The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has entered into a contract with publicly-traded company Pear Therapeutics to offer its reSET and reSET-O prescription digital therapeutics to Wisconsin residents with substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. 

Pear's reSET, a mobile application used to help treat substance use disorder, received FDA De Novo clearance in 2017. The Boston-based company's reSET-O received 510(k) clearance in 2018. 

Wisconsin's DHS will make reSET and reSET-O available through participating providers within outpatient treatment settings, including programs that offer prescriptions for buprenorphine, a medication that can be used to treat opioid dependence. 

Pear tells MobiHealthNews, "[The deal] will provide underserved populations in varied demographics and regions across the state with access to reSET and reSET-O." 

THE LARGER TREND

Pear wasn't immune to the layoffs many digital health companies saw this past summer. 

In July, Pear laid off approximately 25 of its employees, making up about 9% of its full-time workforce, due to the larger economic environment and the need to restructure operations to narrow its short-term business focus. In an SEC filing, Pear noted the reduction will cut operating expenses by $28 million over 18 months, extending its cash runway.

The layoff announcement came three months after Pear launched a program to offer its reSET and reSET-O offerings via telehealth providers. The first of these was Pursue Care, which focuses on addiction medicine.