This partnership reinforces Ginger’s commitment to support underserved populations by providing access to high-quality behavioral health coaching, therapy and psychiatry services for AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees
Ginger, the leader in on-demand mental healthcare, today announced a partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) to bring Ginger’s full suite of virtual mental health services to 110,000 Medicaid plan enrollees. Now, AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees have access to Ginger’s behavioral health coaching, therapy, and psychiatry services at no cost.
AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees can get started with Ginger by downloading the Ginger app (available via the iOS App Store and Google Play) and establishing their personal account. Enrollees will have the option to quickly begin texting with a Ginger behavioral health coach, and can immediately access Ginger’s robust library of self-guided content and skill-building activities. For individuals who need higher levels of care, a therapist or psychiatrist can be added to their care team for video-based sessions.
AmeriHealth Caritas DC supports a diverse population of over 110,000 Medicaid and Alliance Managed Care enrollees in Washington, D.C. While access to mental healthcare is a growing challenge across many communities within the U.S., research shows a disproportionate impact across race and income:
- According to the American Psychological Association, about 30% of therapists do not accept insurance, leading individuals to pay out-of-pocket – an average of $65-$250 per therapy session in the U.S.
- 2019 data compiled by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission found that psychiatrists accept new Medicaid patients at a much lower rate (35.7%) than Medicare (62.1%) or private insurance (62.2%).
- A 2016 report from the American Sociological Association examining race and class discrimination in psychotherapy showed that just 17% of Black middle-class appointment-seekers were able to make therapy appointments via phone, compared to 28% of white individuals. Appointment offer rates for both Black and white working-class therapy seekers were just 8%.
- Despite data showing more people experienced mental health issues last year, use of mental health services declined dramatically in 2020 among people covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Both adults and children saw a steep decline in the use of mental health services during the pandemic.
Since its inception, Ginger has built industry-leading diversity, equity, and inclusion practices to help all individuals thrive in their mental health journeys. Ginger’s providers reflect the diversity of backgrounds, cultural groups and specialties of the communities it serves, with 44% of its providers identifying as BIPOC, triple the American Psychological Association’s national average.
Ginger members can request to be matched with a coach based on their gender, sexual identity, race, ethnicity, specialties or lived experiences. Ginger also invests in cultural competency and ongoing training related to racial trauma, as well as the needs of LGBTQ+, veterans, traditionally under-resourced minorities and economically-disadvantaged groups as part of the Company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“At AmeriHealth Caritas DC, we encourage a holistic approach to care, bringing together high-quality and easily-accessible resources for both physical and behavioral healthcare for our enrollees,” said Dr. Yavar Moghimi, medical director, Behavioral Health. “In partnering with Ginger, we’re thrilled to offer our enrollees a new, prevention-focused resource to support their mental health needs via smartphone. On the heels of this difficult year, ensuring our enrollees have immediate access to the mental health support they need has never been more important.”
“At Ginger, we know that we can’t achieve our vision of a world where mental health is never an obstacle without focusing on the needs of all people and all communities,” said Russell Glass, CEO, Ginger. “As we double down on our commitment to reduce barriers to care for underserved populations, we look forward to providing AmeriHealth Caritas DC enrollees with immediate access to behavioral health coaching, therapy and psychiatry at their fingertips.”
AmeriHealth Caritas DC plan enrollees can learn more about Ginger by visiting: www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com.
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