Magellan Federal, a subsidiary of Magellan Health that services the U.S. military, has partnered with NeuroFlow to offer military members a self-directed behavioral health support platform.
The platform, which is intended to supplement Magellan Federal’s non-medical counseling services, is a self-help tool aimed at preventive care. It can be accessed by phone or computer and will collect anonymized population health data for the Department of Defense, which can then adjust its intervention offerings as necessary. The initial rollout will take place over the next 18 months in three installations. The partnership builds on past collaborations with NeuroFlow, with the platform going live for all Magellan Healthcare members earlier this year.
The military has been trying to ramp up support resources in a time of rising stress and suicidality among service members, Magellan Federal told Fierce Healthcare.
“We have the opportunity to proactively recognize and respond to the emotional highs and lows of the American military family,” Chris Molaro, chief executive officer at NeuroFlow and former Army Captain, said in a press release. “We want to pave an easier pathway for seeking support, if necessary, and this collaboration focuses on providing service members and their spouses with a secure, private resource to help close the gap between mental and physical health.”
The platform is personalized per user and tracks things like stress and anxiety levels, sleep or marital issues, according to Anna Sever, interim CEO of Magellan Federal. Apart from resources and support tools, it can also refer users to a counselor or other medical interventions, if needed. “It takes away some of the sourcing that often has to go on when someone is struggling and they’re looking for resources,” Sever told Fierce Healthcare. “It kind of becomes a one-stop-shop.”
Until now, the Military & Family Life Counseling program has not offered a self-directed digital wellbeing solution, according to Sever. NeuroFlow was an obvious partner for Magellan Federal because it was founded by veterans, Sever said. Therefore, their missions aligned.
Ultimately, the introduction of the platform continues with a combination of digital and human-human interaction “so you get the full continuum of resources,” Sever said.