The team at Violet is reflecting on takeaways from this year’s thought-provoking conference. BHT 2024 is the largest conference focused on expanding access to mental health and substance use care through technology, and health equity, bringing together health plans, employers, behavioral health providers, digital health companies, investors and policy makers. Violet co-hosted the election watch party with Backpack Health, offering a space for connection at the conference. Scott Zaloom, Head of Operations, and Kay Nikiforova, Head of Clinical & Research, recently joined the rest of the Violet team in Phoenix, Arizona to present insights, attend sessions and meet with customers, policy makers and thought leaders in the space.

Takeaways:

Scott Zaloom

1. Violet partners are excited about our work and expansion.

One of the best parts of the conference was hearing from our partners about how excited they are—not just about the work we’re doing now, but about where we’re heading. Our plans for expansion are creating opportunities to reach even more providers and promote inclusivity across different regions of the country, and it’s great to see how much this resonates with our partners.

During one conversation, a clinical leader from one of our partnering organizations shared how valuable it’s been to see Violet expand the types of education we offer and the range of continuing education credits we’re accredited for. Knowing that our work is making a real impact for providers and their patients is incredibly rewarding.

2. Tailored solutions are key to addressing regional needs.

Another big topic of conversation at the conference was how provider organizations and health plans navigate the unique health care needs and regulations of different regions. It’s clear that health care isn’t one-size-fits-all—and that’s especially true when comparing the needs of rural and urban areas.

We’ve had some encouraging discussions about how Violet’s platform helps partners assign targeted clinical education based on things like zip codes, specialties, and patient populations. By tailoring resources to fit the unique needs of each community, we’re helping create a more equitable health care system for everyone.

Kay Nikiforova

1. Medicaid innovation is taking center stage.

In 2017, Dr. Andrey Ostrovsky, former CMO of CMS, remarked that the Medicaid space represented a $500 billion annual opportunity for innovation, noting that the system hadn’t seen much technological evolution since 1965. Today, in 2024, we’re finally seeing both investment and innovation pouring into Medicaid, bringing transformative change to a system that serves millions with the greatest need for care access.

As someone with experience working closely with Medicaid recipients and uninsured individuals, I’m thrilled to see the industry addressing the needs of this population.

What’s the key for companies hoping to enter the Medicaid space? According to Gaurang and the panelists at the Private-Public Partnerships session, it’s all about authenticity and designing solutions specifically for Medicaid instead of retrofitting commercial models. Building with intention and respect for the unique challenges in this space is the path forward.

2. Health equity can, and should be, bipartisan.

During our time at BHT, it was hard not to notice the salience of politics when talking about access to health care. Discussions about health equity and disparities underscored how our health care system has historically contributed to these inequities.

The question becomes: how do we address this at a systems level, and what role does data play in driving these changes? Talking to state officials and those working in policy from states across the political spectrum, it was clear that the work of creating equitable systems of care continues regardless of the political climate, because at its core, health equity is simply good health care. And good health care is something we can all get behind.

‍