Orchard Mental Health Group has significantly expanded its presence in the Washington D.C. metro area by acquiring two major behavioral health entities—GBCC Behavioral Health and Oasis Behavioral Health Urgent Care. This strategic acquisition quadruples Orchard’s footprint, adding six new locations and more than 80 clinicians to its roster, and brings the company’s total locations to eight.
A Strategic Move for Growth and Consolidation
Orchard, founded in 2015 by Dr. Carrie Singer, was originally known as Quince Orchard Psychotherapy. The company, which offers in-person and virtual therapy, psychiatric services, medication management, and diagnostics, has been on a growth trajectory since its early days. With the backing of private equity firm The Graham Group, which invested in the company in early 2023, Orchard began exploring opportunities for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to expand its reach and build a more robust presence in the region.
Dr. Singer’s vision for Orchard has been to create a large, high-quality, insurance-based provider group in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DC-MD-VA) area. In a statement following the investment by The Graham Group, Singer noted that out-of-network practices were becoming the norm in the region, and Orchard was looking to lead a clinically-oriented growth effort that prioritizes the value of therapists.
In a continuation of this expansion strategy, Orchard Mental Health Group completed the acquisition of GBCC Behavioral Health and Oasis Behavioral Health Urgent Care, two established providers in the region.
Details of the Acquisition
The deal involved GBCC Behavioral Health acquiring Oasis Behavioral Health Urgent Care before Orchard acquired the combined entity. This acquisition was facilitated by M&A advisory firm Physician Growth Partners, which assisted GBCC and Oasis in finalizing the transaction.
GBCC Behavioral Health: Established in 1996, GBCC provides a wide range of services, including group and individual counseling, medication management, and mental health evaluations.
Oasis Behavioral Health Urgent Care: Founded in 2005, Oasis operates a location in Annapolis, Maryland, and specializes in providing urgent care for behavioral health patients, offering both group and individual counseling services.
Together, the combined entity strengthens Orchard’s ability to treat a broader range of patients, from pediatric to geriatric, with a well-rounded service offering across several locations in the greater D.C. metro area.
Orchard’s Vision and Future Plans
Orchard’s latest move signals its continued ambition to become a dominant force in the behavioral health space, particularly in the highly competitive D.C. metro area. With the integration of GBCC and Oasis, Orchard now has an expanded clinical network and is positioned to cater to the growing demand for mental health services across multiple demographics.
Dr. Singer emphasized that the company’s focus remains on providing clinically-driven care while leveraging managed care contracting. She also expressed the importance of valuing therapists as the cornerstone of the company’s mission. This acquisition not only enhances Orchard’s service offerings but also strengthens its negotiating power with insurance providers, as consolidation in the behavioral health industry becomes more prevalent.
In addition to the recent acquisitions, Orchard’s expansion strategy aligns with trends in the broader behavioral health market, where private equity-backed consolidations are increasingly seen as a way to secure a “seat at the table” when it comes to managed care contracts and large-scale growth.
A Trend of Behavioral Health Mergers
Orchard’s acquisition is part of a broader trend in the behavioral health space, where consolidation continues to gain momentum. Just days before Orchard’s announcement, two clinician-entrepreneurs merged their organizations to create Well Behavioral Health, further highlighting the growing trend of aggregation in the mental health sector.
As the need for mental health and substance use disorder treatment continues to rise, larger, more integrated behavioral health providers are better positioned to meet demand, offer comprehensive services, and secure favorable managed care agreements. The Well Behavioral Health merger and Orchard’s latest expansion underscore how players in the industry are evolving to meet the challenges of the modern mental health landscape.
The Road Ahead for Orchard Mental Health Group
With its expanded network of clinicians and locations, Orchard Mental Health Group is now in an even stronger position to serve a diverse patient base across the D.C. metro area. As the company continues to grow, its ability to offer both in-person and virtual care makes it an increasingly attractive option for patients in need of accessible, high-quality behavioral health services.
Looking ahead, Orchard is expected to continue exploring additional acquisitions to further its mission of building a large, insurance-based provider group. With strong backing from private equity and an expanding network of clinicians, Orchard’s growth strategy is well-positioned to transform it into one of the leading mental health service providers in the region.
As behavioral health continues to be a critical focus nationwide, Orchard Mental Health Group’s strategic moves may serve as a blueprint for other organizations seeking to expand their reach and improve access to essential mental health care services.
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