The landscape of behavioral healthcare is undergoing a significant shift, with Solera Health launching a recent intervention-based network designed to broaden access to support for mental and emotional wellbeing. This initiative, unveiled on Tuesday, partners with industry leaders Calm Health and Lyra Health to offer a more comprehensive and accessible approach to behavioral health, addressing a critical gap in care for millions of Americans. The move comes at a time when demand for these services is surging, yet access remains a significant barrier for many.
Solera Health, based in Phoenix, Arizona, has established itself as a key player in digital health delivery, focusing on connecting individuals with appropriate care through health plans and employers. Their existing HALO Platform already facilitates access to a range of point solutions, allowing organizations to manage contracted services in a centralized location. This new behavioral health network builds upon that foundation, aiming to provide a more integrated and personalized experience for members and employees seeking support. The core of this new network is a commitment to meeting individuals where they are on their care journey, offering a spectrum of resources from self-guided tools to virtual coaching and, eventually, clinical care with licensed providers.
Addressing a Growing Necessitate for Behavioral Health Support
The urgency behind this expansion is underscored by stark statistics. In 2024, approximately 62 million U.S. Adults experienced a mental illness, yet nearly half did not receive treatment, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This represents a significant public health challenge, and one that Solera Health aims to address through its new network. The company’s approach recognizes the interconnectedness of behavioral, emotional, and physical health, moving beyond a traditional focus on mental illness to encompass a broader definition of wellbeing.
“Behavioral health is central to whole-person care and a key driver of improved health outcomes, lower total costs of care, and improved employee productivity and work satisfaction,” explained Dr. Mohammed Saeed, Solera Health’s chief medical officer. “The growing prevalence of behavioral health needs, combined with significant access challenges in traditional care settings, makes this network expansion critical. Our approach meets members where they are on their care journey and guides them to the most appropriate level of support.”
How the Solera Network Will Function
The Solera network operates on an intervention-based model. Individuals accessing support through their health plan or employer will initially engage with Solera, answering questions designed to assess their needs, severity of symptoms, and preferences for care. Based on this assessment, Solera will direct them to either Calm Health or Lyra Health, the two partners providing the actual behavioral health services. This triage system aims to ensure individuals receive the most appropriate level of support, avoiding unnecessary or ineffective interventions.
Calm Health, a well-known mental health app, offers a range of personalized programs, screenings, and content focused on meditation, sleep, and stress reduction. The app’s resources are designed to support individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and other common mental health challenges. Lyra Health, focuses on providing employer-sponsored mental health benefits, connecting members with therapists and coaches alongside digital self-guided tools. Lyra’s model emphasizes accessibility and affordability, aiming to remove barriers to care for employees.
The Role of the HALO Platform
Central to the operation of the new network is Solera’s HALO Platform. This technology allows health plans and employers to manage all of their contracted point solutions in one place, streamlining administration and improving visibility into member engagement. The platform also provides a single point of access for employees and members to explore available benefits, simplifying the process of finding and utilizing behavioral health support. This unified approach is intended to reduce friction and improve the overall user experience.
Beyond Traditional Mental Health: A Whole-Person Approach
Solera’s expansion into behavioral health represents a broader trend in healthcare towards a more holistic, whole-person approach. Traditionally, mental health care has often been siloed from other aspects of healthcare, focusing primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. However, there is growing recognition that mental and emotional wellbeing are inextricably linked to physical health, lifestyle factors, and overall quality of life.
This new network acknowledges that behaviors, such as sleep patterns, stress levels, and daily routines, can significantly impact both mental and physical health. By addressing these factors alongside traditional mental health concerns, Solera aims to provide a more comprehensive and effective approach to care. This is particularly relevant in the context of chronic conditions, where behavioral factors often play a significant role in disease management and prevention.
Measuring Success and Future Expansion
Solera Health plans to track several key metrics to assess the success of its new behavioral health network. These include clinical outcomes, healthcare cost savings, work productivity, and member engagement. By monitoring these indicators, the company hopes to demonstrate the value of its intervention-based approach and refine its offerings over time. The company has not yet specified the exact benchmarks it will use to define success, but it has indicated a commitment to data-driven decision-making.
The launch of this network is not a rebranding exercise, but rather a fundamental shift in Solera’s approach to behavioral health. As Paige Baldwin, clinical program manager at Solera Health, stated, “One of our goals is to ultimately be able to provide the best behavioral health support that we can across any employer or health plan population. Be able to really meet the needs of any member coming in, no matter where on the spectrum they may fall.”
Lyra Health also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. In a LinkedIn post, Lyra Health highlighted the significant unmet need for mental health support in the U.S., noting that over 60 million adults experienced mental illness in 2024, yet half did not receive treatment. The company emphasized that joining Solera’s ecosystem will help close this gap and make high-quality care more accessible.
The expansion of Solera’s behavioral health network represents a significant step towards addressing the growing mental health crisis in the United States. By leveraging technology, partnerships, and a whole-person approach, the company aims to improve access to care and empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing. The network is currently available to new and existing customers, and Solera Health is actively working to expand its reach and impact.
Looking ahead, Solera Health will continue to monitor the evolving landscape of behavioral health and adapt its offerings accordingly. The company is committed to innovation and collaboration, seeking to identify new ways to improve access to care and enhance the lives of its members. The next step will be to integrate future clinical care with licensed providers, further expanding the scope of the network.
What are your thoughts on the expansion of digital behavioral health solutions? Share your comments below, and let us know how you think technology can best be used to address the mental health crisis.
