There are numerous challenges associated with accessing mental health medication, including the cost, insurance limitations, and lack of available providers. It’s estimated that over 50% of adults with mental illness, totaling 28 million people, don’t receive treatment, including medication. Even for those who do get access to medication, adherence rates range between 45% and 55% and studies have shown that over 20% of individuals with depression didn’t fill a prescribed medication in the past year due to cost concerns.
To help solve this problem, online behavioral health company Talkspace announced a partnership on Thursday that will allow Talkspace members to fulfill prescriptions from their provider through Amazon Pharmacy.
That means that new and returning Talkspace customers can select Amazon Pharmacy as a home delivery option. If the patient chooses, their Talkspace psychiatric provider can send prescriptions directly to Amazon Pharmacy with a single click.
Founded in 2012, Telemedicine-based therapy provider Talkspace matches members with one of thousands of licensed therapists within days and can engage in live video, audio, or chat sessions, and/or unlimited asynchronous text messaging sessions. The company also provides psychiatry services and prescription fulfillment, adolescent therapy, and couples counseling.
More than 140 million Americans have access to Talkspace through their health insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and Regence; employee assistance programs; partnerships with healthcare companies; or as a free benefit through an employer, school, or government agency.
Last year the company announced that its service would be rolling out to 13 million Medicare members across 11 states, including California, Florida, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, South Carolina, New Mexico, and Idaho.
Amazon Pharmacy, meanwhile, was launched in 2020, following the company’s acquisition of PillPack. In 2023, the company unveiled a new subscription model for Amazon Pharmacy, allowing patients to pay a flat monthly fee of just $5 for all their drugs, even if they take multiple medications.
This is not the first partnership between the two companies: last year, Talkspace unveiled a partnership with Amazon Health Services to increase awareness and discoverability of its mental health care services on Amazon.com. When Amazon customers search Amazon for topics like “stress relief,” “family therapy,” or “sleep help,” they can check their eligibility for therapy and psychiatry services.
Customers shopping on Amazon can also check to see if they have coverage for Talkspace therapy and psychiatry services through Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector website. Eligible customers can enroll and schedule a virtual appointment with a licensed provider, typically within one to five days.
“We’re committed to making it easier for people to get the medications they need—at a price they can afford and when they need them,” Tanvi Patel, Vice President and General Manager of Amazon Pharmacy, said in a statement.
“Talkspace is an established leader in mental health care, and we’re pleased to work together to provide a seamless, digital-first experience that helps customers more easily manage both their care and prescriptions from start to finish.”
(Image source: amazon.com)
