Acupuncture and chiropractic care weren’t always the common fixtures of employer benefit plans they are today. It took clamoring from workers, the accumulation of evidence, and the slow realization by businesses that those perks would be popular with workers.
A similar evolution could be in store for psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health conditions. Health insurers are years away from covering the interventions, but employers — eager to offer whatever perks might entice talent — may be poised to do so much sooner. And now, a Boston-based startup called Enthea wants to speed up the adoption of this benefit by self-insured employers — though data to support the effectiveness and safety of these treatments are still limited.