Bicycle Health, a pioneering virtual opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment startup, announced on Thursday that it has officially joined Evernorth’s extensive behavioral health network. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in expanding access to telehealth opioid use disorder care, allowing Evernorth’s clients—including Cigna’s employer and marketplace exchange plan members in 24 states—to receive high-quality, convenient care from Bicycle Health’s digital platform.
Evernorth, the health services division of Cigna Corp, is based in Bloomfield, Connecticut and is one of the largest players in the health insurance and services landscape. Its behavioral health network now includes a remarkable 250,000 providers, and the addition of Bicycle Health further diversifies the care options available to members. This collaboration follows Evernorth’s previous inclusion of innovative virtual behavioral health providers such as Quit Genius, a New York City-based digital addiction treatment company, and Alma, a platform that connects patients with independent mental health practitioners.
Expanding Access with Innovation
Dr. Doug Nemecek, Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health at Evernorth, emphasized the critical need for innovative solutions in combating the opioid epidemic. “We need innovative ways to help those looking to overcome OUD, and Bicycle Health provides a new option to care for our clients and customers,” Nemecek said. “Together, we’ll be able to provide a virtual treatment plan that creates more access that’s available when and where people need it in a convenient and comfortable way.” This partnership significantly enhances the availability of telehealth opioid use disorder care, giving patients flexible options for treatment.
This focus on innovation aligns with Evernorth’s broader strategy to enhance its behavioral health offerings by partnering with forward-thinking providers who leverage technology to improve patient outcomes. Nemecek has previously stated that Evernorth is actively seeking “other innovative partners that are starting to develop new, innovative ways of delivering care,” underscoring the company’s commitment to evolving with the changing healthcare landscape and advancing telehealth opioid use disorder care.
Bicycle Health’s Rapid Growth and Impact
Since its inception, Bicycle Health has made remarkable strides in the virtual care space. The company recently raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by InterAlpen Partners, an Omaha-based investment firm, fueling its ongoing expansion. Over the past year alone, Bicycle Health has entered seven new states and currently serves around 17,000 patients within its 24-state footprint, all through its leading telehealth opioid use disorder care platform.
Ankit Gupta, CEO of Bicycle Health, reflected on the significance of joining Evernorth’s network. “By joining Evernorth’s behavioral health network, health plans and employers are now able to cover this kind of care more easily than ever before,” Gupta stated. “It is only through that kind of vision and leadership that we will turn the tide in addressing the opioid crisis.” This partnership will help scale the reach of telehealth opioid use disorder care, ensuring more people get the help they need.
The Growing Need for Effective OUD Treatment
The opioid crisis remains a devastating public health emergency in the United States. After several years of stabilization, overdose deaths spiked dramatically following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an estimated 109,200 overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending in March, with opioids involved in approximately 75% of those fatalities. These sobering statistics highlight the urgent need for accessible, effective treatment options, including innovative telehealth opioid use disorder care.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies, is considered the gold standard for treating opioid use disorder. However, many patients face barriers such as stigma, transportation challenges, and a shortage of local providers, which prevent them from receiving timely care.
Bicycle Health’s virtual platform addresses these obstacles head-on by offering MAT through a mobile app that patients can use anywhere, anytime. The app provides 24/7 access to clinical support, medication management, peer support groups, and therapy sessions after a thorough assessment. Patients work with dedicated addiction treatment providers to develop personalized care plans tailored to their unique needs, making the recovery journey more manageable and less isolating. This is a prime example of effective telehealth opioid use disorder care.
Regulatory Challenges Ahead for Virtual OUD Providers
While the pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual behavioral health services, regulatory uncertainties now pose potential challenges. In March 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily waived a key provision of the Ryan Haight Act, which mandates an in-person medical evaluation before prescribing controlled substances such as buprenorphine—a critical medication used in MAT. This waiver was a crucial enabler for virtual OUD treatment providers like Bicycle Health to scale their services rapidly and provide accessible telehealth opioid use disorder care.
However, the waiver is set to expire with the conclusion of the federal public health emergency (PHE), unless Congress or the Biden administration acts to extend or make permanent the relaxed regulations. The potential rollback has created uncertainty within the digital behavioral health sector. For instance, Cerebral Inc., a prominent San Francisco-based digital mental health provider, recently cited this regulatory ambiguity as a key reason for its decision to stop prescribing controlled substances, impacting the future of telehealth opioid use disorder care.
The outcome of this regulatory debate will have far-reaching consequences for virtual OUD treatment providers, patients, and the broader effort to combat the opioid epidemic. Stakeholders are watching closely as policymakers consider how best to balance patient safety with improving access to care.
Cigna’s Continued Commitment to Behavioral Health
The partnership with Bicycle Health reflects Cigna’s ongoing commitment to growing its behavioral health services portfolio. Behavioral health customer relationships at Cigna have seen rapid expansion, increasing to 40.4 million by the end of 2021—a 9.4% growth from the previous year. This upward trend has continued into 2022, with behavioral care relationships rising 13% year-over-year to 44.1 million during the second quarter, making it the fastest-growing segment among Cigna’s various customer bases.
By integrating innovative virtual providers like Bicycle Health into Evernorth’s network, Cigna aims to meet the increasing demand for behavioral health care and improve outcomes for people facing mental health and substance use challenges, particularly through expanded telehealth opioid use disorder care.
Looking Ahead: The Promise of Telehealth Opioid Use Disorder Care
As the opioid crisis continues to take a heavy toll across the country, expanding access to effective treatment options remains an urgent priority. Virtual platforms like Bicycle Health represent a vital part of the solution by breaking down traditional barriers to care, offering patients flexibility, privacy, and continuous support through telehealth opioid use disorder care.
With the support of industry leaders like Evernorth and Cigna, Bicycle Health is positioned to play an essential role in addressing this epidemic. However, ongoing regulatory clarity will be critical to sustaining and growing these virtual care models in the years ahead.
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid use disorder, virtual treatment options like those offered by Bicycle Health may provide accessible and compassionate care tailored to your needs — anytime, anywhere.
