Brightline is the first and only national comprehensive digital behavioral health solution. They support kids aged a year and a half to eighteen, along with their families. They do that through a comprehensive model using self-directed tools, resources, and content within their digital platform. They use one-on-one virtual behavioral health coaches to focus on skill building. Brightline also has a diverse team of language pathologists, psychiatrists, and therapists. They currently reach all 50 states with their care network. 

Blue Shield of California is a part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield family and is a mission-driven, not-for-profit statewide Blue plan that serves residents of California. They are focused on creating a healthcare system that is worthy of their family and friends and is also sustainably affordable. They have 4.7 million members, more than 7000 associates, and 23 billion dollars in revenue. Since 2004, they have invested more than 800 million dollars in the communities that they live in, work in, and serve. 

The Importance of Addressing Pediatric Behavioral Health 

Pediatric behavioral health matters to both Brightline and Blue Shield of California because kids are the future, and both know that in spite of lots of wonderful people, there is still a significant stigma around mental health and behavioral health. They want to be a part of providing access to kids and families that need it. As there is a shift from pandemic to pandemic, there are barriers that include finding access to providers that accept certain health plans, a general lack of providers, transportation issues, and more. The companies’ focus matters more now than ever. One in five children in the US has a diagnosed mental health condition, and another one in five is potentially undiagnosed. 

How Brightline and Blue Shield of California Work Together To Address Pediatric Behavioral Health

Brightline and Blue Shield of California are partners and value their professional relationships. Both companies are deeply committed to supporting pediatric mental health. There have been countless community initiatives that were partnered with schools and agencies aimed at raising awareness. They know and understand proper behavioral health care for the pediatric population. They have seen the need become a bigger and bigger issue. There is a critical shortage of mental health providers facing kids. There are increasing numbers of kids being diagnosed with mental health conditions, and different populations are experiencing this at a higher rate. Kids of color, LBGTQ, kids experiencing poverty, and other adverse childhood experiences all have high statistics that should compel people to work on integrating behavioral health care and resources into pediatric primary care and work to increase providers in the field while getting better outcomes. 

Brightline tackles this lack of support for pediatric behavioral health in a systematic, comprehensive way to support kids and teens. There is a focus on how to do this in a holistic way to measure improvement over time and really focus on quality and outcome. 

Blue Shield of California was the first for employers to offer pediatric behavioral health to their employees. Brightline tied this bridge together with the proper care for families and gave timely access to care, access to coaches, and involving parents and the kids in the care. 

Brightline is growing its client network, as well as its partnerships, at an increasing rate. Many of the employers they work with have employees with a strong work and family balance that they are juggling. An increasing number of employees have to leave their employers to care for the behavioral health needs of their children. This has brought Brightline into many employers' care systems. Brightline is happy to partner with companies that have their employee's best interests at heart and when their interests include caring for their families. 

Pediatric solutions are not the same as adult solutions. There are so many pediatric-focused care aspects, and there needs to be the same focus for pediatric behavioral healthcare. It would be inefficient to care for a child with an adult care solution, so why should this standard differ for mental health? Another positive aspect of their platform is their idea of parent-involved care plans. Parents can be a major help when it comes to a care path and a care plan. Parent involvement allows parents to actually see that their child is getting better and how they can help them succeed. 

Innovation in Pediatric Behavioral Health

There is a positive future for care as integration becomes more common. Treatment needs to integrate behavioral health care by caring for people as a total person, not as several separate entities within the same person. Integrating parents and caregivers into care is also a major positive in terms of future care. There has to be support for those who need it most. Virtual care is now at the forefront of care in the US, and we can thank the pandemic for this reinforcement that can be given anywhere. This allowance of virtual care has started to reorganize the healthcare system and how the healthcare system works. Virtual care is becoming more accessible and available, which has helped immensely in the mental health space. This virtual field has allowed families to make care work for them logistically while also, in some parts, removing the stigma that may have otherwise kept kids from pursuing the care that they need. 

Digital behavioral health tech is the future for connecting those most in need of care with the care they need, when and how they need it. Brightline is a beacon of hope for pediatric behavioral health care. Partners like Blue Shield of California are making Brightline more accessible by allowing them to provide the best in accessible care in the best manner possible. 

You can watch our full panel and hear more of these conversations here. 

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