Two former healthcare executives founded the Grand Rapids-based Manifest Provider Collective with the idea of making healthcare costs affordable by creating a network of independent providers willing to contract directly with self-funded employers.
Co-founder Dr. Aaron Friedkin says it’s about evolution - not revolution – working within the healthcare system to customize and optimize company needs
“You're kind of teaching the employers how to hack their health plan. You know, it's like, how do you help them understand the best way to use the health plan that you have already purchased and help your employees use that so that you get the outcomes that you want and you can lower your costs.”
Manifest announced a partnership Wednesday with Kapnick Insurance, Michigan’s largest independent family-owned benefits agency.
Employers working with Kapnick can now integrate Manifest’s network of local providers into their employee benefit plans.
The collective includes a range of Michigan-based specialists and primary care groups such as BAMF Health, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, and The Cancer and Hematology Centers of West Michigan.
Friedkin considers the model a potential blueprint for future growth.
“We were originally very just focused on Grand Rapids. As soon as people started hearing about this, they said, ‘how soon can you bring this to Southeast Michigan and Detroit?’ Our goal is to cover as much of the state as possible. Prove this model out, and then we'll see where it goes.”
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