A Medical Home for Behavioral Health and Primary Care

Our Story

CARMAhealth (“CARMA” stands for Collaborative Addiction Recovery Management and Assistance) was born in Austin, Texas on July 5th 2017, but the idea of providing access to high-quality, in-network primary care for addiction, psychiatric, and related medical problems was years in the making.

During my years in academic medicine and as a practicing addiction psychiatrist, I witnessed countless people confronting what I called the “post discharge medical fumble.” As a dear friend once told me, “just about anyone can stay sober in rehab…it’s when rehab stops that the work begins…that’s when it gets real.” Here, we have thousands of people who spend time in drug rehab facilities who often benefit tremendously from the experience, but when it’s time for a “warm handoff” to a medical provider in their community, the ball gets dropped (the “fumble”).

The “fumble” takes many forms: providers who can’t (or won’t) treat mental illness; providers who aren’t comfortable treating a person with a substance use disorder; providers who put people back on addicting substances thereby causing a recurrence; providers who are not in network with insurance and demand cash; or just no provider at all.

After our first year, we realized that our patients who were in recovery from their addiction still suffered from co-morbid conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, so we quickly understood that we had to provide services for all psychiatric disorders. As a practice and a company, we now provide services for a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders, and treat people regardless of a substance use disorder history.

CARMAhealth is my effort to solve the problem of access to high-quality medical care for substance use disorders in our communities…to pick up the ball and run with it when it gets real!

– Carlos Tirado, MD, MPH

Our Mission

CARMAhealth provides comprehensive primary and behavioral healthcare for psychiatric and substance related problems. Our providers adopt a positive, collaborative approach and integrate primary medicine, behavioral health and care management to promote lasting recovery, encourage self-care and improve treatment outcomes. CARMA stands for Collaborative Addiction Recovery Management and Assistance.

CARMAhealth adopts a collaborative model of care that blends primary care medicine and behavioral health. We adopt a pragmatic, risk informed approach to care. Our goal is to create a medical home through the life span for our patients, their family and our community.

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What Our Patients Say

It’s worth noting that the practice also treats mental health disorders which is why I use Carma. I have been to other doctors in town and have never received the level of compassion and care for my health that I do here.

Bryna Hoang
Dr. Powell is amazing, as well as the staff. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.
Kate Penshorn
Excellent mental health professionals in Austin!!! They truly care about their patients by offering first-class services!!
David B. Hutts

CARMAhealth took over our daughter’s care and now we have…a doc who truly understands psychiatry, MAT and recovery! Grateful and relieved. Bravo, CARMAhealth!

Dr. Lori Holleran-Steiker

We’re Here For You

From the front office to your provider, you’ll be met with compassionate care.