News

PrimeCare America and Brightn Partner to Expand Access to AI-Powered Mental Wellness Across Healthcare Networks

Emilie Mauricio

January 15, 2026

•

4 min read

National healthcare solutions firm integrates Cedar Rapids-based mental wellness platform to address $100B behavioral health crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emilie Mauricio | emilie@brightnapp.com
Cedar Rapids, Iowa — October 29, 2025

PrimeCare America, a national leader in 340B program management and pharmacy benefit solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Brightn, an AI-powered mental wellness platform, to deliver preventive mental health support across healthcare networks and employer groups nationwide.

Mental health-related absenteeism has surged 300% in recent years, yet 58% of employees remain uncomfortable discussing mental health at work. Research shows mental health interventions deliver a $4 return on every $1 invested (WHO), with companies like Salesforce achieving 42% reductions in sick days through comprehensive mental health programs.

PrimeCare’s network of 340B partners, pharmacy organizations, and employer groups will gain access to Brightn’s AI-powered wellness platform: featuring personalized journaling, evidence-based coping tools, mood tracking, and the Brightn Zone, a proprietary weekly framework built around Health, Wealth, and Purpose. Together, the two companies will expand meaningful mental health support to thousands of healthcare professionals, patients, and families nationwide.

"At PrimeCare America, our mission is rooted in supporting vulnerable and underserved communities through the power of 340B programs. We're thrilled to partner with Brightn to help our covered entities and clients expand their care offerings to include mental health services - an essential step toward more holistic, equitable healthcare." – Jared McMahan, President of PrimeCare America

The partnership represents a strategic alignment of missions. PrimeCare's 340B program serves safety-net healthcare providers that care for vulnerable and underserved populations, the same communities where mental health resources are often least accessible. By embedding preventive mental wellness into existing 340B pharmacy and care management workflows, the collaboration extends mental health support to populations that need it most.

The integrated approach focuses on prevention rather than crisis intervention, helping organizations reduce burnout, improve medication adherence, and lower the total cost of care while supporting whole-person wellness.

“Mental health resources should be available for everyone. I’ve seen too many people hit rock bottom before asking for help. PrimeCare shares our belief that prevention is key. You don’t wait until someone is in crisis to act. This partnership strengthens early, everyday access to wellness tools that create measurable, lasting change." – Jeffrey Johnston, Founder and CEO of Brightn.

Brightn's approach has demonstrated measurable impact, with 30-day user retention rates three times higher than leading meditation apps like Calm and Headspace. The platform's AI-guided tools address a critical gap: while 1 in 5 Americans experiences mental health challenges annually, only 47% receive treatment. Brightn's low-barrier, stigma-free approach meets people where they are.

The collaboration leverages both companies' Midwestern roots and commitment to making healthcare more accessible. By combining PrimeCare's three decades of experience serving safety-net providers with Brightn's behavioral science-backed technology, the partnership creates a scalable model for proactive mental health support in both clinical and workplace settings.

About PrimeCare America‍

Founded over 30 years ago, PrimeCare America provides comprehensive healthcare solutions for 340B entities, employer plans, pharmacies, and providers. Its programs help organizations reduce costs, strengthen patient relationships, and enhance outcomes through bundled payment networks, transparent PBM services, and advisory support. Learn more at www.primecareamerica.com.

About Brightn

‍
Brightn is an AI-powered mental wellness platform that makes preventive mental health support accessible and engaging. Built in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brightn helps individuals build sustainable well-being across health, wealth, and purpose through evidence-based tools including guided journaling, mood tracking, and personalized habit support. Learn more at www.brightnapp.com.

Download the Brightn app today

Expert Insights on mental health

View all

Blogs

8 min read

Journaling as a Mental Wellness Prevention Tool

Journaling is more than a self-care trend. It is a powerful mental wellness prevention tool that helps people recognize stress, emotional patterns, and early signs of burnout before they build into something bigger. This blog explains how consistent journaling supports self-awareness, emotional regulation, stress recovery, and long-term mental health by helping users name what they feel, process difficult experiences, and track changes over time. It also explores the science behind expressive writing, the connection between journaling and chronic stress reduction, and the different journaling styles that support mental wellness, including gratitude, reflection, values-based writing, and prompted journaling. Through Brightn’s AI-guided journaling, mood check-ins, and personalized prompts, users can build a proactive wellness routine rooted in health, wealth, and purpose.

Podcast

7 min read time

S3E6: From Silence to Safety: Alexandra Miles on Storytelling, Stigma, and Saving Lives

In this episode of Living Undeterred, Jeff Johnston talks with Alexandra Miles, founder of Project Blackbird, about the power of storytelling in mental health advocacy. Alexandra shares how her own recovery journey inspired a nonprofit that helps students and communities feel safer opening up about mental health and getting connected to real support. Together, Jeff and Alexandra explore stigma, prevention, therapy, daily mental wellness practices, and why feeling seen can change everything. This conversation highlights how storytelling, small consistent actions, and better access to care can help people move from silence and shame toward connection, resilience, and hope.

Blogs

6 min read

From Reactive Care to Proactive Behavioral Health: Why Employers, PBMs, and Brokers Need a Better ROI Calculator

A data-backed look at absenteeism, productivity loss, behavioral health claims, and why proactive mental wellness support can create measurable mental health ROI for employers, PBMs, and health plans.