Monthly Newsletter - November 2024
Summary of the Month
This month’s autism-focused updates span a range of developments, including several high-profile investments and acquisitions that broaden service offerings and enhance early intervention capabilities. New clinics continue to open, improving geographic coverage for families. Regulatory measures—such as mandated accreditation requirements—are influencing service delivery models. In the research arena, studies highlight the importance of standardized screening, draw attention to health disparities for hospitalized pediatric patients, and validate new technologies designed to improve diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, emerging partnerships aim to streamline operations and strengthen service quality. The fallout from the Change Healthcare breach continues.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) News
Investments and Acquisitions
Helping Hands Family Acquires Mission Autism Clinics
- Summary: Helping Hands Family, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, acquired Mission Autism Clinics, adding 13 centers and expanding to nearly 40 locations across Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. This acquisition enhances their ability to provide ABA therapy services to more families.
- Source: Behavioral Health Business
Goldman Sachs Alternatives Acquires Center for Social Dynamics
- Goldman Sachs Alternatives acquired a stake in Concord, California-based autism therapy provider Center for Social Dynamics (CSD). Prior backer NMS Capital, which recapitalized CSD in 2019 and supported its growth through multiple acquisitions, reinvested as part of the deal. Terms were not disclosed.
- Source: Behavioral Health Business
Startup Anna Health Raises $9M
- Summary: Anna Health, an autism therapy startup based in Sudbury, Massachusetts, raised $9.26 million in a funding round backed by GreyMatter Capital, re:Mind Capital, and Watershed Ventures. The company offers naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs), parent coaching, and insurance support. Plans include expanding services to neuropsychological evaluations, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
- Source: Behavioral Health Business
Cortica Raises $80M to Advance Pediatric Therapy
- Summary: Cortica, a San Diego-based multispecialty pediatric therapy provider, raised $80 million in an equity round led by Morgan Health and Nexus NeuroTech Ventures, with participation from the Autism Impact Fund. The funding will support technology development, market expansion, and innovative value-based care contracts.
- Source: Behavioral Health Business
Paloma Health Raises £2M to Reduce Autism Wait Times
- Summary: UK-based Paloma Health raised £2 million to roll out its autism assessments for children within the National Health Service (NHS). The funding aims to provide autism assessments within four weeks, addressing long wait times and improving access to early diagnosis and intervention.
- Source: Medical Device Network
New Center Openings
Behavior Frontiers Opens New Autism Therapy Center in Minnesota
- Summary: Behavior Frontiers announced the opening of a new autism therapy center in Maple Grove, Minnesota, which began welcoming families on November 17, 2024. The 6,656-square-foot facility offers ABA therapy, expansive playrooms, and individualized therapy spaces, including speech therapy.
- Source: PR Newswire
Caravel Autism Health Opens New Clinic in Wisconsin
- Summary: Caravel Autism Health opened a new autism therapy clinic in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The state-of-the-art facility provides customized ABA therapy and aims to improve outcomes for children with autism across Waukesha and Washington Counties.
- Source: PR Newswire
Regulatory News
Massachusetts Requires Accreditation for ABA Providers
- Summary: Massachusetts became the first state to mandate that applied behavior analysis (ABA) providers obtain accreditation. Providers billing MassHealth must receive accreditation by the start of 2027. The move aims to enhance quality control and standardize practices within the industry.
- Source: Behavioral Health Business
Smyrna Daycare Settles ADA Violation
- Summary: Smarter Kids Child Care in Smyrna, Georgia, reached a settlement over violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) after denying a child with autism the opportunity to participate in its program. The daycare committed to implementing a non-discrimination policy and conducting mandatory staff training.
- Source: Hoodline
Research
Standardized Screening Leads to Earlier Autism Diagnoses
- Summary: Research from Drexel University found that the use of standardized autism screening during pediatric well-child visits identifies more children with a high likelihood of autism at a younger age. The study emphasizes the importance of routine, standardized screening to improve early intervention outcomes.
- Source: Drexel University
Health Disparities in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients with Autism and COVID-19
- Summary: A study published in the journal Children highlighted health disparities experienced by pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients with ASD and COVID-19 had higher odds of longer hospital stays, underscoring the need to address barriers and support better health outcomes.
- Source: MDPI Journal “Children”
BlinkLab Validates AI Accuracy in Detecting Autism
- Summary: BlinkLab Limited announced results from a large-scale study involving 441 children, confirming high accuracy in detecting autism using its smartphone-based AI diagnostic tool, BlinkLab Dx 1. The study showed a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 85%, bolstering confidence ahead of an upcoming FDA registration trial.
- Source: Investing News Network
Other News
Catalight Partners with Nabla to Enhance Autism Care
- Summary: Catalight, a healthcare provider for individuals with developmental disabilities, partnered with Nabla to deploy an AI ambient assistant to its clinical staff. The partnership aims to reduce administrative burdens and enhance care for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
- Source: PR Newswire
Change Healthcare Data Breach Affects 100 Million Americans
- Summary: Change Healthcare says it has notified approximately 100 million Americans that their personal, financial, and healthcare records may have been stolen in a February 2024 ransomware attack. The breach involved theft of health data, billing records, personal data, and insurance data.
- Source: Krebs on Security
Related Mental Health News
In the broader mental health sector, Sabra Health Care REIT has shifted its focus away from behavioral health, favoring senior housing and skilled nursing investments.
Meanwhile, several digital mental health companies are tightening their operations: Headspace reduced its workforce by 13% and restructured its therapist network, and Lyra Health laid off about 2% of its staff to better align costs with revenue.
Investment interest in mental health offerings continues. Kyan Health raised $16.7 million to expand its AI-driven workplace mental health solutions, Fort Health secured $5.5 million as it prepares to offer virtual pediatric behavioral health services in new states, and Jimini obtained $8 million in pre-seed funding for its AI-backed therapy platform.