If you follow The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide podcast, you know our core mission is protecting clinician agency against the “machine” of mental health. With the recent news that Spring Health is acquiring Alma, it appears that machine is growing significantly larger.
While we have previously discussed how referral platforms can support clinicians, we also maintained a healthy skepticism regarding how corporate goals might shift over time. That shift is happening now.
The Shift from Independence to Vertical Integration
Alma built its reputation as the “un-BetterHelp.” It offered a way for independent therapists to maintain autonomy while accessing corporate-level insurance rates. In contrast, Spring Health relies heavily on AI and data to predict clinical outcomes.
Therapists who joined Alma for a hands-off experience may soon find themselves “nudged” toward specific protocols. These metrics will likely influence referral rankings, fundamentally changing the nature of private practice. When your billing platform is owned by the same entity that manages mental health benefits for global corporations like PepsiCo, you are no longer just a private practitioner. You are a provider unit in a vertically integrated healthcare system.
The Impact of AI and Data Harvesting in Therapy
If Spring Health owns the EHR and the billing infrastructure, they own the data. This raises a critical question: how much of your clinical intuition is being harvested to train AI? We may soon see models that tell patients they no longer require sessions based on data pulled from your own clinical notes.
Potential Short-Term Benefits for Providers
Despite the concerns, this merger may offer some immediate advantages:
- Access to High-Value Contracts: Spring Health holds massive corporate contracts with competitive rates. Alma therapists may get a direct line to these higher-paying opportunities.
- Infrastructure Stability: Tech platforms are often volatile. Joining a larger corporation may provide a “safe harbor” compared to the risk of a platform going under entirely.
- Improved Client Matching: Alma has faced “directory fatigue” where clients struggle to find the right fit. Spring Health uses Care Navigators to handle matching, which could streamline your intake process.
4 Critical Questions for Alma and Spring Health Providers
If you utilize these platforms, you must stay vigilant. Monitor these four areas to protect your practice:
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Who Owns Your Session Metadata?
Review the updated Terms of Service carefully. You need to know how much of your session note data is being used to train proprietary AI models.
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Will Membership Fees or Models Change?
Keep a close watch on the Alma membership fee. Now that Spring Health has a near monopoly on the “independent-with-insurance” tech stack, they may move toward a pay-per-lead model or increase monthly costs.
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Are You Receiving “Clinical Nudges”?
The moment a platform begins suggesting how to treat clients to “improve metrics,” your clinical independence is at risk. Be wary of any system that prioritizes data points over clinical intuition.
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Is Your Referral Base Diversified?
It is never wise to let a single platform control 100% of your business. If Spring Health controls your entire caseload, your practice is vulnerable. Maintain your local professional networks to ensure your referrals remain diversified.
Summary
The landscape of independent practice is shifting as corporate consolidation accelerates. While the Spring Health acquisition of Alma offers potential for better pay and administrative stability, it also signals a move toward a more metric driven and AI integrated industry. Your clinical expertise is your greatest asset. Do not let it become just another data point for a corporate algorithm. By staying informed and diversifying your referral sources, you can ensure that your practice remains truly your own.
If you are thinking this might be a good time to pivot your practice, consult with us using one of our 50-minute hours!
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