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Significantly strengthens health provider network in IL and TX by over 4,000

CHICAGO — Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States, has significantly increased the number of behavioral health providers available to members.

By adding Headway as an in-network provider in Illinois and Texas, HCSC has rapidly expanded member telehealth and in-person choices for access to behavioral health care. More than 21,000 high-quality credentialed mental health providers across 26 states practice as a part of the Headway network, with 42% of providers identifying as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial and more than 80 languages spoken.

HCSC’s network expansion comes at a critical moment. A recent Gallup survey indicates that depression in the United States is at an all-time high, with one third of Americans diagnosed with depression in their lifetimes. Since January 2023, nearly 30,000 HCSC members across IL and TX have received mental health care through Headway. HCSC members get to care in 5 days, which is 2-3 times faster than average, and 76% of members see an improvement in a clinical assessment in the first 30 days. Members in Illinois and Texas can schedule care directly in as soon as 48 hours via a one-click booking experience at headway.co, or obtain care through a referral.

Headway is now available to fully insured group plans both in Illinois and Texas.

Telehealth as a site of care

In addition HCSC is focused on making behavioral health care more accessible through increased access to telehealth overall.

In 2020, telehealth represented 0.5% of all HCSC members’ behavioral health appointments. Today, telehealth at HCSC represents as much as 50% of all members’ behavioral health appointments. The change began with the COVID-19 pandemic, after the company expanded its behavioral health care offerings by broadening access to virtual appointments, and as more people sought alternatives to in-person care in the wake of the pandemic. 

Multipronged Approach

HCSC also supports initiatives to improve mental health for members and people in the communities it serves by:

• Supporting a training initiative in Montana to help the state’s pediatricians and primary care providers to better evaluate and help their patients with potential behavioral health issues.
• Offering reminders to network providers to conduct behavioral health screenings and offering them educational courses.
• Contracting with agencies in Illinois and New Mexico to reserve appointments to help ensure Medicaid members have access to mental health resources when they need them.
• Providing community-based group support and health education for new and expecting mothers in Illinois, after many Medicaid members delivered children with complications caused by behavioral health conditions, substance use disorders, or both.

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About Health Care Service Corporation
Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer, with more than 17.5 million members in its health plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact

Bryan Campen
bryan_campen@hcsc.net
(630) 877-0225