Former Optum exec's mental health startup debuts with $115M

A bill now back in Congress would let Medicare cover residential addiction treatment for people 65 and older, but providers think it has little chance of passing, even as substance use disorders and overdose deaths among seniors keep rising. Leaders from ASAM, Author Health and Caron say seniors face extra barriers: their symptoms get mistaken for normal aging, few programs accept Medicare, and every level of care is in short supply, not just residential.

PHILADELPHIA, July 1, 2026 (PRNewswire) — Author Health (the “Company”), a specialized provider of comprehensive mental health and dementia care for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Special Needs Plan recipients, announced today its expansion into Pennsylvania and New Jersey. By offering behavioral health support and services to Seniors in both states, the company seeks to address critical gaps in behavioral health access for Medicare and Special Needs Plans recipients.

BOSTON, Feb. 19, 2026 (PRNewswire) — Author Health (the “Company”), a specialized provider of mental health and dementia care for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Special Needs Plan recipients, announced today the expansion of its behavioral health services and wraparound support into Arizona, Illinois, and Indiana.