BridgeHealth

Founded in 2007 by individuals including David Calone, BridgeHealth established itself as a provider of value-based healthcare services. The company's core mission was to improve the quality of surgical outcomes while simultaneously reducing costs for its clients. A pivotal moment in the company's trajectory occurred in October 2020, when it merged with Transcarent, a consumer-focused digital health company, as part of a $40 million Series A financing round. This merger was designed to accelerate the shared vision of creating a more transparent and consumer-driven healthcare experience. Following the transaction, BridgeHealth became a core component of Transcarent's broader service offering.

BridgeHealth operates in the healthcare services market, specifically targeting large, self-insured employers and their health plans. The business model centers on providing surgical advocacy and access to a network of national Centers of Excellence (COEs). Revenue is generated by offering these curated surgical benefit management programs to organizations. The key value proposition lies in cost containment and quality assurance. The company negotiates pre-packaged, bundled rates for over 300 types of surgical procedures across eight categories, which can reduce costs for plan sponsors by an average of 30% to 50% per procedure. This approach shifts financial risk and simplifies billing for both patients and providers.

The service guides members to high-quality surgeons and facilities within its COE network, which is the largest in the market. Patients receive support through concierge-level care coordination, which assists with planning and preparation for surgery, aiming to reduce stress and improve the overall experience. This high-touch service model is reflected in the company's consistently high Net Promoter Scores. By managing the entire surgical journey, from selecting the right provider to post-surgical care, BridgeHealth aims to minimize unnecessary procedures, lower complication rates, and facilitate a better patient experience.

Keywords: surgical benefit management, centers of excellence, COE programs, value-based healthcare, bundled payments, self-insured employers, healthcare cost containment, care coordination, surgical advocacy, healthcare navigation, medical travel, employer health plans, bundled surgical rates, planned surgery, healthcare transparency, cost savings, high-quality healthcare, Transcarent, surgical cost management, employee benefits