Despite ongoing economic uncertainty in the digital health space, Array Behavioral Health is charging forward with strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and a renewed focus on complex mental health care. The New Jersey-based telepsychiatry provider kicked off 2023 with a $25 million funding round led by CVS Health Ventures. Shortly thereafter, Array announced a partnership with US Acute Care Solutions, designed to reduce wait times for patients in emergency departments needing timely psychiatric evaluation and care. With more than 20 years in the digital mental health field, Array has established itself as a pioneer. The company originally built its reputation by providing telepsychiatry services, giving healthcare providers on-demand access to psychiatrists and other licensed behavioral health professionals. While many digital health companies focus on mild or moderate mental health conditions, Array has carved out a niche in treating patients with serious and acute mental illnesses—a segment often avoided by newer digital health entrants.
A Strategic Partnership with CVS Health Ventures
Array CEO Geoffrey Boyce explained the significance of the CVS partnership in expanding access to comprehensive care. “We think of CVS as a significant strategic partner of ours, beyond just their investment,” he said. This relationship is built on a history of collaboration, particularly serving Aetna members through Array’s at-home service line. By bringing therapy and psychiatry directly into patients’ homes, the company demonstrated its ability to deliver high-quality, on-demand telepsychiatry services.
Boyce highlighted the broader vision of CVS in healthcare: “They want to leverage the unique footprint that CVS has to make care more accessible. Physical health and mental health are inseparable for them, and that aligned perfectly with our mission.” CVS’s network—including retail clinics, enterprise virtual care, and HealthHUB locations—provides a unique platform for expanding behavioral health services. Array’s expertise allows CVS to layer in telepsychiatry services, creating a seamless approach to whole-person care that bridges mental and physical health.
Addressing Psychiatric Needs in Emergency Departments
Array’s partnership with US Acute Care Solutions is another strategic step forward. Emergency departments nationwide often struggle to serve patients in psychiatric crisis efficiently, leading to long waits and overburdened hospital staff. Array’s on-demand model places licensed mental health professionals directly into the care continuum, enabling timely evaluations and determining the least restrictive, most appropriate level of care.
Boyce explained, “US Acute Care Solutions has the emergency medicine side handled but has struggled with psychiatric care in emergency departments. Our partnership blends their emergency medicine expertise with our telepsychiatry services, creating a whole-person solution for hospitals.” The collaboration focuses on optimizing patient outcomes, reducing unnecessary boarding in emergency rooms, and ensuring patients receive the right care quickly.
This model is not new for Array. The company has been providing on-demand telepsychiatry services in hospital emergency rooms and psychiatric crisis centers since 1999. Its expertise lies in the complex logistics of staffing specialized clinicians and coordinating care across multiple touchpoints—a capability many newer digital health companies lack.
Focusing on Acute and Complex Mental Health Cases
While much of the digital mental health sector emphasizes solutions for anxiety and mild depression, Array has consistently focused on more complex cases, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. “We’re heavily oriented toward psychiatry and have always emphasized treating more severe and complex mental health conditions,” Boyce noted.
A critical differentiator for Array is its emphasis on live, licensed professionals. While technology can enhance care, particularly through video conferencing and digital tools, it cannot replace the clinical judgment required in severe cases. Array integrates technology to augment the work of sub-specialty psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, therapists, and counselors, extending the benefits of live sessions. Their comprehensive model of telepsychiatry services ensures patients in crisis receive evidence-based interventions, appropriate escalation to higher levels of care, and ongoing follow-up support.
Growth and Resilience in a Bear Market
Despite a tighter funding environment and broader economic pressures in digital health, Array continues to move full-steam ahead. “Unlike newer entrants, we have the benefit of years of foundation-building in this space,” Boyce said. This foundation has allowed the company to refine clinical models, service offerings, and partnerships over decades, providing a strong base to navigate market challenges.
The company’s mission-driven ethos further fuels its growth. “The need for our services has never been greater,” Boyce explained. “We’re motivated by a goal to impact and transform more lives, which compels us to lean in, even in challenging economic times.” Array’s experience, reputation, and clinical expertise position it well to continue expanding its reach while maintaining high-quality telepsychiatry services.
Expanding On-Demand and Continuum-of-Care Services
Looking forward, Array sees substantial opportunities in its on-demand service model. Emergency psychiatric crises have increased in recent years, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, leading to higher patient volumes in hospital emergency departments. By providing immediate psychiatric assessment and care coordination, Array helps hospitals manage these cases more effectively through advanced telepsychiatry services.
Boyce emphasized the company’s commitment to creating a seamless continuum of care: “We connect emergency interventions to the appropriate follow-up—whether inpatient, outpatient, or home-based care. Our model reduces repeated hospital visits and supports patients in their communities.”
In addition, the CVS partnership provides potential for integrating care into retail and community settings, offering patients multiple access points for ongoing mental health support. This ecosystem approach ensures that individuals can maintain wellness in their daily lives without repeatedly cycling through hospital emergency departments.
Positioning for the Future of Digital Mental Health
Array Behavioral Health’s strategy demonstrates how a mature, experienced provider can thrive even amid economic uncertainty. By focusing on complex mental health cases, leveraging digital tools to augment licensed professionals, and building strategic partnerships with organizations like CVS Health Ventures and US Acute Care Solutions, Array is setting a new standard for digital psychiatry.
As demand for mental health services continues to rise, particularly for acute and severe cases, Array’s combination of clinical expertise, technology-enabled care, and innovative partnerships positions it as a leader in the evolving digital mental health landscape. Their mission to deliver high-quality telepsychiatry services underscores the company’s potential to transform mental health treatment across the U.S.
