The demand for behavioral health services has skyrocketed in recent years, creating opportunities but also challenges—especially for independent practitioners who must balance patient care with the business side of running a practice. A Telehealth Platform for Therapists can help streamline operations and improve efficiency, but unfortunately, many clinicians still leave money on the table. Studies estimate that less than 85% of what is owed from commercial insurance is actually collected. Given the mental health market exceeds $225 billion annually, this lost revenue is significant.
Since 2018, Alma, a New York-based company, has been on a mission to close this gap by offering a telehealth platform for therapists designed to streamline operations and help clinicians grow their practices. Alma supports providers with both in-person and virtual appointment options, allowing practitioners to focus on care while the platform handles scheduling, billing, credentialing, and more. Today, over 4,000 providers across the U.S. rely on Alma’s services, with 40% identifying as Black, Latinx/Hispanic, or Asian, demonstrating the company’s dedication to diversity and inclusion.
A Provider-First Telehealth Platform for Therapists
Founder and CEO Harry Ritter brings unique experience to Alma, combining his medical background with a personal journey through caregiving and mental health. Ritter’s vision for Alma centers on the provider. “Our first customer is the provider,” he explains. The company’s telehealth platform for therapists offers independent clinicians the tools to build thriving in-network private practices while maintaining their autonomy.
Alma addresses common pain points such as insurance credentialing, appointment management, and claims processing. The platform works with major insurers like Aetna, United Healthcare, and Cigna, often credentialing therapists in under 45 days. By using Alma’s telehealth platform for therapists, clinicians avoid administrative headaches and get paid faster, with reimbursement times reduced from months to just two weeks.
Saving Time and Increasing Revenue with a Telehealth Platform for Therapists
One of Alma’s biggest advantages is time saved. Providers reportedly save about 30 hours a month on administrative tasks by leveraging the telehealth platform for therapists. This includes scheduling, billing, claims management, and electronic health record upkeep. Alma’s proprietary EHR system goes beyond record keeping to provide clinical insights, helping therapists improve care quality while managing their business efficiently.
Practitioners pay a modest monthly membership fee of $125 and retain all revenue generated from patient visits. Alma’s transaction fees for claims processing are transparent and scaled by visit volume, making the telehealth platform for therapists an economically attractive solution compared to other models that often pay therapists low rates.
Telehealth Expansion and Hybrid Care on Alma’s Platform
Telehealth has become the dominant mode of care delivery on Alma’s platform. Before the pandemic, 95% of providers practiced mainly in person. Now, 90% of visits are virtual, with telehealth services available nationwide and in-person care offered in 16 states plus Washington, D.C. Ritter points out that while telehealth is invaluable for broad access, some specialties like pediatric play therapy still require in-person visits. Alma plans to expand in-person services to 10 additional states to meet these needs.
By offering a flexible mix of virtual and in-person options, Alma’s telehealth platform for therapists gives patients more choice while supporting clinicians in managing both types of care effectively.
Funding, Growth, and Future Directions
With $90.5 million raised so far and a $500 million valuation from a 2021 funding round, Alma is poised for growth. Ritter emphasizes that Alma’s focus is on expanding services, not mergers or acquisitions. The company is developing new tools to integrate clinical assessment metrics, like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, directly into the telehealth platform for therapists, enabling outcome tracking and performance analytics.
Alma is also preparing for the industry’s shift toward value-based care models. Having unified digital records allows the company to set care baselines and evaluate pay-for-performance opportunities, positioning providers for future reimbursement changes.
A Provider-First Approach to Telehealth Behavioral Health
Ritter believes that in today’s behavioral health ecosystem, clinicians must choose affiliations wisely, as their reputation and brand are paramount. Alma’s provider-first telehealth platform for therapists gives clinicians control over their practice, supported by technology and administrative assistance.
“It is a great time to be a mental health clinician,” Ritter said. “With more opportunities than ever, the question is, ‘Who do I want to be affiliated with?’ Alma is committed to helping clinicians build successful, autonomous practices while improving access to quality care.”
