GEHA Ventures, the new venture capital arm of the Government Employees Health Association Inc. (GEHA), recently made its inaugural investment in You Are Accountable, a New York City-based startup focused on post-treatment addiction recovery support. The company raised $2 million in a funding round led by GEHA Ventures, marking a pivotal step toward broadening access to critical recovery resources beyond initial treatment.
While traditional addiction treatment efforts focus heavily on detoxification and inpatient care, post-treatment addiction recovery support addresses a crucial but often underserved phase: sustaining recovery after treatment completion. This is the space where You Are Accountable operates, offering peer support, toxicology monitoring, care coordination, and evidence-based contingency management to help individuals maintain long-term sobriety.
Why Post-Treatment Addiction Recovery Support Matters
The relapse rates following substance use disorder treatment remain alarmingly high, highlighting the urgent need for effective post-treatment addiction recovery support. Unlike many interventions that focus solely on entry into treatment, You Are Accountable’s platform emphasizes maintaining recovery progress during the maintenance phase, which is essential for reducing relapse and supporting long-term wellness.
According to Kiel Dowlin, managing director at GEHA Ventures, the company was drawn to You Are Accountable’s mission and proven operational success in behavioral health:
“Accountable’s team has a proven track record of not only being mission-first but also operating profitably, efficiently, and effectively in the behavioral health space across multiple ventures. We believe with our capital and partnership, they will be able to compound the enormous impact they have on the lives of those in recovery and their families.”
Expanding Access Through Insurance Coverage
Historically, You Are Accountable has operated on a cash-pay model, limiting accessibility for many. With this investment from GEHA Ventures, the startup will now offer post-treatment addiction recovery support services to over 2 million GEHA members, including federal employees and retirees. This marks a significant expansion into commercially insured populations, bringing sustainable recovery support to a much broader audience.
This partnership aligns with GEHA’s overarching goal to help members “be healthy and well,” recognizing that recovery extends well beyond the walls of treatment facilities.
Building a Stronger Team to Scale Support
With the infusion of capital, You Are Accountable is hiring key personnel to professionalize and scale its operations. Co-founder and CEO Matthew Serel brought on his longtime business partner, Adam Milewski, as Chief Operating Officer, allowing Serel to focus more on strategic growth.
This team expansion supports the company’s goal of delivering effective post-treatment addiction recovery support on a larger scale, supported by secure, automated technology systems that meet enterprise standards for data privacy and customer security.
The Value of Contingency Management in Sustaining Recovery
One of the core components of You Are Accountable’s offering is contingency management, a behavioral intervention that provides incentives for positive recovery behaviors. This approach is one of the few validated treatments for stimulant use disorder, a condition without any FDA-approved medications.
Serel explains:
“Tools like ours are sometimes ‘out of style’ compared to treatment center investments. But the truth is, post-treatment addiction recovery support is critical for sustaining long-term health and preventing relapse.”
A Shift in Behavioral Health Investment Priorities
While much of the funding in behavioral health still focuses on treatment entry and clinical care, investments in post-treatment addiction recovery support are growing as payers and providers recognize the financial and human costs of repeated treatment episodes.
Insurance companies increasingly see value in reducing hospital readmissions and costly re-treatments for physical health conditions. Now, platforms like You Are Accountable are applying this same preventative approach to addiction care, seeking to keep individuals stable in recovery over the long haul.
Looking Forward: Sustaining Recovery for Lasting Impact
The partnership between GEHA Ventures and You Are Accountable represents a meaningful shift toward prioritizing post-treatment addiction recovery. As recovery continues to be recognized as a lifelong process, sustainable solutions that provide ongoing encouragement, accountability, and care coordination will be essential.
By investing in You Are Accountable, GEHA Ventures is supporting a future where people don’t just survive addiction—they thrive in sustained recovery, supported every step of the way.
