“Ethical and Compensation Concerns Post-Acquisition
Pros
Before and shortly after the acquisition, AbleTo was an excellent place to work. I had an outstanding program advisor/manager who was supportive, ethical, and genuinely cared about clinicians and client care. The ability to collaborate and connect with other therapists on my team was invaluable and helped foster a sense of community in what can otherwise be isolating remote work. Compensation, support, and overall culture were strong during the AbleTo era, and many clinicians felt proud of the work they were doing.
Cons
Since the acquisition by Optum Behavioral Care, working conditions for therapists have declined rapidly. In a short period of time, clinicians were moved from salaried positions to hourly roles with a significantly reduced base rate and a very low RVU-based “bonus” for sessions held. A new EHR was implemented with minimal training, PTO was reduced, and administrative workload increased while pay decreased. Without meaningful notice, therapists were restricted to practicing in only one state, forcing many to abruptly discontinue care with long-term clients—raising serious ethical concerns and causing distress for both clinicians and clients. Teams that provided support and connection are being dismantled, schedules are constantly changing, and everything is now driven by productivity metrics. Leadership has been dismissive of clinician concerns, repeatedly citing “what’s best for the enterprise,” making it clear that therapists are viewed primarily as revenue-generating resources rather than professionals providing care.