MFO Ventures' Strategic Investment to Bolster Forge Health's Mental Health and Substance Use Expansion

Forge Health, a leading mental health and substance use care provider, has received a strategic growth investment from MFO Ventures. This funding will enable Forge to optimize and expand its care platform, enhancing virtual care, service offerings, and outreach to underserved populations. The investment supports Forge's mission to deliver affordable, high-quality care through advanced tools and partnerships with health systems and payors. The company, founded in 2016, has over 300,000 members under its value-based partnership model and operates clinics across several states, providing both virtual and in-person care.

Introduction:
Forge Health, a pioneering mental health and substance use care provider, has secured a strategic growth investment from MFO Ventures [1]. This funding will enable Forge to optimize and expand its care platform, enhancing virtual care, service offerings, and outreach to underserved populations. Founded in 2016, Forge Health boasts over 300,000 members under its value-based partnership model and operates clinics across several states, providing both virtual and in-person care [2].

The Need for Innovative Mental Health Solutions:
The importance of addressing mental health and substance use issues cannot be overstated. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 65 million American adults live with at least one mental health condition, and more than 25 million suffer from a substance use disorder [3]. Yet, anywhere from 60% to 90% of these individuals go without treatment [3]. The costs associated with untreated behavioral health conditions are staggering, with behavioral health treatment accounting for less than 2% of overall commercial health spending but 40% of all healthcare expenditures tied to patients with behavioral health conditions [3].

Forge Health's Innovative Approach:
Forge Health's trauma-informed Forge Care Model distinguishes it from other providers. This multidisciplinary, data-driven approach utilizes clinical teams, data analytics, and streamlined treatment delivery to provide personalized care for both high- and low-acuity patients while addressing social and co-morbid medical needs [1].

Clinical Outcomes:
A recent national payor-led clinical outcomes study involving 70 Forge Health patients revealed significant improvements in both medical utilization and overall health outcomes a year after treatment [1]. Key findings included:

* 62% reduction in emergency department utilization
* 75% reduction in medical hospital admissions
* 39% reduction in all-cause hospital admissions
* 20% increase in primary care visits
* 494% return on investment (ROI) for payors

These results underscore the potential of the Forge Care Model to improve quality of life, reduce patient and payor costs, and make a significant impact on the behavioral health landscape.

Conclusion:
With this strategic growth investment, Forge Health is poised to further optimize and expand its care platform, enhancing virtual care, service offerings, and outreach to underserved populations. The company's innovative approach to mental health and substance use care, backed by clinical outcomes data, positions it as a leader in this critical and growing field.

References:
[1] Businesswire. (2022, April 26). Forge Health Announces Transformative Clinical Outcomes Showing Positive Impact of its Unique Behavioral Health Care Model on Medical Utilization and Overall Health. Retrieved from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220426005075/en/

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