Pair Team Raises $9 Million Series A to Expand Access to Health Care Services for Medicaid's Most Vulnerable Patients

Through its value-based care enablement solution, the round advances the company's efforts to improve care across California

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pair Team, a virtual and community-based primary care solution connecting Medicaid’s highest-risk patients to high-quality care, today announced it has raised $9 million in Series A funding. The financing was led by NEXT VENTURES, with participation from PTX Capital, Create Health Ventures, OCA Ventures, CHCF Innovation Fund, Kapor Capital, Augment Ventures, Newark Venture Partners,  Y Combinator, Kleiner Perkins, Gaingels, and several notable healthcare angel investors including Jay Desai. The funding will be used to help Pair Team accelerate its expansion across California by enabling the company to grow its network of safety net organizations and scale its current team to support additional patients.

Since January 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other federal agencies have had their eyes on California with the launch of the nation's largest-ever program to transform the healthcare system for vulnerable communities. With nearly $10B in total funding, California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) is integrating social support services such as housing, food access and transportation through local health plans for low-income residents. The goal is to elevate the role of community-based organizations (CBOs) such as shelters, food pantries, and rehab facilities in the care delivery system. This is the future of Medicaid laid out by CMS, and other states like New York are following suit. However, local clinics and CBOs lack the resources to effectively coordinate and establish a new model of care.

Pair Team solves these issues by partnering with local health centers and community-based organizations, giving them access to a shared, value-based care management platform that is utilized by Pair Team's network of safety net organizations and providing staffing support to fill gaps in care access and coordination. By enabling existing organizations to provide both virtual and in-person care through its shared platform, Pair Team connects Medicaid's highest-risk patients with the information and services they need, such as housing coordination, grocery delivery, medication management, virtual therapy and other primary care services.

"Pair Team's hands-on approach is changing lives for thousands of Californians who are not able to access the care needed to better their health. Our virtual and community-based solution builds personal and meaningful relationships with our patients to help them regain trust in and access to the health care system," said Neil Batlivala, CEO and co-founder of Pair Team. "This latest financing will help us bring whole-person care to more patients across California, and soon nationally. This is Medicaid's regulatory moment, and we are here to help catalyze much-needed change for the wellbeing of our most vulnerable communities."

Pair Team's comprehensive, value-based care solution provides a personalized, high-touch care experience while addressing obstacles such as lack of transportation, housing, food security and mobile phone access. The company's unique care delivery platform leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to implement clinical best practices, integrate care with community-based organizations and automate workflows so that clinicians can focus their time on patients.

Pair Team's commitment to enabling existing safety-net organizations to improve healthcare for individuals complements our thematic focus on Whole Person Health. We continue to be impressed by their ability to execute according to plan, effectively driving strong engagement and meaningful clinical outcomes," said Julian Eison, Managing Partner at NEXT VENTURES. "As the healthcare landscape rapidly shifts toward value-based care, all stakeholders need to work together to prioritize inclusive, effective, and patient-centric outcomes, and Pair Team is developing a blueprint for success. We are honored to be partnered with Neil, Cassie, and the greater Pair Team on this company's remarkable and promising journey."

By addressing social issues first to better care for Medicaid patients in California, Pair Team has engaged upwards of 49% of eligible, high-needs patients and demonstrated a 34% reduction in emergency department utilization. Through its mental health and chronic care management support, 58% of patients diagnosed with depression report reduced depression symptoms and 62% of patients diagnosed with diabetes experienced reduced A1c scores.

Pair Team is passionate about building a team of individuals who support its mission of improving the well-being of underserved communities. In addition to care providers and other licensed practitioner positions, Pair Team is hiring for a broad number of roles including executive operations and director roles, as well as local community-based care team members.

For more information about Pair Team or if you're interested in joining its team, please visit www.pairteam.com.

About Pair Team
Pair Team connects underserved communities to high-quality care by partnering with local health centers and community-based organizations. It acts as an extension of its partners to provide comprehensive clinical and mental health care while addressing the many social barriers to achieving a high quality of life such as access to housing, food or transportation. The company's shared community health platform leverages artificial intelligence to implement clinical best practices, making it the market leader in California's complex care program.

For more information, please visit www.pairteam.com.

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SOURCE Pair Team