The San Mateo, Calif.-based pediatric youth mental health provider announced a major pivot in September, when it scaled back its 50 state-telehealth offerings to just a few markets. The company added brick-and-mortar clinics in the markets where it remained.
Ms. Allen told Becker’s the company saw strong outcomes and engagement through telehealth only. However, families, especially those with young children, wanted to meet with their therapist or psychiatrist in person.
“We really think the future of the care model is, in many ways, hybrid, where families can at least start in person and then move to virtual care if that’s what’s more convenient,” she said.
Adults and teenagers are often comfortable receiving care through telehealth only, but younger children are often referred to care through pediatricians or schools, who prefer sending a patients to a brick-and-mortar location, Ms. Allen said.
Youth mental health needs are becoming more acute, Ms. Allen said, and these needs are often better addressed in person, at least for initial visits.
“We’ve heard from health plans, from employers, from pediatricians and school leaders that healthcare is very local, and adding brick-and mortar-clinics and some of the new service lines that we’re launching will be filling much needed gaps in terms of the market,” she said.
Brightline is also adding comprehensive testing and specialized services for ADHD, obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety, Ms. Allen said.
In 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommended screening children for anxiety beginning at age 8 — underscoring the need for more readily available mental health services for younger children, Ms. Allen said.
“We’ve always had programs for earlier intervention and for young kids, but we are adding a comprehensive testing service line, so families don’t have to wait for many years to get testing,” she said.
