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If you break your arm, you get a cast. If your cholesterol is high, you get a prescription. But what happens when what ails you is mental, behavioral, or emotional in nature? Too often, the answer is: nothing. For far too long, our healthcare system has treated the brain as somehow separate from the body. Fact is, mental health is health. One in five U.S. adults are estimated to be living with mental illness, and research suggests that 55% of adults with a mental illness have not received any treatment. The workplace is where many experienced and navigated the COVID pandemic as a collective trauma. Employees have come to expect mental health resources, and in todays high-stress business climate alongside lifes everyday challenges, they are needed now more than ever. Left unchecked, mental and behavioral health conditions (which includes substance use disorders) cost U.S. employers approximately $282 billion each year in absenteeism, productivity declines, and associated healthcare expenses. As business leaders, we can no longer afford to treat mental health as someone elses problem or an after-hours issue. The case for whole health Evidence (and intuition) proves the body and mind are inextricably connected. Mental health conditions like depression can double the risk of developing diabetesand vice versa. Those living with chronic illnesses are far more likely to experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health struggles. Social determinants of health (including loneliness, housing, food security, and transportation) are additional factors. And yet, our systems continue to silo these areas of care. Its time to bridge that divide because all of these issues impact whole health. Treating mental health alongside physical health is the right thing to do for employeesbecause it improves their healthand for employers, as it helps stabilize costs, reduces employee absences, and improves productivity. More importantly, it builds healthier people, at work and in life. Whether its expanding access with digital therapy or integrating behavioral care with primary care, the industry is finally beginning to focus more on the whole personand not just their conditions. Invest in what (and who) matters Wellness apps and lunch-and-learns are a start, but effectively addressing mental health must go further. Serious mental illnesses (SMI), which include conditions like bipolar disorder and severe anxiety, and substance use disorder (SUD) are highly complex and require serious attention, and investment. For example, individuals with SMI face a 53% higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseaseand are 85% more likely to die from it compared to those without SMI. Integrated care for these complex conditions has been shown to improve quality of life and significantly reduce overall healthcare costs. Making programs and resources available for employees with such conditions is more than good medicineits good business. Nearly two million employees receive treatment for SUDs annually, and more than 13 million workers are in some form of recovery, representing 9% of all adults. This population represents a sizable portion of our nations workforce, and employees in recovery often show increased energy, focus, and performance. What employers can do right now As stewards of workforce health and productivity, employers have a unique opportunity to lead in this space. Heres where to start: Enhance benefits. Modern Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer far more than they once did. If you do provide an EAP, but havent scrutinized its options lately, you should. The latest premium models go beyond counseling, digital self-help tools, and expert referrals tailored to employees needs. Some now address social determinants of health and share wellbeing/mindfulness resources, concierge-level support, coaching, and on-site resources. Support all levels of need. Not every employee needs therapy, medication, or more intense carebut every employee needs support for themselves and their families. From digital wellness tools to specialized autism care access, a range of solutions helps meet people where they are. Invest in prevention. Just as we promote physical well-being through wellness incentives, the same must apply to mental and emotional health. For every dollar spent on mental health initiatives, companies can expect a return of $4 due to reduced absenteeism, lower overall healthcare costs, and increased productivity. Partners in progress: Were in this together Ultimately, mental and behavioral health conditions are commonand treatable. By investing time, expertise, funding, and a spirit of partnership, employers can transform lives and workplaces. Thats not just good medicineits good business. At Carelon Behavioral Health, were committed to changing how the system works. With 160 million U.S. adults spending much of their waking hours at work, we know employers are an important key to destigmatizing mental health and unlocking whole health. Its time we accept the fact that mental health is health. It always has been. Bryony Winn is president of Carelon Health. Corbin Petro is president of Carelon Behavioral Health.
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E-Commerce
For many generations, menopause was a taboo topic. Despite 6,000 women reaching menopause in the U.S. each day, this pivotal stage in a womans life has been sidelined and neglected in the broader healthcare landscape. While symptoms can be debilitating for many women, a lack of research and medical training on menopause often results in these issues being misdiagnosed or dismissed. Unfortunately, this can translate to reduced insurance coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs for millions of women trying to manage their symptoms through prescribed medications and treatments. Today, the tide is turning on menopause, due in part to celebrities including Oprah, Halle Berry, and Drew Barrymore speaking publicly about their experiences. They are advocating for greater resources for women, and there is increased acceptance among the current generation in discussing menopause openly. A growing number of startups, like Elektra Health and Midi Health, are offering women more education, access to care, and a virtual community to help them face their menopause journeys. Even legislators are taking note, proposing changes to improve affordability and increase education for medical professionals across several states. But theres much more to be done, especially when it comes to education and affordability. Last month, our GoodRx team released findings from a new survey exploring the financial difficulties women face when navigating menopause. The data illustrated a greater need to address access and affordability gaps in menopause care, and underscored the importance of evolving our healthcare system to support women at every stage of life. Affordability challenges in menopause care Even as the conversation around menopause grows, women are routinely priced out of the treatments they need to manage their symptoms. Our survey, conducted in February 2025, found that 21% of women have put off or avoided menopause treatment due to financial concerns. And 12% reported having to make financial trade-offs, such as cutting back on other essential expenses, just to afford their care. Its not surprising that women are struggling to afford menopause care, as list prices for menopause medications have risen almost 60% over the last decade, and these costs trickle down to the consumer. Unfortunately, insurance coverage isnt always a reliable solution. Only 26% of women have their menopause-related prescriptions fully covered by insurance, and 8% dont have their prescriptions covered at all. The link is clear: Lower costs are crucial in helping more women access the menopause care they need. Improve the care gap in menopause Beyond cost itself, there is an unmet need to improve access to menopause care. The issue starts in medical schools, where most programs offer limited education on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. As a result, the majority of primary care physicians dont have the skillset needed to help their patients manage symptoms. Even within OB-GYN training programs, research shows that less than a third of residency programs have any type of menopause curriculum. When unable to get answers from their usual physicians, many women turn to certified menopause specialists to seek help with their symptoms. But, as of now, there is only one menopause-certified specialist available for every 30,000 menopausal women in the U.S. By improving the full spectrum of menopause care and making sure every primary care physician and OB-GYN has the training they need, we can help break down access barriers and help more women address their symptoms. Unlock new frontiers in menopause care With healthcare industry leaders understanding the need to better support women transitioning into menopause, promising new treatments are emerging. For example, elinzanetant is currently in late-stage clinical development to address hot flashes associated with menopauseone of the most common symptoms. As new medications continue to undergo trials and enter the market, ensuring widespread availability is crucial. By better addressing hot flashes, women can improve their quality of life during menopause. This doesnt just benefit individuals, but improves the healthcare sector as a whole. A more supportive future for women Theres no silver bullet that can help lower costs and make menopause treatments more accessible. For healthcare leaders, menopauses growing economic burden is not just a health concern, but a call for systemic change. There are several levers we can pull to create a better, more supportive system for women. First, manufacturers of the most effective treatments for menopause, like menopausal hormone therapy, can look beyond insurance coverage and find ways to support women who are forced to pay out of pocket for these medications. While copay cards can be incredibly helpful for many high-cost prescriptions, these types of discount programs have low awareness. Pharmaceutical manufacturers can turn to trusted consumer resources, like GoodRx, to offer exclusive patient pay programs for those without adequate coverage on these medications. We launched this exact type of partnership with Pfizers portfolio of menopause hormone therapies last year and are seeing high uptake. We can further broaden access by working with other manufacturers in this space. Of course we still need to evolve our existing health insurance benefit structures to ensure they adequately support the diverse needs of women going through menopause. This includes providing comprehensive coverage for hormone replacement therapies and other menopausal treatments without prohibitive costs. Employers play a role here, too, and can advocate for health plans that respect womens specific medical needs, which can in turn improve overall job satisfaction, productivity, and tenure. As both a leader and a woman navigating these same healthcare challenges, I’m optimistic about the future. By making menopause management easier, we not only enhance the quality of life for individual women, but generate positive impacts on families and the larger healthcare system. Dorothy Gemmell is chief commercial officer and president, manufacturer solutions at GoodRx.
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E-Commerce
If youve ever fancied your chances in the Hunger Games, now you have the opportunity to volunteer as tribute. Lionsgate just announced an open audition call for a minor role in the upcoming prequel, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. To audition, show us your best: act out a scene, perform a song, or surprise us with something completely new,” the movies X account shared last week. “All talents welcome. No previous experience necessary.” Many fans and budding actors are now eagerly taking their shot at being a part of the beloved movie franchise. After all, Rachel Zegler, who starred as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, landed her breakout role through an open casting call. However, if the producers were hoping the internet would take the auditions seriously, they clearly havent spent enough time on TikTok. A cursory scroll through the hashtag #SOTRCastingContest sees everything from creators pretending to be a tribute running from the cornucopia in the games, to getting into character as a cleaner in the Hunger Games arena. One TikTok creator performed a dramatic retelling of Hunger Games main character Katniss monologue from Mockingjay Part One, but in the voice of White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge. (Perfection.) Another TikToker proved she had the acting chops for the role of the potato that Beetee works on, while a third auditioned for the role of one of the goose eggs katniss bring haymitch in the end of SOTR. Yet another TikToker offered their interpretation of the supporting role of “President Snow’s milk”Can’t wait to see you in the movie, one person commented. Theyre gonna regret that open casting call, another added. Serious or not, there is still time to get your audition in before entries close on June 6, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The chosen actor will join Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as Coriolanus Snow, Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, and Maya Hawke as Wiress in the Haymitch-focused prequel set to hit screens November 20, 2026. Entrants must be a U.S. resident and over the age of 18. May the odds be ever in your favor.
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E-Commerce
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