Marathon Health claims spot among top providers of primary care for commercial market

© Marathon Health

Advanced primary care provider Marathon Health announced the company has grown to more than 720 locations across 41 states.

The Indianapolis, Indiana-based company 46 metropolitan areas with almost 100 Network locations, which are owned and operated stand-alone centers that locate within 10 miles of eligible patients. The recent growth “solidifies Marathon Heath’s position as the largest provider of open access health care centers designed for the commercial market,” according to the company.

Marathon Health also supplies independent primary care for employers through onsite, nearsite and virtual health centers. Clients include businesses including Cargill and TysonFoods, and governments including the city of Indianapolis.

“Patients with a trusted primary care provider cost up to 30% less and have 19% lower risk of dying. Access to Network centers helps us bring our model to more clients – especially smaller organizations or those with a large, distributed workforce – which furthers our core purpose to enable millions to live their healthiest life,” company CEO and Co-Founder Jeff Wells, MD, said in a news release.

“Our shared locations offer consistent, high-quality care, with average wait times of just five minutes, at health centers across the country. With better access for geographically dispersed populations through conveniently located centers, and same-day or next-day appointments, Marathon Health is transforming lives and health care models with personalized, affordable medical care,” Wells said. “Our unique model offers extensive Network access for self-insured employers and labor unions of all sizes, from large municipalities and school systems to manufacturers, and is generating broad interest from health insurance plans.”

Marathon Health uses a value-based care model with employer and union partners to lower health care costs by an average of $1,800 a year for engaged patients, according to the company.

The model also has saved clients more than $5 billion in health care costs through its health centers. The onsite centers can be a great option for companies, but they are not always necessary, and the Network health centers offer “incredible access” for businesses and employees, Wells said.

“By focusing on quality of care, rather than patient volume, Marathon Health providers remain engaged with their patients, keeping them active, healthy and out of the emergency room,” the company’s announcement said.

New CHO

Marathon Health this month announced primary care physician Nirav Vakharia, MD, has become the company’s news chief health officer. He will be responsible for clinical strategy development and managing the company’s population health model of care.

Nirav Vakharia, MD
_{© Marathon Health}

Vakharia worked as an engineer and middle school math and science teacher before earning his medical degree form Harvard Medical School. He completed training in internal medicine and a chief residency at Brigham and Women’a Hospital in Boston. He has worked to build and scale primary care systems in the United States, United Kingdom, Peru, Rwanda, Malaysia and the Middle East, according to his official biography.

“I’m thrilled to join Marathon Health and support its mission to improve the health and well-being of millions of people in a sustainable way for providers and care teams,” Vakharia said in a statement. “Marathon Health has built a care model that’s asked and answered the necessary questions to make primary care work for patients, employers and providers. I decided to come on board to be part of rethinking and rebuilding primary care.”