Our History
Avante Behavioral Health Plan (ABHP) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avante Health, a healthcare consulting company, and was licensed as a specialty health plan by the Department of Managed Health Care in October 2000.
Prior to Knox-Keene licensure, Avante Health operated PSY-CARE, an Independent Practice Association (IPA) comprised of 75 clinicians serving over 75,000 lives through a contract with PacifiCare. PSY-CARE held the first capitated mental health contract in the state through its relationship with PacifiCare Behavioral Health and ultimately went on to build and consult with other mental health IPA's throughout California. To better meet the needs of employers throughout the Central Valley, Avante Health began the Knox-Keene licensure process in 1998 and today owns the only Fresno-based, licensed specialty health plan in the state.