Partnership extends oncology-specific behavioral health services to NYCBS patients across Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Protocol Behavioral Health (“Protocol”), the leading provider of oncology-specific behavioral health services, today announced a partnership with New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (“NYCBS”), one of the nation’s largest independent, physician-led oncology practices and a founding practice of the OneOncology network, to integrate behavioral health services directly into cancer care for patients across their 46 sites of care.

Up to half of advanced cancer patients experience a psychiatric disorder during their care, and patients with cancer face up to three times higher rates of depression than the general population. Yet only 5% of cancer patients struggling with depression ever see a mental health professional, and 73% of patients with cancer and co-occurring depression go without treatment altogether. For large, multi-site oncology networks, the challenge is one of scale: care teams see the need across every location, but fragmented referral pathways and a shortage of clinicians trained in psycho-oncology make consistent access difficult to guarantee practice-wide.

NYCBS already gives patients an impressive range of support, from survivorship care to nutrition counseling to remote patient monitoring. Protocol’s care model is built to work alongside programs like these, not replace them. Behavioral health care managers coordinate directly with NYCBS’s existing teams, so patients get one connected, comprehensive system of care instead of a separate referral to manage on their own.

“For nearly 25 years, I’ve cared for patients navigating some of the hardest days of their lives, and treating the cancer without treating the whole person leaves a gap in care,” said Dr. MaryAnn Fragola, DNP, Chief of Wellness Services at NYCBS. “Combined with our clinicians’ screening process, Protocol’s model lets us close that gap for patients across our network, not only the ones who happen to ask for help. That’s the standard of care our patients and their families deserve.”

“When we started Protocol, we bet that oncology practices wanted to do more for their patients’ mental health and just needed the right partner to make it possible,” said Jack Fitzgibbons, Co-Founder and CEO of Protocol. “Partnering with practices like NYCBS — among the most respected in community oncology — is exactly what we envisioned, and we’re proud to now serve their patients across New York State.”

“Every day, our physicians see patients carrying the emotional weight of a cancer diagnosis alongside the physical toll of treatment,” said Dr. Jeffrey Vacirca, CEO of NYCBS. “Partnering with Protocol means every patient across our network gets access to psycho-oncology-trained clinicians as a standard part of their care, not an afterthought. That’s what it means to treat the whole patient.”

Through the partnership, NYCBS patients gain access to behavioral health care managers and licensed clinicians trained in psycho-oncology, with psychiatric support available when indicated. Patients are reached within 48 hours of referral, and care is delivered through the Collaborative Care Model (“CoCM”), which the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines formally recognized in January 2026 as part of the standard of care for distress management in oncology.

Protocol brings a track record of measurable outcomes to the partnership: its internal research indicates that 78%+ of high-acuity patients tracked during months three through six of treatment showed a meaningful reduction in symptoms. NYCBS patients will now have access to that same standard of care.

The partnership marks a significant milestone in Protocol’s expansion across New York and within the nation’s leading community oncology practices. The company expects to announce additional partnerships later this year.

About New York Cancer & Blood Specialists

New York Cancer & Blood Specialists is a leading oncology practice dedicated to providing world-class, patient-centered, and affordable care to individuals with cancer and blood disorders throughout New York State. With locations across Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley, NYCBS’s mission is to bring world-class cancer care close to home, where patients can heal with the support of family and community. 

About Protocol Behavioral Health

Protocol Behavioral Health provides mental health care tailored to the unique needs of cancer patients. The company partners with oncology practices to integrate evidence-based behavioral health services directly into cancer care delivery. Protocol is backed by Juxtapose, a leading investment firm focused on building category-defining companies from the ground up. To learn more, visit www.protocolcares.com

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SOURCE Protocol Behavioral Health