Wider Circle, a company that works with health plans and providers to deliver community care programs, announced a partnership with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Plan Maryland (CareFirst CHPMD).

The aim of the partnership is to have Wider Circle work with CareFirst’s Medicaid Plan to increase member engagement and make health outcomes better by promoting strong, supportive community bonds.

Wider Circle works with health plans and providers to institute peer-to-peer programs overseen by community leaders. 

The new partnership comes in the wake of Wider Circle’s recent growth in Arizona, where the company is assisting beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid by using an established peer-to-peer model to make connections, provide education on preventive care and continue routine engagement with primary care physicians and health plan care managers. 

“We’re thrilled to be working with CareFirst to expand our services in Maryland Medicaid, showcasing the value of our peer-driven model, which promotes healthier behaviors and strengthens the social fabric in these underserved communities,” Darin Buxbaum, cofounder and chief executive officer of Wider Circle, said in a statement.

“By creating trusted connections and support networks, we help members achieve better health outcomes and enhance overall well-being. This expansion marks another significant milestone for Wider Circle, enabling us to reach more individuals across the nation and further support our healthcare partners by reducing costs while improving quality and member retention,” 

Mike Rapach, president and chief executive officer of CHPMD, noted that one of the company’s greatest priorities is making sure its communities are kept apprised and educated about the services available to them. 

“Wider Circle’s unique approach to member engagement should help close gaps in care for our members and community by connecting them to the resources they need in addition to driving down costs for them,” Rapach said. 

THE LARGER TREND

In 2023, Wider Circle ​​named Brett Zelkind chief strategy officer. In that capacity, Zelkind is responsible for driving the company’s growth path and developing significant alliances with health plans and providers that support Medicare and Medicaid members.

That same year, Wider Circle entered into a partnership with Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc., a technology-powered healthcare company. The two companies provide all-encompassing patient-centered care and increased care management for Medicaid members with special needs.