Brightli
Brightli is the largest U.S. nonprofit behavioral health provider, operating a parent-company network of subsidiaries that deliver mental health, substance use, primary care, and developmental disability services to roughly 250,000 clients annually across nine states post its November 2025 merger with Centerstone.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSpringfield, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Brightli does
Brightli is a U.S. nonprofit behavioral health organization headquartered in Springfield, Missouri (now operating under the Centerstone name from Nashville, Tennessee following its November 2025 merger). Formed in January 2022 as a parent company for Burrell Behavioral Health and Preferred Family Healthcare, Brightli operates a hub-and-spoke model in which independent subsidiaries — Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Places for People, Adult & Child Health, Firefly Supported Living & Employment Services, Clarity Healthcare, Brightli Medical Group, and the Brightli Foundation — retain local boards and brands while sharing administrative, recruiting, IT, and capital resources. Post-merger with Centerstone, the combined entity is the largest nonprofit behavioral health provider in the United States, serving approximately 250,000 clients annually across 360+ outpatient, inpatient, residential, and school-based locations in nine states with more than 10,000 team members.
The organization's core delivery platform is an integrated care network spanning mental health services, substance use disorder treatment (including medication-assisted treatment), psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, primary care, dental care, pharmacy, and developmental disability services. Underlying infrastructure includes the Brightli Medical Group (330 staff including 110 medical providers delivering 92,000+ psychiatry, 7,500+ addiction medicine, and 4,500+ medical stabilization services annually), telehealth delivery (including Centerstone's 1,500+ provider international network), school-based clinical services in 1,500+ K-12 schools, and a 24-hour multi-region crisis hotline. Subsidiaries hold CCBHC, CMHC, and CBHO regulatory designations that unlock prospective-payment reimbursement.
Revenue is generated primarily through government and third-party payer reimbursements — Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, CCBHC prospective payment systems, and grants — plus philanthropic contributions via the Brightli Foundation. Combined Brightli-Centerstone annual revenue is approximately $1.1 billion. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; services are offered on a sliding scale and regardless of ability to pay, consistent with the nonprofit mission. Distribution is direct-to-patient through clinical facilities with limited traditional sales motion; growth has been driven primarily by mergers and affiliations (25+ in Brightli's history) rather than organic expansion.
Brightli firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brightli
- Legal name
- Brightli, Inc.
- Website
- https://livebrightli.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Brightli is the largest U.S. nonprofit behavioral health provider, operating a parent-company network of subsidiaries that deliver mental health, substance use, primary care, and developmental disability services to roughly 250,000 clients annually across nine states post its November 2025 merger with Centerstone.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brightli industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Behavioral Health Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO)
Keywords
Where Brightli is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Springfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Brightli business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Services: Revenue is generated from providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, primary care, dental services, pharmacy, and developmental disability services across outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings. As a nonprofit behavioral health provider, revenue comes primarily from government contracts, Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance reimbursements.
- CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) Revenue: Under the CCBHC model, Brightli benefits from prospective payment systems (PPS) that provide guaranteed reimbursement rates, driving revenue growth. Burrell's first five years under CCBHC saw total revenue grow by 125%.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Healthcare provider network serving patients regardless of ability to pay |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brightli product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brightli operates a nonprofit behavioral health delivery network providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, primary care, dental care, pharmacy, and developmental disability services. Services are delivered through a parent-subsidiary model spanning outpatient clinics, residential programs, school-based care, telehealth, and inpatient hospital settings across 360+ locations in nine U.S. states.
Product overview
Brightli is a parent company operating one of the largest nonprofit behavioral health and addiction treatment provider networks in the U.S. The company operates under a multi-subsidiary model where independent organizations (Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Firefly Supported Living & Employment Services, Adult & Child Health, Places for People, Clarity Healthcare, and Brightli Foundation) collaborate under shared governance while maintaining independent operations. The portfolio includes mental health services, substance use treatment, primary care, dental care, pharmacy solutions, crisis stabilization, developmental disability services, and specialized programs. Brightli Medical Group serves as the core medical services arm providing integrated healthcare across psychiatry, addiction medicine, medical stabilization, and primary care.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Burrell's revenue grew by 125% in first five years under CCBHC model; clients served grew by 163% with 1,000 employees added
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Brightli
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Brightli technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Brightli partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- CenterstoneflagshipBrightli and Centerstone completed a merger by November 2025, creating the largest nonprofit behavioral health care provider in the United States. The combined organization serves nearly 250,000 clients annually with more than 10,000 team members across 9 U.S. states. Brightli adopted the Centerstone name and brand. Centerstone's CEO David C. Guth, Jr. leads the merged entity until January 2027 when Brightli CEO C.J. Davis becomes CEO.
- 37 North ExpeditionsminorBrightli's nature therapy program partners with 37 North Expeditions, a Springfield-based nature guide and experience service. The partnership provides therapeutic outdoor excursions for Burrell Behavioral Health and Preferred Family Healthcare clients with a 3:1 client-to-staff ratio. 177 clients from Greene County participated in nature excursions in 2024.
- Community Foundation of the OzarksminorThe Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded Brightli Foundation a $10,000 Everyone Outdoors Grant to expand Brightli's nature therapy program in southwest Missouri. The grant ceremony took place at the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks offices.
- Places for PeoplecorePlaces for People (St. Louis-based) partnered with Brightli to join its network, forming Brightli's Greater St. Louis Region alongside Preferred Family Healthcare. Places for People serves approximately 2,800-3,150 clients annually with ~360 employees across St. Louis City and County. It is one of the few Certified Community Behavioral Health Organizations (CBHO) in St. Louis. Tony Hilkin serves as CEO of Places for People and President of Brightli's Greater St. Louis Region.
- Adult & Child HealthcoreIndianapolis-based Adult & Child Health (A&C), a state-designated Community Mental Health Center (CMHC), joined Brightli as of March 1, 2024. A&C serves downtown Indianapolis, greater Marion and Johnson counties, and central Indiana. A&C retains its board of directors and continues operating under its name. Indiana was selected as one of 10 states for the federal CCBHC demonstration project.
- Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health (SEMOBH)coreSoutheast Missouri Behavioral Health joined Brightli, Inc. as a member organization, serving southeast and east-central Missouri from home offices in Farmington and clinical hubs in Salem and Poplar Bluff. SEMOBH employs more than 200 staff and specializes in individualized treatment for substance-use disorders, psychiatric and behavioral health, community services, and employment services. Dr. Barron Pratte led SEMOBH since 1978.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Brightli competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Universal Health Services: UHS is a large diversified hospital operator with a significant Behavioral Health segment (~30+ inpatient facilities) plus acute care hospitals. It competes with Brightli's inpatient and residential behavioral health services as part of a much broader healthcare portfolio.
- HCA Healthcare: HCA is the largest US for-profit hospital operator with behavioral health units integrated into its acute care hospitals. It competes with Brightli in inpatient psychiatric care and crisis stabilization services as part of a much broader hospital portfolio.
- Ascension Health: Ascension is one of the largest US nonprofit Catholic health systems, operating hospitals and behavioral health services across many states. It is a broad incumbent competitor to Brightli's integrated nonprofit health delivery model in overlapping geographies.
Others
- Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon Health Options): Carelon Behavioral Health is a managed behavioral health care company that administers BH benefits on behalf of health plans and manages provider networks. It is a payer-side partner/competitor to Brightli that influences reimbursement and network participation economics.
Direct peers
- Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Hazelden Betty Ford is a leading nonprofit addiction treatment provider offering residential, outpatient, and extended care services. It directly competes with Brightli's substance use disorder and addiction recovery programs, particularly for higher-acuity patients.
- Centerstone: Centerstone was a direct peer and the second-largest US nonprofit behavioral health provider before merging with Brightli in November 2025. It operated similar mental health, substance use disorder, and community-based services across multiple states, making it a near-perfect comparator prior to merger.
- BayMark Health Services: BayMark is the largest US provider of medication-assisted treatment and outpatient addiction recovery services, directly competing with Brightli's addiction medicine, MAT, and substance use disorder programs across multiple states.
- Acadia Healthcare: Acadia is the largest publicly traded pure-play behavioral health provider in the US, operating inpatient psychiatric facilities and residential treatment centers. It is a direct competitor for psychiatric and addiction treatment services across the same patient populations Brightli serves.
Emerging players
- Discovery Behavioral Health: Discovery Behavioral Health operates residential and outpatient mental health and eating disorder treatment programs. It is an emerging for-profit competitor overlapping with Brightli's residential behavioral health and adolescent/youth services.
- Wellpath: Wellpath provides integrated medical and behavioral health services to correctional facilities, vulnerable populations, and community settings. It overlaps with Brightli's publicly funded, underserved-population segments and integrated care model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Brightli social profiles
Digital presenceBrightli compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Brightli financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brightli leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Brightli subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Brightli funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brightli M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brightli
What does Brightli do?
Brightli operates a nonprofit behavioral health delivery network providing mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, primary care, dental care, pharmacy, and developmental disability services. Services are delivered through a parent-subsidiary model spanning outpatient clinics, residential programs, school-based care, telehealth, and inpatient hospital settings across 360+ locations in nine U.S. states.
Is Brightli a public or private company?
Brightli is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Brightli founded?
Brightli was founded in 2022. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Brightli based?
Brightli is headquartered in Springfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brightli make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Services are the primary driver. The others are CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) Revenue.
Who are Brightli's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Universal Health Services, HCA Healthcare and Ascension Health. Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon Health Options) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Centerstone, BayMark Health Services and Acadia Healthcare. Emerging players are Discovery Behavioral Health and Wellpath.
Does Brightli have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brightli.
What industry is Brightli in?
Brightli's product category is Behavioral Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAA, Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers, with a secondary code of HLAFACAL, Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services). Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8000.