Banner Health Deploys App-Based Loneliness Interventions

Jun 04
Jun 04, 2020

When Banner Health Network (BHN) was vying for a spot in Arizona’s revamped $14 billion managed Medicaid program, the integrated health care system knew it needed something innovative to meet the state’s expectations for merging physical and behavioral health services. In late 2017, it synced up with emerging mobile technology provider Pyx Health, which focuses on social isolation and loneliness, and has found the tools provided by Pyx to be useful in triggering real-time interventions and providing the outcomes the state was seeking.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) in 2017 issued a request for proposals from managed care organizations that would coordinate the physical and behavioral health care needs of 1.5 million Medicaid members. BHN was chosen as one of seven MCOs to integrate services for the new Complete Care program, which replaced the state’s Acute Care managed Medicaid program on Oct. 1, 2018. BHN, which is a clinically integrated network and accountable care organization that merged with University Health Plans in 2015, has a separate contract to serve the state’s long-term care program and operates a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).
Read more
© 2026 MMIT

Lauren Flynn Kelly

Lauren has been covering health business issues since the early 2000s and specializes in in-depth reporting on Medicare Advantage, managed Medicaid and Medicare Part D. She also possesses a deep understanding of the complex world of pharmacy benefit management, having written AIS Health’s Radar on Drug Benefits from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2016. In addition to her role as managing editor of Radar on Medicare Advantage, she oversees AIS Health’s publications and manages the health editorial staff. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English.