Molina Healthcare teams up with MDLIVE to improve access to care for New Mexico Medicaid members through innovative partnership

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately one-third of New Mexico's Medicaid beneficiaries – more than 220,000 members of Molina Healthcare of New Mexico – now will benefit through virtual access to licensed therapists and psychiatrists for behavioral health care. The expanded access to telehealth services is part of a new partnership between Molina Healthcare and MDLIVE, a leading telehealth provider.

Access to care via telehealth is good news for New Mexico's Medicaid members, a historically underserved population of patients, especially in rural and frontier areas. Molina's telehealth program will differ from traditional telehealth services through the creation of a "virtual office" of New Mexico-based providers contracted with Molina across the state. Providers and members can be anywhere in the state, members can request the appointment any time, and Molina contracted providers have no access fee for the use of the system when providing care to Molina members.

A survey released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2013 suggests that New Mexico leads the nation in the highest rate of mental illness, with only 11 psychiatrists per 100,000 people in the state. Given that telehealth greatly reduces barriers to behavioral health care access, the partnership will help connect Medicaid patients with quality, convenient and affordable care.  MDLIVE's and Breakthrough's commitment to serving Molina members in New Mexico will also help reduce emergency room visits among the Medicaid population that occur due to lack of access to behavioral health care.

"We are excited to see the benefit that our partnership with MDLIVE and Breakthrough will bring to our members across New Mexico," said Patty Kehoe, president of Molina Healthcare of New Mexico. "We are thrilled to introduce an innovative solution to some of our most vulnerable members and provide a new way to access the quality care they need."

MDLIVE's wholly owned behavioral health subsidiary, Breakthrough, has a strong track record of delivering confidential online therapy and one of the first providers to service Medicaid populations. Through the availability of online behavioral healthcare and, ultimately, online health care for acute conditions, Molina anticipates a reduction in inappropriate use of emergency rooms, translating into significant cost savings for Medicaid and taxpayers in New Mexico.

"We are proud to bring our experience and capability in behavioral and medical telehealth to a chronically under-served health care population," said Randy Parker, President and CEO of MDLIVE. "Access to quality, convenient and affordable behavioral and medical telehealth is a win-win for Molina members and the State of New Mexico."

According to the American Telemedicine Association, approximately 20 million Americans receive some part of their health care remotely, and that figure is projected to grow over the next decade. Through the collaboration the benefits of access, quality and convenience will be extended to New Mexico's patient population.

ABOUT MOLINA HEALTHCARE

Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Molina serves more than 3 million members through our locally operated health plans in 11 states across the nation and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Dr. C. David Molina founded our company in 1980 as a provider organization serving low-income families in Southern California. Today, we continue his mission of providing high quality and cost-effective health care to those who need it most. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit our website at www.molinahealthcare.com.

About MDLIVE/BREAKTHROUGH

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, MDLIVE is a leading provider of integrated virtual health services, offering online and on-demand health care that benefits consumers, employers, payers, hospitals, physician practice groups and accountable care organizations.  

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Breakthrough, MDLIVE provides online therapy and psychiatry offering members and customers a proprietary model of outcomes-based care through one of the most diverse networks of providers in the industry. MDLIVE has established a business-to-business-to-consumer model to bring to patients the confidence and assurance of trusted services across their health care needs, from health care provider to pharmacy.  By combining the power of leading health care systems, health IT leaders and retail health partners with MDLIVE's HIPAA-compliant cloud-based Virtual Medical Office platform, consumers can access the care they desire, transitioning from virtual to in-person offerings as needed.

MDLIVE's virtual health system makes it possible for patients, health care professionals and plan administrators to collaborate seamlessly and securely.  This approach also enables payers and providers to collect and share clinical data from patient medical records, lab results and in-home biometric devices for real-time risk assessments, wellness advice, diagnosis and treatment. To learn more, visit MDLIVE.com.

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SOURCE MDLIVE

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