Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) and Quartet Health (Quartet) announce they will join forces to help increase access to mental health care in Arizona, starting in Maricopa County. Quartet’s technology platform will make it easier for patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona health insurance to quickly connect with mental health care services, including a therapist or psychiatrist.
This partnership extends Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s commitment to improving the health and wellness of all Arizonans, including an important focus on mental health. Through Quartet’s secure, virtual platform, which proactively screens BCBSAZ members who may need care, doctors in the network can seamlessly refer their adult patients to mental health care and offer access to timely appointments to in-network mental health providers. Working together, BCBSAZ and Quartet aim to better address behavioral and mental health needs – such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder – many of which have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than giving members a list of network providers to call, Quartet connects members to a mental health provider who meets their preferences and clinical needs. Quartet is committed to timely access to care for every person referred and care navigators are available to assist members who may need additional support. Quartet works to honor each person’s preferences, with options for in-person or virtual visits delivering therapy and/or psychiatric services. In addition, the Quartet platform fosters collaboration between a person’s mental health provider and their referring healthcare provider, with the goal of getting patients the right type of support and treatment for their individual needs. Eligible BCBSAZ members can sign-up directly for Quartet to get connected to mental health care services by visiting qrt.care/az. BCBSAZ members may also be referred for mental health care services by a case manager. Quartet’s services are free for eligible BCBSAZ members. Patients may still be responsible for costs associated with the treatment they receive, depending on the terms of their insurance coverage.
“Quartet is proud to work with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona to help their members to get the most appropriate mental health care quickly and easily” said Puneet Singh, CEO of Quartet. “With the demand for mental health care increasing, we applaud BCBSAZ’s commitment to addressing the needs of the community. We look forward to working with providers across the state to improve access to high quality and timely care.”
The prevalence of Americans’ mental health has increased over the years. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, more than half of American adults believe the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on their mental health. According to SAMHSA, 5.4% of adults in Arizona live with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. However, only 44.3% of adults with mental illness in Arizona receive any form of treatment. In 2020, Mental Health America ranked Arizona 40 out of the 50 states and Washington D.C. for providing access to mental health services.
“Through Quartet’s platform, we will be able to offer our members better coordinated care and easier access to mental health care in settings that best suit their needs, while creating a strong alignment and collaboration with our healthcare provider community,” said Dr. Sandra Zebrowski, Corporate Medical Director, Behavioral Health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
The Quartet partnership is an example of BCBSAZ’s continued commitment to mental health. Through its Mobilize AZ initiative, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona partners with community organizations, providing funding to programs that provide resources and education to address mental health and substance use disorder in many of Arizona’s underserved communities.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to more than 1.9 million customers. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is inspiring health in Arizona. BCBSAZ, a not-for-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company, and its subsidiaries, employ more than 2,500 people in its Phoenix, Chandler, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. To learn more, visit azblue.com.
Quartet is a platform that makes it easier for people to get the most appropriate mental health care for their needs. Our technology and services reach people who need care, connect them to the right care, track the quality of their care, and support their care journeys. Backed by venture funding from top investors like Oak HC/FT, GV (formerly Google Ventures), F-Prime Capital Partners, Polaris Partners, Deerfield Management, Centene Corporation, and Echo Health Ventures, Quartet partners with health insurance plans and health systems across the country to help people get the care they need. As the largest provider of tech-enabled integrated mental health care, Quartet’s network of more than 25,000 health care providers helps people get the support and resources they need to manage their mental health.
