Behavioral health is increasingly recognized as a core component of comprehensive health care, and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation. Across nearly every division of the health care conglomerate, behavioral health is playing a critical role, influencing clinical practices, benefits design, and patient engagement strategies. From primary care and home health to pharmacy services and community partnerships, the company is striving to make behavioral health an integral part of integrated healthcare delivery.
During its 2022 investor day, UnitedHealth Group executives emphasized that creating all-in-one service platforms is a top priority. These platforms integrate behavioral health into both clinical and benefits segments, ensuring patients receive coordinated care across multiple touchpoints. Dirk McMahon, president and chief operating officer, described the company’s approach as a transformation of traditional health care models: “We’re putting the right building blocks together and taking the traditional model to a whole new level — seamless coordination across all sites of care, integrated pharmacy and behavioral care delivered increasingly in the home.” UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty reinforced this commitment, stating that the company will continue to “prospect, experiment and invest in areas like behavioral health,” signaling ongoing expansion in mental health services. This strategy reflects a broader trend in integrated healthcare, where behavioral health is no longer treated in isolation but combined with medical care for better outcomes.
Optum Health: The Clinical and In-Home Focus
UnitedHealth Group’s services division, Optum, is central to its behavioral health strategy. Within Optum, Optum Health delivers clinical care across 2,200 sites in 44 states, serving over 20 million patients. The division is actively expanding both the number of locations and the variety of services offered, including virtual care and outpatient behavioral health programs. Dr. Wyatt Decker, CEO of Optum Health, explained, “We’re integrating behavioral and medical benefits and care, delivering outpatient mental health services in 37 states and offering a growing set of virtual and digital capabilities to patients across the country.” By bringing mental health, primary care, and pharmacy together, Optum Health exemplifies the principles of integrated healthcare.
Recent acquisitions underscore Optum Health’s commitment to behavioral health and value-based care. In March, Optum acquired Refresh Mental Health, a national outpatient mental health system, and LHC Group, a major home health provider. These acquisitions are integrated into Optum’s value-based care strategy, which emphasizes high-quality, patient-centered care while controlling costs. By combining these services, Optum Health can deliver care that addresses both medical and behavioral needs in a coordinated manner—an essential hallmark of integrated healthcare.
Optum Health utilizes a variety of value-based care models, with the most impactful being “fully accountable arrangements.” Currently, about 3.2 million patients are covered under these arrangements, and the number is projected to rise to 4 million in 2023. In addition, Optum Health’s behavioral health network now includes approximately 375,000 providers and serves 42 million people, representing a 25% growth in its network size, as reported in UnitedHealth Group’s third-quarter earnings call. This expansion demonstrates the company’s dedication to ensuring patients have access to a robust network of mental health professionals, which strengthens the overall framework of integrated healthcare.
Addressing Complex Patient Needs at Home
Behavioral health integration is particularly important in Optum Health’s home health services, where patients often face multiple medical and social challenges. Kristy Duffey, chief nursing officer for Optum Health, explained that the average home health patient manages nine chronic conditions, faces transportation barriers, and often lives in remote areas. Many are disabled and must coordinate multiple medications, while approximately 40% also struggle with mental health issues. By embedding behavioral health support into home health services, Optum can provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s complex needs, demonstrating the company’s commitment to true integrated healthcare.
The home health model includes physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and pharmacists, all working together to ensure patients receive coordinated medical and behavioral care. This approach allows patients to receive critical support in their own homes, improving engagement and outcomes while reducing the need for hospitalizations or emergency care.
Community Partnerships for Broader Impact
UnitedHealth Group is extending behavioral health integration beyond clinical sites through community partnerships. UnitedHealthcare, the insurance and benefits division, collaborates with federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)—safety-net clinics supported by the federal government—to increase access to care and preventative screening services. These partnerships have proven effective. In Kansas City, UnitedHealthcare’s collaboration with FQHCs improved behavioral health and dental visits for expecting mothers, resulting in better full-term birth outcomes and a 90% increase in postnatal visit attendance.
Bobby Hunter, senior vice president of Medicare Advantage product and experience at UnitedHealthcare, emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding these efforts: “Given the success of these programs, we are doubling the number of federally qualified health centers implementing these interventions and bringing private sector employers to the table to help accelerate these efforts.” By leveraging community partnerships, UnitedHealth Group is able to extend the reach of its behavioral health services, ensuring care is available to populations that may otherwise face barriers—another critical aspect of integrated healthcare.
Integrating Behavioral Health into Pharmacy Services
Behavioral health is also integrated into UnitedHealth Group’s pharmacy services through OptumRx. As the most common touchpoint in health care, pharmacies play a vital role in improving patient outcomes and reducing overall costs. OptumRx provides comprehensive pharmacy services that include behavioral health support and standardized assessments, ensuring patients receive holistic care alongside their medications. This integration reflects UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise-wide commitment to integrated healthcare, highlighting that pharmacy services are more than just dispensing medications—they are a critical link in coordinated care.
A Comprehensive, Patient-Centered Approach
UnitedHealth Group’s multi-division approach to behavioral health illustrates a broader shift in health care toward patient-centered, integrated healthcare. By embedding behavioral health into primary care, home health, pharmacy, and community partnerships, the company is creating a seamless experience for patients while improving outcomes and efficiency. Virtual care, in-home support, and robust provider networks ensure that patients can access behavioral health services wherever they are, while value-based care models promote high-quality, cost-effective treatment.
From outpatient therapy and home health coordination to community-based initiatives and pharmacy support, UnitedHealth Group’s strategy demonstrates that behavioral health is no longer an optional service—it is a fundamental component of modern health care. By prioritizing integration across all divisions, the company is helping to transform how behavioral health is delivered, making it accessible, comprehensive, and truly integrated into patient care.
