Groups Recover Together, a leading provider of opioid-use disorder (OUD) treatment, has announced a groundbreaking new care model called technology-assisted addiction treatment. The initiative aims to remove technological barriers to care and expand access for patients nationwide.
On Tuesday, the company revealed it has entered into three strategic partnerships with technology companies to implement this model. One partner is Owl Labs, a Boston-based business collaboration technology company. The names of the other two partners remain undisclosed but are expected to play a crucial role in providing digital devices to patients.
This new model represents an evolution of Groups Recover Together’s value-based care strategy, which has been central to the company since its founding in 2014. The company specializes in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and hybrid group therapy, combining in-person and telehealth care to deliver comprehensive support to members managing the chronic disease of addiction.
Identifying Barriers to Access: The Role of Technology
Over the past three years, Groups Recover Together conducted extensive research to identify obstacles that prevent people from seeking or continuing treatment. According to Cooper Zelnick, Chief Growth Officer, the company identified “imperfect access” to technology as a primary barrier to care.
“For too long, technology has been a hurdle rather than a help in behavioral health,” Zelnick told Behavioral Health Business. “We’ve always felt that it’s our responsibility to deliver the services members need to succeed—which, crazily enough, is not the industry standard.”
To address this, Groups Recover Together has taken a bold step: providing cell phones and tablets to members who lack access to digital devices. The program ensures patients can participate fully in treatment, attend virtual group meetings, and access support resources without technological limitations.
“We are saying it is our responsibility to arm people with the technology they need to succeed,” Zelnick added. “That is the spirit of technology-assisted addiction treatment.”
How Technology-Assisted Addiction Treatment Works
Groups Recover Together has outfitted all its group meeting rooms with AI-powered cameras and monitors from Owl Labs, enabling hybrid group sessions. Members can attend meetings in person or via telehealth, ensuring that distance is no longer a barrier to participation.
This innovation is especially critical given that approximately 30% of Groups Recover Together’s 13,000 members live 50 or more miles away from one of its more than 150 offices. Telehealth, and therefore access to reliable digital devices, is essential for these members to receive consistent care.
In addition, the company has deployed tablets in all offices that automate patient intake, facilitate telehealth visits, and provide 24/7 access to its support center. This ensures patients can check in whenever they need guidance, even outside of traditional office hours.
The company’s two unnamed partners focus specifically on providing digital devices to members:
- One partner provides free smartphones and service plans through the Lifeline program, popularly known as “Obamaphone.” The program, managed by the FCC, supplies low-income Americans with phone service.
- The other partner provides tablets at no cost to members. Zelnick confirmed this partner is “one of the world’s largest companies and a very recognizable name.”
“These investments are aligned with our broader mission to bring Groups’ life-saving treatment model to all who need it,” said Colleen Nicewicz, CEO, in a news release. “We’re confident our investments in technology-assisted addiction treatment will help more people sustain their recovery from the chronic disease of addiction.”
Value-Based Care at the Core
Groups Recover Together has built its business model entirely around value-based care, meaning the company assumes responsibility for patient outcomes rather than placing that burden on the patient. This is in contrast to many behavioral health providers, where success is measured more by the number of patients treated than by meaningful recovery outcomes.
“Outcomes are opaque at best and not good—outcomes are crappy,” Zelnick said. “Our model places accountability on the provider to ensure patients succeed, which is the foundation of value-based care.”
By combining value-based care with technology-assisted addiction treatment, Groups Recover Together is pioneering a model that aligns patient success with organizational success. The company believes this approach can reduce dropout rates, improve engagement, and enhance long-term recovery outcomes.
Expanding Access Across States
Groups Recover Together currently has offices in 16 states, holds licenses in 20, and plans to operate in 26 states. Since 2017, the company has raised at least $98.2 million, including a $60 million Series C funding round announced in May 2021.
At the end of 2021, Groups Recover Together treated 9,000 members across 13 states, highlighting its rapid growth. The expansion of its leadership team has helped support this growth while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes-based care.
The Behavioral Health Technology Gap
Despite advances in telehealth and digital care, the behavioral health sector has been slow to adopt technology that supports value-based care. According to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC):
- Only 37% of private mental health organizations that accept Medicaid use electronic health records (EHRs)
- Only 32% of private substance use disorder providers accepting Medicaid use EHRs
In addition, the industry lacks standardized measures for care quality and outcomes, making it difficult to evaluate effectiveness or improve processes.
Groups Recover Together is tackling these challenges head-on by leveraging technology to measure engagement, retention, and recovery outcomes, setting a new standard for the behavioral health industry. The company’s commitment to technology-assisted addiction treatment ensures that patients receive the support they need, regardless of distance or access limitations.
Beyond Technology: Removing Other Barriers to Care
Technology-assisted addiction treatment is just one component of Groups Recover Together’s approach. The company also seeks to identify and address non-technological barriers that contribute to dropout or disengagement from treatment.
“For example, if the data show that food insecurity is a primary driver of dropout, you’re going to see us buying organic strawberries,” Zelnick explained. This example highlights the company’s commitment to data-driven interventions tailored to the needs of individual members.
By proactively addressing obstacles—both technological and social—Groups Recover Together is redefining what it means to provide comprehensive, patient-centered addiction care.
The Future of Behavioral Health
Groups Recover Together’s technology-assisted addiction treatment model represents a new frontier in behavioral health care. By integrating AI-powered hybrid group sessions, telehealth access, and device provision, the company is removing barriers that have historically limited access to care.
Zelnick and Nicewicz emphasize that the company’s goal is not just expansion, but leadership in outcomes-based behavioral health care. By taking responsibility for patient success, providing access to critical technology, and addressing social determinants of health, Groups Recover Together is setting a precedent for the future of addiction treatment.
As behavioral health providers increasingly embrace telehealth, hybrid care, and digital interventions, Groups Recover Together is poised to lead the industry toward higher quality, more equitable, and more effective treatment.
Conclusion
With technology-assisted addiction treatment, Groups Recover Together is breaking down barriers, extending care to underserved populations, and reinforcing the principles of value-based care. By combining innovative technology, proactive support, and accountability for outcomes, the company is transforming addiction treatment in the United States.
As Zelnick noted, “We’re not just giving people devices; we’re giving them the tools to succeed in recovery.” This approach represents a bold new chapter for behavioral health, one where technology is a bridge, not a barrier, to life-saving care.
