By admin 
California state workers will see changes to its “Whole You” employee assistance program to improve access to healthcare resources. The state’s new contract with Spring Health went into effect last month.
Read more Sage-burning A’s cope with departure of GM as spiraling season continues
The Spring Health contract will give employees access to programs that include, but is not limited to, crisis support, mental health resources, appointment scheduling and legal and financial assistance, according to an agreement between the state and Spring Health. Magellan was previously the state’s employee assistance program provider.
“Spring Health offers a broader range of work‑life services designed to support employees before challenges escalate,” said California Department of Human Resources spokesperson Angela Musallam in a statement.
The provider’s approach to first responder needs also was a selling point, Musallam said, considering the mental toll firefighter and highway patrol officers may experience.
“In the case that there is a critical incident, we respond — we come on site,” said Eleanor Joseph, vice president of the public sector at Spring Health.
State workers are also guaranteed healthcare access within two days, according to Musallam. Before shifting to Spring Health, wait times could reach six weeks. This improvement stems from the use of digital scheduling tools — like the Spring Health app — unlimited critical incident stress debriefings and eliminating restrictions on presenting new issues during counseling sessions.
Eliminating barriers to accessing resources and healthcare professionals by establishing several scheduling pathways is one way Spring Health aims to result in positive patient care outcomes.
Spring Health has providers across the state, offering both in-person and virtual care options, according to Joseph. These appointments can be made online, by calling 1-866-327-4762 or on the Spring Health app, which is available on Apple and Google Play app stores.
Read more Dolores Huerta, other activists urge lawmakers to avert CalFresh ‘hunger crisis’
“You can click a session with the provider of your choice, and the whole thing is just booked, and it’s very seamless,” Joseph said.
California signed a three-year deal with Spring Health capped at $16.7 million per fiscal year, which is up from the $4.3 million per year Magellan deal, depending on how many services are utilized. However, the Magellan deal did not include extensive programming options, such as financial and legal services. Costs are allocated across departments, according to Musallam.
Because the state is charged in part by the amount of services used, improving the health of state workers could save California money in the long-run, which, according to Joseph, Spring Health has a track record of.
“90% of our members have reliably improved or recovered from depression or anxiety, and then across our book, employers see a 52% reduction in total mental health claims costs,” Spring Health’s Joseph said.
Spring Health is a relatively new company, started roughly 10 years ago. The new contract to serve California’s roughly 245,000 employees is a win for the company. Back in 2024, when it was fined by the state for offering healthcare services in California without a license, the company served 370,000 California-based employees for other clients.
Spring Health, which is now licensed to legally operate in California, declined to say how many California-based workers it currently serves across all its contract, but said it works with more than 170 million people globally, including employers like Target, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Pfizer.
Read more Jason Whitlock blasted Stephanie White for defending DiJonai Carrington