Bicycle Health, which offers virtual opioid use disorder treatment, is partnering with emergency telehealth provider Tele911 to connect patients to continuing care after an overdose or health crisis.

Tele911 works with paramedics to determine if patients need to be transported to a hospital emergency room or if they can be treated at home or at another care site. Under the partnership, those who experienced an overdose or have symptoms of opioid use disorder will be evaluated by Tele911 emergency physicians, and a social worker can refer them to Bicycle Health. 

The companies said their collaboration could help patients who are experiencing serious health effects from opioid use disorder access ongoing care. 

A recent study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy found that the vast majority of opioid use disorder patients don't receive medication-assisted treatment. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, just over 10% of people 12 and older with a substance use disorder received any treatment in the past year. 

"Working closely with Tele911 will allow us to reach individuals struggling through emergency health crises, redirect their care, and welcome them to our evidence-backed virtual care model – ultimately putting them on the path to recovery," Bicycle Health CEO and founder Ankit Gupta said in a statement. 

THE LARGER TREND

In July, Tele911 announced a similar partnership with Workit Health for non-emergent 911 calls in California, Florida and Texas. Workit provides virtual care for substance use disorder and commonly co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety and insomnia. The startup revealed a $118 million Series C raise in October 2021. 

Other companies offering telehealth care for substance use disorder include Boulder Care, which recently scooped up $36 million; Ophelia, which announced two fundraising rounds in 2021; and Quit Genius, which partnered with B2B insurance company Evry Health earlier this year. 

Meanwhile, this isn't the Bicycle's first partnership in 2022. In April, the company announced a collaboration with clinician mental health service Marvin to provide healthcare professionals with opioid treatment.

Bicycle also announced a $50 million Series B round earlier this summer. Gupta told MobiHealthNews the startup will use the funds for partnerships with health plans, providers and employers. 

"We've now started receiving inbound interest from providers who want to work with us, either referring patients to us or co-managing patients," he said. "We want to use the investment to also increase our partnerships with medical providers, case managers, discharge planners, especially in the correctional health setting but also with employers to reach patients."