The outpatient mental health care landscape is evolving, with a new player—Hightop Health—emerging on the scene. Backed by private equity firms JLL Partners and SV Health Investors, Hightop is poised to reshape the way outpatient mental health services are delivered. This new mental health provider aims to stand out by offering an integrative and measurement-based approach to care, putting patient outcomes at the center of its services. But what truly sets Hightop apart is its commitment to improving both the patient experience and the work environment for clinicians, addressing long-standing issues that have hindered the behavioral health sector.
A Vision for High-Quality, Integrative Outpatient Mental Health Care
At the core of Hightop’s approach is its dedication to providing high-quality, integrative outpatient mental health care. Instead of offering a traditional, fragmented treatment model, Hightop aims to deliver a seamless patient experience. This involves integrating various forms of treatment, such as medication management, psychotherapy, and cutting-edge interventions like ketamine and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), under one roof. The result is a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for each patient, tailored to their specific needs.
Hightop’s model is built around a measurement-based approach, meaning that patient progress is continuously tracked through data and assessments. This allows clinicians to adjust treatment plans as necessary, ensuring that patients receive the most effective care possible. This data-driven methodology is still relatively rare in outpatient mental health care settings, making Hightop’s approach innovative and forward-thinking.
The Acquisition of Psych Atlanta
In its first major move, Hightop Health has acquired Psych Atlanta, an established mental health practice in Georgia. Psych Atlanta specializes in medication management, interventional psychiatry, and advanced treatments like ketamine, Spravato, and TMS. These services complement Hightop’s overall treatment offerings, and the acquisition marks the beginning of the company’s strategic expansion into the Georgia market.
Psych Atlanta’s reputation in the local community and its strong patient base provide a solid foundation for Hightop as it plans to grow in the region. The acquisition allows Hightop to scale its operations quickly while maintaining a high standard of care. Rob Butler, founder and CEO of Hightop, emphasized that the company’s focus would be on maintaining the strong culture of care that has been established in the Georgia area. “We want to become well-known and a household name as far as quality, outcomes, and great user experience in the Georgia market,” Butler said.
Focused Regional Expansion in Outpatient Mental Health Care
Hightop’s expansion strategy is deliberately regional in nature. While the company’s long-term vision includes national growth, its initial focus is on building a strong foundation in Georgia. By starting small and focusing on a specific geographic area, Hightop aims to maintain control over its quality of care and company culture as it grows. Butler believes that a regional approach allows for greater flexibility and ensures that Hightop can stay true to its mission of offering high-quality, patient-centered outpatient mental health care.
Despite this regional focus, Hightop’s ambitions don’t stop at Georgia. The company plans to expand into Texas by the end of the year. This selective expansion will allow Hightop to replicate the success it finds in Georgia while being mindful of the unique needs of each market. Butler noted that this cautious approach to expansion allows the company to stay selective with its mergers and acquisitions, ensuring that each new partnership is aligned with Hightop’s values.
Plans for Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
Another key element of Hightop’s growth strategy is the development of new intensive outpatient programs (IOP). These programs will provide a higher level of care for individuals who need more structured treatment than traditional outpatient mental health care offers but don’t require inpatient care. IOPs are particularly important in addressing the needs of patients who may be transitioning out of more intensive levels of care or those who need ongoing support to manage their mental health.
By building out IOP services, Hightop will be able to offer a wider range of treatment options to meet the diverse needs of its patient population. This is part of the company’s overall strategy to become a one-stop shop for outpatient mental health care services in the Georgia market and beyond. With the acquisition of Psych Atlanta and plans for further service expansion, Hightop is positioning itself as a leader in the outpatient mental health care space.
Addressing Clinician Retention in Outpatient Mental Health Care
One of the most pressing issues in the behavioral health industry today is clinician attrition. The high demands and stressful working conditions in many mental health practices have led to burnout and turnover among providers. Hightop recognizes this as a significant challenge and is actively working to address it by creating a clinician-focused business model.
Rob Butler’s approach to clinician retention is based on the belief that when clinicians are in a healthy work environment and have the time and resources they need, they can provide better care to patients. By maintaining a regional focus and limiting the administrative burdens placed on clinicians, Hightop is working to ensure that its providers can focus on what matters most—helping patients. “When clinicians are healthy, not overworked, and in a good environment, they become like healthy athletes,” Butler said. “They’re able to perform at their best, leading to great outcomes for patients.”
This clinician-first approach is a critical part of Hightop’s mission, as the company seeks to create a work culture that supports the long-term success of both its providers and its patients. With a low turnover rate and a focus on clinician well-being, Hightop hopes to build a stable, motivated workforce that is dedicated to delivering the highest quality care.
Improving Psychotherapy Services in Outpatient Mental Health Care
Psych Atlanta’s decision to reduce its psychotherapy services a few years ago was due to several factors, including the challenges of navigating the payer environment and the administrative burdens associated with offering these services. However, Hightop has plans to expand Psych Atlanta’s psychotherapy offerings, addressing both the limitations of the past and the growing demand for mental health support.
By reducing the administrative overhead associated with these services, Hightop will give its clinicians more time to focus on patient care, improving the overall quality of the service. This is part of Hightop’s broader strategy to streamline operations and make care delivery more efficient. The goal is to provide a comprehensive, integrated service that meets all of a patient’s mental health needs, from therapy to medication management and advanced treatments.
Addressing Fragmentation in Outpatient Mental Health Care
One of the major issues in the current outpatient mental health care landscape is the fragmentation of services. Many patients struggle to coordinate their care across different providers, which can lead to inefficiencies and poor outcomes. Hightop aims to solve this problem by offering a comprehensive suite of services that are fully integrated.
By having all services—therapy, medication management, interventional treatments, and more—available under one roof, Hightop can provide a seamless patient experience. This integrated approach allows for better communication between providers and ensures that patients receive the most appropriate care at every stage of their treatment. “It’s really important to have all these services under one roof,” said Josh Baker, senior vice president of Hightop. “That’s how you start to demonstrate the value of these comprehensive services to the payers and can hopefully put some pressure on them to seek higher reimbursement.”
Hightop’s holistic model of care, where providers can internally refer patients to trusted colleagues, will help reduce the fragmentation that so often plagues the mental health system. This, in turn, will help improve patient outcomes and make the entire care process more efficient.
A Bright Future for Hightop Health
With its integrative care model, clinician-focused approach, and regional growth strategy, Hightop Health is quickly making a name for itself in the outpatient mental health care space. The company’s first acquisition, its plans to expand into new markets, and its focus on improving both the patient and clinician experience set it apart from many other providers in the field.
As Hightop continues to grow and refine its services, it remains committed to its core mission: providing high-quality, patient-centered outpatient mental health care that is both accessible and effective. With a clear vision for the future and the backing of strong private equity partners, Hightop is well-positioned to become a household name in the behavioral health space.
