April Health has collaborated with Wysa, a provider of AI-powered mental health services, to enhance the integration of behavioural health within primary care settings.
The partnership aims to address the critical issue of mental health access by combining human-led care with Wysa’s AI-driven therapeutic solutions, thereby providing timely support to patients.
It will enable continuous and tailored care for individuals by merging the expertise of behavioural health specialists and psychiatrists with Wysa’s AI guidance. The new approach ensures that patient referrals are effectively managed, tackling the prevalent issue of lengthy wait times that often accompany mental health services.
The integration of artificial intelligence with human resources is designed to deliver support between clinical visits, which is expected to improve overall patient outcomes.
With the introduction of Wysa’s Therapeutic AI Coach, patients will have access to a hybrid model that combines both human and AI-guided support. This approach aims to increase accessibility while reducing the burden on healthcare providers and addressing insurance-related barriers.
April Health CEO Jesse Weinberg said: “Mental healthcare doesn’t fit neatly into appointment slots. Patients need support between visits, and providers need solutions that don’t add to their workload.
“By integrating Wysa’s AI, every patient referred to us receives ongoing care—whether through a behavioural health specialist, a psychiatrist, or AI-powered guidance tailored to their needs. This combined approach drives better outcomes in less time, helping to bridge America’s mental health gap.”
In primary care environments, it has been reported that more than 50% of behavioural health referrals do not result in successful patient engagement, leaving many individuals without essential support. April Health is addressing this issue by taking responsibility for ensuring patient follow-through.
After a provider makes a referral, April Health guarantees that patients receive the appropriate level of care, whether through interaction with a behavioural health care manager, recommendations for psychiatric medication, or digital support from Wysa’s AI Coach.
This model ensures that all patients, regardless of their insurance coverage, can access Wysa’s AI-powered resources, creating a scalable solution for expanding mental health services.
The incorporation of AI into April Health’s offerings supports the Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) model, which allows for reimbursement of behavioural health services in both primary care and speciality clinics. This framework not only enhances patient outcomes but also establishes a financially viable approach for healthcare practices.
Through this partnership, providers in primary care, paediatrics, and women’s health can integrate behavioural health into their operations without the need for additional staffing or disruption to existing workflows.
Providers can refer patients to an introductory call with April Health, during which care managers will assess individual needs and initiate a collaborative care plan led by a psychiatrist. This process ensures that patients receive comprehensive behavioural health support within the time constraints typical of primary care settings.
The collaboration between April Health and Wysa demonstrates the potential for making behavioural health services more accessible and scalable, providing necessary human support while ensuring that all patients have continuous access to clinically validated mental health tools.
The initial implementation of this integrated model includes existing primary care partners of April Health, such as LifePoint Healthcare and The Newton Clinic, which is affiliated with MercyOne.
Wysa co-founder and president Ramakant Vempati said: “No one should have to wait for behavioural health care, yet the reality is most patients face long delays, assuming they ever get the support they need.
“By bringing Wysa’s AI into April Health’s care model, we’re creating a seamless system where patients can engage with mental health support immediately, while still receiving expert-led care.”
