The last several years have marked a turning point in the way behavioral health care is delivered. Once considered a secondary option, telehealth is now at the center of addiction treatment innovation. Recently, three major virtual medication-assisted treatment (MAT) startups — Bicycle Health, Quit Genius, and Ophelia Health — released studies showing that telehealth not only improves access but also drives higher patient retention rates and improved care outcomes. These findings are significant at a time when opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder remain public health crises. Millions of Americans struggle with these conditions, and yet access to effective treatment is often limited by geography, stigma, cost, or shortages of specialized providers. By making care more accessible through Virtual MAT programs, these companies are demonstrating that digital-first treatment can help close long-standing gaps.
Collectively, the three companies have raised $261 million in venture capital funding since 2021, according to Crunchbase, signaling strong investor confidence in the model. Their success has also been fueled by federal COVID-era policies that allowed providers to prescribe controlled substances without an initial in-person visit. That flexibility gave Virtual MAT programs the freedom to scale quickly and show they could achieve results comparable to — and often better than — in-person treatment.
Why Telehealth and Behavioral Health Work Well Together
Behavioral health and telehealth have become closely linked since the onset of the pandemic. During the early phases of lockdowns, behavioral health services were among the fastest to pivot to virtual delivery, and the trend has continued. Unlike other specialties, behavioral health has held onto telehealth at elevated rates, with patients and providers both finding value in the approach.
For patients, Virtual MAT programs remove barriers such as transportation, time off work, or stigma. For providers, telehealth makes it possible to reach underserved populations — particularly in rural areas where addiction specialists are scarce. Convenience is important, but the latest research shows that Virtual MAT programs deliver more than just accessibility: they are producing retention and outcomes that rival traditional care.
Retention Rates in Virtual MAT Programs
Retention in treatment is one of the most critical factors for patient success in addiction recovery. Longer engagement in MAT reduces relapse rates and mortality risk, making it a vital measure for success.
The recent studies highlight how Virtual MAT programs can outperform industry averages:
- Bicycle Health reported a 59% retention rate at 90 days across uninsured and cash-pay patients, with insured patients reaching 80% retention. The industry average sits at 44% at 90 days.
- Ophelia Health achieved a 69% retention rate at 180 days among mostly Medicaid patients. Industry benchmarks for Medicaid are 27%, while commercial insurance averages 31%.
Quit Genius added to this evidence by reporting that most participants in its intervention completed treatment. Collectively, these results demonstrate how Virtual MAT programs sustain engagement and improve the odds of long-term recovery.
Dr. Arthur Robin Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Ophelia Health, explained:
“We have created a virtual care platform to have all of the evidence-based services needed for high-quality care that a patient would find in traditional brick and mortar settings — but we bring the care to them. It is incredibly convenient. And our patients love our clinicians because they feel generally cared for.”
Measuring Symptom Reduction in Alcohol Use Disorder
While Bicycle Health and Ophelia Health emphasized OUD retention, Quit Genius focused on alcohol use disorder outcomes. The study revealed major improvements:
- Drinking days fell from 25.9 out of 30 to 17.7 over 12 weeks.
- Average drinks per day dropped from 6.7 to 2.66.
- 68% of participants lowered their WHO risk drinking level by at least one step.
According to Suzette Glasner, Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Quit Genius, the biggest breakthrough is that Virtual MAT programs are making evidence-based alcohol treatments more widely available to people who previously lacked access.
Broader Telehealth Evidence in Behavioral Health
Beyond these studies, federally backed research shows that telehealth is just as effective as in-person care for depression and anxiety. For rural patients in particular, telehealth reduced symptoms at nearly identical rates compared to office-based visits:
- Depression (PHQ-9): -2.8 points with telehealth vs. -2.9 in-person.
- Anxiety (GAD-7): -2.0 points with telehealth vs. -2.4 in-person.
This reinforces the idea that Virtual MAT programs are not a “second-best” option but a clinically valid approach that can extend high-quality care to those who need it most.
Challenges Facing Virtual MAT Programs
Despite strong results, challenges remain. Research is still maturing, and not every patient benefits equally. Those with the most severe or acute conditions — requiring medical stabilization or psychiatric intervention — often need in-person support.
Regulatory uncertainty also threatens the future of Virtual MAT programs. The ability to prescribe controlled substances without an in-person visit is tied to temporary federal flexibilities, and while extensions have been granted, Congress has yet to secure these changes permanently. Without action, the progress made in digital addiction treatment could face major setbacks.
The Future of Telehealth MAT
The latest studies show that Virtual MAT programs are far more than a stopgap solution. They improve retention, reduce symptoms, and expand access to populations who might otherwise go untreated. With overdose rates still high and alcohol misuse widespread, these digital-first models could play a central role in addressing the nation’s addiction crisis.
As Dr. Williams of Ophelia Health emphasized:
“Telehealth isn’t just a B-grade version of in-person care. Clinical outcomes can actually be superior to traditional in-person care. We have retention rates at 6 months that are double those of usual care populations and we have very high rates of medication adherence.”
The challenge now lies in policy. If lawmakers and regulators solidify long-term support for telehealth prescribing, Virtual MAT programs will continue reshaping the landscape of addiction care — bringing evidence-based treatment directly to patients and saving lives in the process.
