Nashville, TN (June 15, 2017) —axialHealthcare, Inc., the nation’s leading pain medication and pain care solutions company, announced today that former U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) is joining the Board of Directors to help inform and expand the company’s substance use disorder capabilities.

“axialHealthcare and I share a commitment to evidence-based care, and the company is already addressing the prominent issue of opioid misuse for patients experiencing pain,” said Patrick Kennedy. “I look forward to partnering with axialHealthcare to apply its pain care solutions to the public health problem of substance use disorder and expand access to safe and effective addiction treatment.”

Patrick Kennedy’s personal story and professional career make him a perfect addition to axialHealthcare’s Board of Directors. Kennedy has lived experience with addiction to opioid medication following back surgery and has a long history of advocating for access to mental health care, specifically in the area of addiction treatment. He devoted much of his 16-year career in Congress to ending the stigma associated with mental illness through his work, including authoring the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

CEO and Chairman of axialHealthcare, John J. Donahue, said, “We are excited and honored to have Patrick J. Kennedy join axialHealthcare’s Board of Directors. He has displayed highly impactful and courageous public leadership and legislative success in advancing access to evidence-based care for behavioral health and opioid use disorder patients, and his personal experiences offer a valuable patient perspective. His expertise will be instrumental in deploying our newest initiatives to impact the lives of patients in pain.”

axialHealthcare has developed a set of pain care solutions using the largest and most comprehensive database of pain claims in the country, with over 150 million Americans’ claims and prescription data refreshed monthly. The company offers tailored pain care guidance and support for providers and patients to prevent opioid misuse at initial point-of-care. By deploying these supportive and consultative services to focus on patients with substance use disorder, the company aims to pioneer new addiction treatment solutions, improve outcomes for patients with substance use disorder, and increase access to quality care early in the diagnosis and treatment of addiction.

About Patrick J. Kennedy

The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the nation’s leading political voice on mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases. The son of Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, he left Congress not long after his father’s death to devote his career to advocacy for brain diseases. He has since founded the Kennedy Forum, which unites the community of mental health, and co-founded One Mind for Research, a global leader in open science collaboration in brain research. Kennedy is the New York Times bestselling author of A Common Struggle and was recently nominated to the White House Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. To learn more, visit www.kennedyforum.org.

About axialHealthcare

axialHealthcare is the leading pain medication and pain care solutions company and partners with health insurers nationwide. axialHealthcare’s pain management solutions engage physicians, pain clinics, and patients with coordinated care by applying advanced analytical insight, unmatched proven clinical evidence and highly effective consumer support. axialHealthcare’s solutions optimize pain care outcomes, reduce opioid misuse and materially improve financial performance for health benefit providers. For more information, visit www.axialhealthcare.com.

Media Contacts:

Lori Kelly for axialHealthcare, 615 345 3545, lkelly@axialhealthcare.com