Lantern, Pelago partner to expand employer access to substance use disorder treatment

Specialty care platform Lantern announced a partnership with digital substance use management platform Pelago to provide Lantern's clients with access to personalized substance use disorder treatment.  Starting next year, Lantern clients will gain access to Pelago’s substance use disorder (SUD) treatment via the company’s specialty care platform, which covers all substances and severities, such as treatment for tobacco, cannabis, alcohol and opioid use disorders. Pelago will also provide telemedicine services with in-person treatment alternatives. In a statement, Pelago explained that its approach is based on individual health, habits, genetics and goals, providing care for members wherever they are on the substance use spectrum. "This partnership between Pelago and Lantern marks a significant step forward in delivering comprehensive, high-quality care solutions for employers and their members," Pelago president Frank Jennings said in a statement.  "By combining Pelago’s leadership in substance use management with Lantern’s Center of Excellence and specialty care expertise, we’re setting a new standard for addressing complex healthcare challenges with innovative and results-driven approaches. Together, we’re creating a more integrated and effective pathway to better health outcomes." Dickon Waterfield, president of Lantern, said the company is focused on connecting the workforce to the best specialty care, and that substance use treatment is an area where too many people lack access to effective and cost-effective treatment. "Through Pelago, our clients will soon have access to tailored SUD programs, provided both in-person or via telehealth, that’s backed by science and proven to improve health outcomes." THE LARGER TREND Earlier this month, Lantern partnered with the Global Appropriateness Measures (GAM) physician consortium to incorporate their patented appropriateness measures into its Network of Excellence of leading surgeons and specialists across the country. In 2024, Lantern announced a surgery network partnership with the 32BJ Health Fund, which provides comprehensive benefits to the members and families of SEIU 32BJ. Members of 32BJ, now have access to Lantern’s network of high-quality surgeons and specialists at little to no cost to them beginning in January 2025.  The 32BJ Health Fund is a self-insured, Taft-Hartley benefit fund that approaches health coverage differently than traditional health plans. By aggregating employer contributions from 5,000 employers, ranging from many small businesses to global real estate firms, the Health Fund says it uses these contributions to provide benefits to more than 200,000 people more cost effectively than do most employers on average. Last year, Pelago launched an inpatient Centers of Excellence network focused on increasing access to care, treatment completion and cost reduction. The company used its SUD-focused digital front door to identify members in need of a higher level of care.   Pelago also secured $58 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total raise to $151 million. Existing investor Atomico led the round, with participation from Y Combinator, Octopus Ventures and Kinnevik AB. New investors Eight Roads and GreyMatter Capital also participated.