Baylor Scott & White Medical Center has moved its mental health services to Geode Health in the Austin area.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Baylor Scott & White is transitioning its Austin-area mental health outpatient services to Geode Health.
In a message to patients, Baylor Scott & White wrote: “This transition is designed to expand access to mental health services and additional behavioral health resources for patients throughout these regions.”
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There are no immediate changes to appointments, medications or treatment plans, said Christy Millweard, director of public relations for Baylor Scott & White. “Patients should continue attending appointments and following their treatment plans as usual.”
Baylor Scott & White’s decision is among recent moves by local hospitals to reduce hospital-run mental health services.
In 2024, Ascension Seton partnered with Cross Creek Hospital to expand Cross Creek, but at the same time closed its dedicated mental health hospital, Seton Shoal Creek Hospital. Before that, Ascension Seton had reduced its outpatient mental health services.
St. David’s HealthCare has not had a behavioral health program, but Austin Lakes Hospital operated at St. David’s Medical Center. That hospital closed in 2022, the same year St. David’s announced it would build a behavioral health hospital near its North Austin hospital. St. David’s has placed those plans on an indefinite back burner.
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While none of the hospital systems have pointed directly to the cost of providing mental health care as a reason for partnerships or closures, reimbursements for mental health care and substance use treatment from the four major health insurance companies are about one-third less than those for physical health treatments in Central Texas, according to the American Medical Association.
Does partnership expand care?
Baylor Scott & White gave expanding access to care as the sole reason for the partnership with Geode Health.
This partnership, which is also happening in the Brazos Valley and has happened in parts of North Texas, has more than doubled the number of physicians and behavioral health support staff serving Texas patients, Millweard said.
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“Timely access to behavioral healthcare remains one of our customers’ greatest pain points,” said Pete McCanna, chief executive officer of Baylor Scott & White Health. “By integrating Geode’s expertise with our unique digital platform, broad footprint and high-quality care ecosystem, we will fill a critical need and advance whole-person health for those we serve.”
Geode provides services such as talk therapy, psychiatry, transcranial magnetic stimulation and medication for treatment-resistant depression. It also treats patients with disordered eating, trauma-related diagnoses, attention-deficit disorder, depression, mood disorders, anxiety and panic disorders.
“We are thrilled to partner with Baylor Scott & White Health to offer a full spectrum of outpatient mental health services, including psychiatry, psychotherapy, TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and more, delivered via a hybrid in-person and virtual platform that is convenient, tailored to individual needs and in-network with all major insurance plans,” said Gaurav Bhattacharyya, chief executive officer of Geode Health.
Which Baylor Scott & White clinics are affected?
In the Austin area, these locations are now Geode + Baylor Scott & White:
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Austin, North Austin
Austin, South Austin
Austin, Westlake
Cedar Park
Georgetown
Leander
Pflugerville
Round Rock
The virtual option is also Geode + Baylor Scott & White.
“We’re actively evaluating additional sites in Austin and College Station,” Millweard said.
What happens to Baylor Scott & White clinic staff?
Baylor Scott & White psychiatrists and psychologists have the option to join the Geode team. By Aug. 14, patients will be contacted and provided information about whether their provider has joined the Geode team and their options for care from that provider or another provider.
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The transition will be completed by Oct. 26. Before then, patients should double-check insurance coverage for their chosen provider.
Baylor Scott & White is not changing its inpatient or outpatient mental health care in Temple, where it has its training programs for medical students, psychiatric residents, postdoctoral psychologists and physician assistants. It is also not changing its outpatient mental health clinics in Hill Country locations.