Arbital Health, a technology company focused on outcomes-based contracts, entered into a continued long-term strategic collaboration with Quartet Health, a virtual mental and behavioral health platform.

As a partner in helping design and monitor outcomes-based contracts, Arbital aims to support Quartet's Whole Health program that lowers costs and improves patient outcomes for those who have been diagnosed with serious mental illness.

According to Quartet, the Whole Health program is a whole-person care delivery platform that emphasizes a fully integrated physical and behavioral health model, offering wraparound care services for people with severe mental illness, at no additional cost to patients. 

The program is intended to drive total cost of care (TCoC) reduction that encompasses developing the financial and contracting structure with clients to realize and calculate savings. 

"Arbital Health's actuarial expertise, collaborative approach, and deep understanding of value-based care contracting made them well suited for Quartet's Whole Health program," Dr. Michael Lipp, Quartet's chief medical officer, said in a statement. 

"Arbital's team is extremely collaborative and supportive. Their partnership has allowed us to analyze opportunities, support us through value-based contracting and provide the actuarial expertise needed for the execution and expansion of this program."

Andrew Mackenzie, chief science officer at Arbital Health, pointed out that untreated mental health conditions can result in worse outcomes for patients, payers and providers, and can exacerbate other disease areas.

"Accurately measuring the financial impact associated with appropriate treatment will allow for greater deployment of better value-based care for patients with mental health conditions. That, in turn, will allow providers to serve these patients better and will improve payer economics," Mackenzie said in a statement. 

THE LARGER TREND

In March, Quartet partnered with Clover Health, to bring value-based behavioral healthcare to Clover members with severe mental illness through Clover Home Care. Quartet’s Whole Health program added in-person or virtual therapy or psychiatry and self-guided programs to Clover’s offerings.  

In 2021, Quartet acquired virtual behavioral health provider InnovaTel Telepsychiatry, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition came days after Quartet announced a $60 million funding round that was led by Independence Health Group. 

Quartet also secured $60 million in funding in June 2019 and an additional $7.5 million later that year. 

Arbital Health, launched in 2023, recently announced a $10 million Series A Funding Round as well as the acquisition of actuarial and healthcare consulting firm Santa Barbara Actuaries, which specializes in value-based care and data analytics solutions.