Specialty care platform Lantern has launched an exclusive partnership with Pelago, a digital clinic for substance use management, the companies announced last week.

Dallas, Texas-based Lantern directs members of health plans and self-insured employers to local providers for surgery, cancer treatment, infusion care or other medical needs. Through its partnership with Pelago, Lantern’s clients can now access Pelago’s substance use disorder treatment through Lantern’s specialty care platform. Its clients include Hyatt Hotels, 7-Eleven and 32BJ Health Fund.

Pelago, based in New York City, offers treatment for those looking to manage, reduce or stop their tobacco, alcohol, opioid or cannabis use. Patients gain access to a care team that includes physicians, nurses, coaches and counselors. The company also provides support for co-occurring mental illnesses and chronic conditions like diabetes. In addition, patients have access to vetted inpatient treatment facilities, remote monitoring devices and medication-assisted treatment.

Lantern entered into the partnership with Pelago because it had heard from its employer clients that they were interested in substance use management support.

“We believe Pelago is the leader in the space, and one of the reasons they’re the leader is so much of their work is so grounded in the clinical best practice approaches, looking very clearly at the clinical evidence, building that into their programs, then validating and testing that. … The fact that they are narrowly focused in substance use disorder, we also thought was particularly interesting, because it means that they have got really, really good at that specific area, rather than trying to be too broad,” said Dickon Waterfield, president of Lantern, in an interview.

There is a need for more substance use disorder support, with 49 million U.S. adult workers battling a substance use disorder, a mental illness or both. There are several other companies that treat addiction, including Bicycle Health, Ophelia and Boulder Care. However, Pelago is more focused on serving employers than these other companies, which primarily work with health plans including Medicaid.

By partnering with Lantern, Pelago hopes to make it easier for employers to manage their healthcare benefits.

“Employers are often overwhelmed with too many point solutions,” said Frank Jennings, president of Pelago, in an email. “Our goal is to make it easier for them to find effective, outcome-focused care in one place. By working together, we’re creating a more straightforward way for employers to provide quality care at a better price, improving the experience for employees and organizations alike.”

On Lantern’s side, the company ultimately aims to “give more people access to excellent care around substance use disorder,” Waterfield stated.

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