Looking into Mood Health alternatives usually means you've realized you can't just book an appointment directly. Mood Health functions as a referral resource for hospitals and medical groups, not a clinic you can schedule with independently. If you need psychiatric care without waiting for a referral, there are other services that let you book right away. We'll break down how Mood Health works, what direct-access options exist, and how to decide what's right for you.

What Is Mood Health and How Does It Work?

Mood Health operates as a virtual mental health service that primarily partners with health systems and medical groups. The demand for such services has surged, with 62.3% of all patients with telehealth claims having a mental health diagnosis as of February 2025, making mental health the dominant driver of virtual care adoption.

Unlike clinics designed for direct patient booking, this service often functions as a referral resource for hospitals and primary care practices. This structure allows medical groups to connect patients with tele-psychiatry and therapy services without maintaining their own internal mental health departments.

The service provides care for patients ages 11 and older, covering a wider range than many adult-only telehealth options. Care is delivered by a clinical team consisting of psychiatric nurse practitioners for medication management and licensed therapists for talk therapy.

Key features of the Mood Health model include:

• Referral-based access: Patients typically enter care via a referral from a primary care provider or specialist within a partnered system, versus through a direct online sign-up.

• Insurance acceptance: The service accepts Medi-Cal and Medicare in addition to standard commercial plans, which helps support patients who may have difficulty finding private coverage.

• Clinical focus: Services focus on outpatient mental health needs, using a collaborative care model that integrates with the referring physician's network.

Why Consider Mood Health Alternatives?

Mood Health can work well if you already see a doctor in one of their partner health systems and prefer all of your care coordinated in that setting. In that case, a referral to Mood Health may feel like a natural extension of your existing relationship.

However, there are clear reasons to consider alternatives:

• You cannot easily self-schedule if your doctor is not part of a participating system.

• You may face delays while waiting for a referral and outreach instead of picking an appointment time yourself.

• You might prefer to compare multiple virtual psychiatry options on pricing, access speed, and ADHD testing before committing.

The sections below outline top alternatives, with Legion Health as the best overall choice for many Texas residents.

Legion Health (Best Overall Alternative)

Legion Health is a Texas-based virtual psychiatry clinic that lets you schedule visits directly and use your insurance for care. Licensed psychiatric clinicians treat conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression through video visits, with objective ADHD testing built into the evaluation process at no extra cost.

What they offer:

• Direct online booking for psychiatric evaluations and follow-up visits, without needing a referral.

• Insurance-based care across major Texas commercial plans, with most patients paying about a specialist-level copay.

• ADHD evaluations that include FDA-cleared QbCheck testing, plus support for overlapping conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Good for: People in Texas who want insurance-friendly virtual psychiatry, fast access to a licensed clinician, and thorough ADHD evaluations that use both clinical interviews and objective testing.

Limitation: Care is currently limited to patients located in Texas, so it will not be the right fit if you live in another state.

Bottom line: If you want a single virtual clinic that balances access, insurance coverage, and careful ADHD and mood treatment without waiting on a health system referral, Legion Health is often the strongest overall alternative to Mood Health.

Options MD

Options MD is a virtual psychiatry service focused on people with severe or treatment-resistant depression who have not improved after trying standard medications. Patients complete a detailed screening and then work with specialized clinicians who can consider a wider range of treatments, including advanced medication strategies and intensive therapies.

What they offer:

• Virtual psychiatric care tailored to treatment-resistant depression and other severe mood disorders.

• Access to clinicians experienced with advanced options (for example, TMS, ketamine, and complex medication strategies) when appropriate in partnered settings.

• Structured intake and monitoring designed for people who have already tried several treatments without enough relief.

Good for: People whose main concern is severe or treatment-resistant depression and who want a specialty service built around more complex mood treatment.

Limitation: Not designed as a general psychiatry clinic for broad ADHD care, routine anxiety management, or simple medication starts, so it may not cover all of your needs in one place.

Bottom line: Options MD can be a strong fit if you have tried multiple depression treatments without success, but many patients still need a broader clinic like Legion Health for combined ADHD, anxiety, and mood care.

Prairie Health

Prairie Health is a California-based virtual psychiatry service that combines medication management with routine genetic testing to help guide antidepressant choices. The service focuses on precision medicine by using pharmacogenomic data to inform which medications may be better tolerated or more effective for anxiety and depression.

What they offer:

• Telepsychiatry for anxiety and depression with a focus on personalized medication selection.

• Genetic testing included early in care to give clinicians insight into how your body may process specific medications.

• Ongoing virtual follow-up with a dedicated team for California residents.

Good for: Adults in California who are comfortable with subscription-style or cash-based pricing and want genetic testing to play a central role in medication decisions.

Limitation: Availability is limited to California, and the model leans heavily on cash-pay or subscription fees, which may not work for patients who need insurance-first care or ADHD-focused evaluation.

Bottom line: Prairie Health is appealing if you live in California and want genetics-driven depression and anxiety care, but Texas residents who want insurance-based, ADHD-inclusive psychiatry are better served by options like Legion Health.

LifeStance Health

LifeStance Health is a large mental health group that offers both in-person and virtual services through many local offices across the United States. Patients can access psychiatry and therapy under one umbrella, with individual clinicians and locations determining availability and scheduling.

What they offer:

• A wide network of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and therapists across numerous states.

• Both in-person and telehealth visits, depending on local clinic offerings and provider schedules.

• Acceptance of many commercial insurance plans, with coverage varying by state, office, and individual clinician.

Good for: People who want the option of combining in-person and virtual visits and are comfortable switching from different local clinics and provider waitlists.

Limitation: Access, wait times, and services can vary by location, which makes it harder to know what to expect until you find a specific clinic and clinician.

Bottom line: LifeStance Health can work well if you value local clinic options and hybrid care, but if you want a predictable, Texas-wide virtual psychiatry clinic with built-in ADHD testing, Legion Health offers a more smoother experience.

Lavender

Lavender is a nurse-led telehealth practice that combines medication management and supportive therapy in a single virtual visit. Psychiatric nurse practitioners provide care for adults with conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and ADHD across multiple states, supported by a strong emphasis on kind, human-first care.

What they offer:

• Combined appointments that include both medication management and supportive talk therapy in one session.

• Multi-state virtual availability with many patients able to book visits within about a week.

• In-network coverage with several major insurers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, Oscar, Oxford, and UnitedHealthcare in supported areas.

Good for: Adults in states where Lavender is licensed and in-network who want therapy and medication from the same clinician in a flexible, virtual format.

Limitation: Lavender is not available everywhere and does not include objective ADHD tools like QbCheck, so patients needing ADHD-specific testing or Texas-focused insurance psychiatry may need another option.

Bottom line: Lavender is a solid choice if you want nurse-led virtual care with integrated therapy and live in a supported state, but Texas residents who need ADHD evaluation with objective testing and a Texas-wide insurance model will usually be better matched with Legion Health.

Feature Comparison: Mood Health vs Top Alternatives

The comparison below outlines how Mood Health stacks up against direct-access options like Legion Health and other alternatives regarding insurance, testing, and availability.

Why Legion Health Is the Best Mood Health Alternative

Mood Health offers coordinated care inside partner health systems, which helps if your doctor already uses their referral process. For many people, though, the referral-only posture and limited self-scheduling options make it harder to start care quickly. If your clinician is outside the network or you do not have an active primary care relationship, you may not be able to access Mood Health at all.

Legion Health removes that barrier by letting you book a psychiatric evaluation directly, verify insurance coverage, and attend visits virtually from anywhere in Texas. You do not need a referral to get started. The clinic accepts all major Texas commercial insurance plans, and most patients pay a typical specialist copay instead of large subscription fees.

For ADHD care, Legion Health includes FDA-cleared QbCheck testing as part of the evaluation at no additional cost, which is uncommon among competitors. Clinicians are comfortable managing more than one condition at the same time, such as ADHD with anxiety or depression, and follow structured protocols for stimulant safety when medication may be appropriate.

If you want a clear plan for your symptoms, the next step is a psychiatric evaluation. You can see if Legion Health is a fit and schedule your first visit.

Final Thoughts on Selecting a Psychiatry Service

The right mental health service depends on your insurance, location, and whether you can access care without a referral. This decision matters more than ever, as one in four Medicare users suffers from a mental disorder and most of the country is designated as a 'High-Need Shortage Area' with fewer than 17 child and adolescent mental health specialists per 100,000 children.

Mood Health operates through health system partnerships, so if your doctor isn't part of their network, you'll need to look elsewhere. Direct-access online psychiatry pricing options like Legion Health allow you to book an appointment independently, verify insurance coverage, and start care without needing someone else to initiate the referral process.

FAQs

Why would someone look for alternatives to Mood Health?

Mood Health often relies on referrals from partner health systems, so you usually cannot just go online and book if your doctor is not in their network. If you need care quickly, live outside a partner system, or want more control over scheduling and provider choice, a direct-access service can be a better fit.

What should you look for when comparing virtual psychiatry services?

Key factors include insurance acceptance, whether you can self-schedule, how long you’ll wait for an appointment, and whether the clinic can handle overlapping conditions. For ADHD, it is also helpful to ask if objective testing is available or if the evaluation relies only on questionnaires.

When does it make sense to switch from a referral-based service to direct-access care?

It may be worth switching if referrals are taking weeks, you cannot find an in-network partner in your area, or you need flexible follow-ups that fit a busy schedule. Direct-access clinics like Legion Health let you schedule a psychiatric evaluation yourself and often have openings within days.

How can objective ADHD testing improve your evaluation?

Objective tools like QbCheck measure attention, impulsivity, and activity with standardized tasks, adding measurable data to the clinical interview. This can increase diagnostic confidence and help track how treatment is working over time, especially when symptoms overlap with anxiety, depression, or sleep issues.