Forge Health, a White Plains, New York-based mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider, recently revealed groundbreaking results from a national payor-led clinical outcomes research study. These findings demonstrate the powerful impact of Forge Health’s value-based behavioral health services model on reducing hospital admissions, emergency department (ED) utilization, and primary care visits among its patients.
The study examined 70 patients’ medical service utilization before and after engaging with Forge Health’s intensive outpatient treatment model, which focuses on integrated behavioral and physical health care. Although the full report has yet to be published and the identity of the collaborating payer remains undisclosed, the preliminary data clearly highlight the effectiveness of Forge Health’s value-based behavioral health services approach.
Significant Reductions in Health Care Utilization
According to the study, Forge Health’s value-based behavioral health services model achieved:
- A 75% reduction in hospital admissions
- A 62% decrease in emergency department utilization
- A 39% reduction in all-cause hospital admissions
- A 20% reduction in primary care visits
These impressive statistics indicate that comprehensive behavioral health treatment delivered through value-based behavioral health services can significantly lessen the need for costly and often avoidable acute care services. By addressing both mental health and co-occurring medical conditions through an integrated, trauma-informed framework, Forge Health helps patients avoid crises that typically result in emergency visits or hospital stays.
The Importance of a Trauma-Informed, Multidisciplinary Approach
At the heart of Forge Health’s success is its trauma-informed approach, which recognizes that many patients struggling with mental health or substance use disorders have experienced trauma that affects their overall well-being. This framework ensures that treatment is compassionate, patient-centered, and tailored to the complex needs of each individual.
Forge Health’s multidisciplinary clinical teams address social determinants of health alongside behavioral and physical health concerns, which can include housing instability, food insecurity, and chronic medical conditions. This holistic perspective is crucial for improving outcomes for patients with multiple, overlapping health challenges.
Data analytics and streamlined treatment delivery also play a vital role in Forge Health’s model. By leveraging real-time data, care teams can monitor progress, identify risks early, and adjust treatment plans promptly to maximize effectiveness and reduce unnecessary utilization of emergency and hospital services — key components of successful value-based behavioral health services.
Expert Endorsement From Harvard Medical School
John Rodolico, Chief Science Officer at Forge Health and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, emphasized the profound implications of the study’s findings:
“In my over 30 years of experience in the addiction and mental health field, I have never seen study results that demonstrate such a significant relationship between behavioral health and physical health, or that so clearly show the positive impact behavioral health treatment has on an individual’s physical health.”
His statement underlines the transformative potential of value-based behavioral health services to improve not only mental health but also physical health outcomes — a link often underestimated in traditional health care settings.
Recent Growth and Expansion
Forge Health’s success and promising research findings come amid an exciting period of growth for the company. Earlier this month, Forge Health announced it raised $11 million in funding, led by New York City-based venture capital firm HC9 Ventures. This capital will support the expansion of its hybrid treatment model, which combines in-person and virtual care, and strengthen partnerships in the value-based behavioral health services space.
Currently, Forge Health partners with over 30 commercial and government health plans, managing care for more than 270,000 members under its value-based behavioral health services contracts. These partnerships allow Forge Health to extend its innovative care model to a broad population, improving outcomes on a large scale.
Expanding Geographic Reach
Forge Health operates 12 service sites across six states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. This geographic spread reflects the company’s commitment to increasing access to high-quality behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment in diverse communities.
By offering intensive outpatient programs alongside other services, Forge Health provides patients with flexible options to receive care that fits their needs and lifestyles. Their hybrid model allows patients to combine the convenience of virtual sessions with the benefits of in-person support — both key offerings in value-based behavioral health services.
The Broader Impact of Value-Based Behavioral Health Services
The findings from Forge Health’s study contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting value-based behavioral health services models. Unlike traditional fee-for-service models that incentivize volume of care, value-based behavioral health services emphasize quality, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.
Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency visits not only improves patient well-being but also decreases overall health care costs, benefiting payors, providers, and the health care system as a whole. As mental health and substance use disorders continue to impact millions of Americans, integrated, value-based behavioral health care like Forge Health’s are essential to meet the demand for effective, sustainable treatment.
Looking Ahead
Forge Health’s promising results highlight the transformative potential of integrated behavioral and physical health care delivered through value-based behavioral health care partnerships. As the company grows and expands its reach, it sets a new standard for how mental health and substance use treatment can improve overall health outcomes while reducing reliance on costly acute care services.
For payors, providers, and patients seeking innovative solutions to the complex challenges of behavioral health, Forge Health’s value-based behavioral health care model offers a compelling path forward — one that prioritizes patient-centered care, data-driven insights, and measurable results.
