ValueOptions and RedBrick Health Partner to Launch Integrated Health Behavior Change System

NORFOLK, Va. and MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions®, the nation's largest independent behavioral health care company, and RedBrick Health, a leader in consumer-focused health engagement technologies, today announced an alliance to bring an integrated suite of behavioral health improvement services to the employer market.

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The suite is built on the foundation of RedBrick Health's consumer health engagement platform and integrated with ValueOptions' Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and other behavioral health services. It will streamline benefit purchasing decisions for employers while making it simpler for employees and their dependents to access a complete array of personal and behavioral health benefits through a single website or call to ValueOptions' engagement center.    

"After scanning the market, it was clear RedBrick Health's unique approach to achieving broad-based consumer engagement represented the best industry partner for helping us deliver a truly integrated suite of services to change health behaviors," said Ed Jones, Ph.D., executive vice president, commercial division at ValueOptions®.

RedBrick Health's Intelligent Engagement Engine(SM) combines deep personalization, healthy social competition, and a powerful incentives management system called Health Earnings(SM) that enables employers to reward employees for positive health engagement in a fair and accountable way. As a result, RedBrick Health has helped employers engage their employees in health improvement opportunities at rates three to five times industry norms.

ValueOptions' behavioral health experts will collaborate with RedBrick Health to create a customized platform that connects consumers to health improvement services, EAP services, online and telephonic health coaching, and other behavioral health services. By offering a unique "whole person" approach to both emotional and physical health improvement, ValueOptions® aims to help employers more rapidly and effectively achieve healthier, more productive workforces.  

"Given our bias toward innovation as a key to driving superior engagement, ValueOptions' long track record of progressive behavioral health services attracted us from day one," said Kyle Rolfing, co-founder and chief executive officer of RedBrick Health. "We're delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with the ValueOptions® team to produce a truly unique solution that recognizes the critical connection between physical, social, financial and emotional health."

ValueOptions® plans to introduce the new suite of services in the first quarter of 2011.

About ValueOptions

ValueOptions®, Inc., the nation's largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, provides services to more than 23 million individuals through a variety of contracts with state and county agencies and, additionally, with health plans and employers. ValueOptions® specializes in management for all behavioral health issues and promotes health and wellness through innovative programs. The mission of ValueOptions® is to improve the health and wellness for the people it serves. For more information, visit www.valueoptions.com.

About RedBrick Health

RedBrick Health is a health technology company that drives sustained engagement in health improvement programs through constant innovation and deep consumer insight. The company's health engagement platform blends a fresh, personalized consumer experience, impactful social networking tools and rewards that link individual financing to healthy behaviors. As a result, RedBrick Health delivers employers engagement rates far exceeding industry norms and the ability to fairly and responsibly control costs through increased employee accountability. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Minneapolis, RedBrick Health serves large, self-insured employers and strategic distribution partners. Visit www.redbrickhealth.com, read more at www.healthinnovationblog.com or follow at twitter.com/redbrickhealth.

SOURCE ValueOptions, Inc.