Centerstone to merge with Brightli, creating nation’s largest nonprofit behavioral health provider

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Two of the region’s largest nonprofit behavioral health providers − Centerstone and Brightli − have entered an agreement to merge and create the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of mental health and substance use disorder care.

The due diligence process is underway, and upon the transaction’s anticipated close in November, the combined organization will serve a quarter million people annually, according to a news release.

Centerstone is a Nashville-based company with 4,300 employees working at 140 locations − including in Clarksville − across six states plus an international network of more than 1,500 providers serving patients globally, the release said. Centerstone also provides nationwide services to veterans and military families and operates its own Institute for Clinical Excellence and Innovation. Brightli is a Springfield, Missouri-based company with more than 6,000 employees working at more than 220 locations in five states.

Centerstone in Clarksville

In Clarksville, Centerstone is a primary provider of mental health services, operating from several locations, among them the Harriett Cohn Center, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, and the new Walk-In Center and Crisis Stabilization Unit, which opened in May.

“Growth is deeply embedded in Centerstone’s culture, driving our mission to reach more people in need of mental health and substance use disorder services,” Centerstone CEO David C. Guth Jr. said in the release. “Since 1997, we have completed 20 affiliations and mergers expanding our footprint and amplifying our impact while preserving local expertise and care delivery. This partnership not only positions us to more effectively navigate the changing behavioral health landscape, but it also helps us achieve our goal of providing more services to more people in need. Additionally, it enables us to further ensure the precision application of science-based care, allowing us to deliver the right treatments to the right people at the right time, all backed by data, research, and measurable outcomes.”

The combined organization will have more than 360 outpatient, inpatient, and residential locations across nine U.S. states and will have clinical staff serving the mental health needs of students in more than 1,500 K-12 schools across the nation, the release said. There will be no disruption to patient care resulting from the merger; Brightli and Centerstone patients will continue to see the same providers, the release said. The two organizations are projecting collective annual revenue totals exceeding $1 billion.

“This partnership represents an incredible opportunity to shape the future of care,” Brightli CEO C.J. Davis said in the release. “Across Brightli’s history, our organization and affiliates have led more than 25 successful mergers and affiliations across our network. We have seen firsthand the power of joining forces to expand access and improve outcomes. We share Centerstone’s deep commitment to compassion, connection, and measurable impact. Together, we’re not just growing. We’re building a stronger, more sustainable system of care that breaks down barriers and saves lives.

Critical time for mental health industry

The mental health and substance use care delivery model in the U.S. is at a critical inflection point, the release said. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health providers across the nation faced record-high demand for services. The increased need coupled with workforce shortages, stagnant or even dwindling reimbursements, shifting regulatory requirements, and other challenges have made providing this critically needed care more difficult, especially for smaller providers with fewer resources.

“The merger of Brightli and Centerstone represents a bold and forward-thinking step in strengthening our nation’s behavioral health system,” Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing said in the release. “By combining resources, expertise, and innovative approaches to care, these organizations are poised to not only expand access, but they’re also setting a new standard for how high-quality, community-based mental health and substance use treatment can be delivered at scale. This partnership is a unique opportunity to enhance efficiency, reduce the overall cost of care, and ultimately create a more sustainable model for behavioral health delivery. The National Council looks forward to learning from this partnership and sharing lessons learned with our members across the country.”

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