Author Health

New research suggests there are two key steps in the brain's natural cleaning process: pushing waste into surrounding fluids and then moving it out via the bloodstream and lymphatic system. During sleep, slow electrical waves in the brain act like pumps, pushing waste-filled brain fluids towards the surface for removal. This waste – which includes amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease – is then absorbed into the bloodstream and eliminated by the body.️ Although further research is needed, this new understanding of the brain's waste-clearance system could potentially pave the way for new therapies and treatments to prevent or slow neurodegenerative diseases. Learn more via NPR. #alzheimers #dementia #brainhealth https://lnkd.in/e4RY_6ys

As the daughter of a father who lived with dementia, Cornelia Channing learned many lessons. Perhaps the most important was learning that even in challenging times, there's still joy to be found. From her own experience, she offers actionable advice for people affected by dementia. 1️⃣ Humor is powerful. Finding humor and joy in the day-to-day moments, however small, can be helpful for both patients and caregivers. Even when communication is difficult, laughter can still be a great way to connect. 2️⃣ Don't be afraid to get creative. When traditional communication isn’t working, find new ways to connect like using nonverbal cues, reminiscing about shared memories, or even listening to music together. The most important part is to be patient and focus on creating a positive experience. 3️⃣ Focus on the present. Dementia steals the future, but it doesn't have to steal the present. Cherish the simple and precious moments together. Thank you, Cornelia, for sharing your story. If you’re a caregiver and need any support navigating the challenges of dementia, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help. #dementia #dementiacaregiving #caregiversupport #caringforcaregivers #brainhealth https://lnkd.in/g6sVqxbU

One year ago, Author Health announced our mission to transform health care for people living with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorders (SUD), and dementia. Thanks to the dedication of our team and the support of our partner primary care organizations, we've quickly expanded our reach beyond our initial launch and now serve Medicare Advantage patients across Florida and Texas. I'm so incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished in just one year, and there's also more work to be done. Approximately one in four Medicare recipients have a mental illness, and 40% of people in the U.S. over age 50 with serious mental illness report a lack of access to care. Author Health was born from an urgent need to address this gap and fundamentally shift how our health care system prioritizes behavioral health and preventive services. Our person-centered approach and team-based model is successfully addressing the needs of this patient population and making a significant impact on their lives. As we embark on this next chapter, our team is energized and committed to continue increasing access to high-quality mental healthcare for older adults and other vulnerable populations, and improving their health outcomes. Congratulations to the entire Author Health team on this milestone anniversary and an amazing year changing thousands of lives! #behavioralhealth #mentalhealth #valuebasedcare #vbc

We're excited to officially welcome our newest team members who share our passion for making a difference in behavioral healthcare. We're thrilled to have these amazing folks join our team! Want to be part of our growth story? We're hiring. Check out our open roles. https://lnkd.in/eVRQDgvr #behavioralhealth #mentalhealth #hiring #MHBestPlaces

Across Florida, more than 580,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, and more than 840,000 Floridians are caregivers. Earlier this month we had the opportunity to officially kick off our partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, Florida Region and connect with the broader Palm Beach community. The best opportunity for effective care, management, and treatment is early detection and diagnosis. We’re incredibly proud to partner with the Alzheimer's Association® and make a difference in the lives of thousands of Floridians. #endalz #alzheimers #dementia #dementiacare #brainhealth

✍ 🧠 Ian Chiang (Partner, Flare Capital Partners) and Alexa Morse (Flare Scholar, Class of 2022) teamed up to share their thoughts with Slice of Healthcare in a recent article, "The Next Phase Of Behavioral Health Evolution: Rise Of Behavioral Health-Focused Infrastructure-As-A-Service Innovators" It's no mystery the behavioral health space is rampant with unmet care needs across many underserved populations. Whether you know that from a first-hand experience as a patient finding it difficult to access care or by following the abundance of research & data that's been shared on the space, we have collectively seen the challenges this sector continues to face. Speaking of the data, let's look at a few stats pulled from the report: 1️⃣ Nearly 20% of US adults reported experiencing a mental illness in 2022, with over half of those adults not receiving treatment. Even among youth in the US, about 15% have reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year, with 60% not receiving any treatment. 2️⃣ According to HRSA, there are over 6,400 designated mental healthcare professional shortage areas across the United States, and nearly 8,000 mental health practitioners are needed to remove these designations. 3️⃣ Mental and behavioral health has ranked as the #1 clinical indication by venture funding between 2018 and Q1 – Q3 2023, according to Rock Health. In this article, Ian and Alexa unpack the landscape of emerging innovators tackling these issues across the Behavioral Health-Focused Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) market — from provider staffing platforms to novel biomarkers & monitoring tools to patient engagement & outreach startups. Check out the full article below to read Ian and Alexa's thoughts on how they expect these categories to evolve in the future. Thank you, Slice of Healthcare, for the publication! P.S. A special shoutout to our Flare Capital colleagues, Ben Hall (SVP of Product & Technology, Author Health), Danish M. (Founding Partner, GreyMatter), Katherine Hobbs, MD MPH (CEO, Author Health), Nicoletta “Nicki” Tessler, Psy.D., M.B.A. (CEO & Co-Founder, BeMe Health) for their contributions to the article! 🌟 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gKtw_JcD

People living with dementia can show signs of financial decline and impaired financial decision-making years before a diagnosis. A new research study examines how spending and borrowing behaviors change in the years before and after a dementia diagnosis. Financial missteps like missing payments, making risky investments, or falling victim to scams, can have a devastating impact on older Americans and their families. If a loved one starts behaving uncharacteristically or you notice unusual changes in their financial behaviors, it might be time to reach out for help. Learn more about these early warning signs via The New York Times. #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #cognitivedecline https://lnkd.in/ernGtCFU

In value-based behavioral health, partnership with primary care is paramount to better patient outcomes since people living with SMI, SUD, and dementia likely have other physical medical conditions. “If you’re actually going to move the needle in terms of total health and cost for these individuals, you have to be working not only on the behavioral health symptoms but also on their physical health needs as well,” said Author Health CEO, Dr. Katherine Hobbs, MD MPH at #AHIP2024. Thank you Fierce Healthcare for including Author Health in your recap. Learn more at the link below. #valuebasedcare #VBC #behavioralhealth https://lnkd.in/eKvYqGbB

We're proud to partner with Author Health as a 2024 Behavioral Health Tech Sponsor!! Author Health is the first platform to provide comprehensive care and treatment for Medicare Advantage recipients with serious mental illness (#SMI) and substance use disorders (#SUD). Author Health offers a team-based approach to care, bringing together specialized physicians, nurses, therapists, and community health workers to deliver a mix of virtual and in-person care for individuals who are often disconnected from the traditional healthcare system. Join us with Katherine Hobbs, MD MPH and the Author Health team at #BHT2024 by SAVING YOUR SPOT here: https://lnkd.in/eEd_wz9W #seniormentalhealth #seniorhealth

Going to AHIP next week? Make sure to catch "Making Value-Based Care Work for Behavioral Health" with Author Health CEO, Dr. Katherine Hobbs, MD MPH. This important discussion will explore collaborative approaches to deliver effective mental health care as well as strategic considerations for measuring quality, outcomes, and value. We hope to see you there! #AHIP2024 #VBC #valuebasedcare #behavioralhealth