evolvedMD, HealthyU expand integrated behavioral care to Massachusetts

evolvedMD is moving its collaborative care model into Massachusetts through HealthyU primary care clinics in Worcester, Sterling, Auburn and Shrewsbury this summer. The expansion aims to bring behavioral health services into primary care, cut wait times and improve access for patients facing anxiety, depression and other mental health needs. Why it matters: - The expansion brings behavioral health services into primary care settings in Massachusetts, which can make care easier to access and reduce stigma. - The move comes as mental health need remains high, with roughly 1 in 5 U.S. adults and 1 in 7 youth ages 6-17 living with a mental health condition. - The partnership is designed to help patients get care closer to where they already receive medical services. What happened: - evolvedMD has expanded its partnership with HealthyU into the Northeast. - High-quality behavioral health care will be available this summer at HealthyU primary care clinics in Worcester, Sterling, Auburn and Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. - The two organizations have worked together since 2022 in Phoenix using a collaborative care model inside primary care clinics. - The partnership has already reached tens of thousands of patients in Phoenix. The details: - HealthyU’s Chief Medical Officer Lauren Havard said the company views behavioral health as part of whole-person care. - Havard said integrating behavioral health directly into primary care is meant to meet patients where they are and improve access, reduce stigma and expand compassionate care. - evolvedMD CEO Erik Osland said the model is built to make behavioral health services affordable and accessible. - Osland said the approach reduces wait times and broadens access to care. - evolvedMD says it is now active in five states and serves more than 22 healthcare partners across six states and more than 200 primary care clinics. - evolvedMD served more than 42,000 patients over the last 12 months. - evolvedMD launched in 2017 and places behavioral health specialists onsite within a practice. - HealthyU Clinics operates 24 locations across Arizona, California and Massachusetts. Between the lines: - The expansion reflects growing demand for integrated care models that bring mental and physical health services together. - The partnership is also a geographic test case for whether a model proven in Arizona can scale into the Northeast. - The companies are positioning integrated behavioral health as both a clinical improvement and a cost-conscious care model. What’s next: - HealthyU patients in Massachusetts should begin seeing behavioral health services in primary care clinics this summer. - evolvedMD is continuing to scale its network of partners and clinics beyond Arizona. - The companies are likely to use the Massachusetts rollout as part of broader growth for integrated care services. The bottom line: - evolvedMD and HealthyU are betting that embedding behavioral health in primary care can expand access, shorten waits and normalize mental health treatment for more patients.