being and medication adherence.

Vitalic offers services to address the full spectrum of behavioral health needs, including specialized geriatric treatment, team-based care and proactive patient engagement. Through a partnership with VNS Health, the company said it aims to boost patient satisfaction, close critical care gaps, decrease unnecessary utilization and reduce total cost of care.

“Every day, our skilled clinical teams overcome enormous challenges in delivering high-quality patient and member care to older adults with complex, complicated care needs,” said Dan Savitt, president and CEO of VNS Health. “Vitalic empowers them with senior-focused expertise to directly transform key barriers standing between these members and their best possible health.  Vitalic’s innovation and expertise in behavioral health—the most overlooked element of whole-person care—allow us to provide specialized mental health care not previously accessible to our members, while reducing total cost of care.”