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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Papa is leveling up its partnership with eternalHealth, rolling out three key services — post-discharge support, care gap closure, and fall risk prevention — to Medicare Advantage members in Massachusetts and Arizona. Papa's "Pals" provide real-world help like rides to appointments, medication pickup, and home safety checks. eternalHealth's membership has surged 170% between 2025 and 2026, signaling strong demand for this human-centered care model.
Papa is expanding its partnership with Boston-based insurer eternalHealth, bringing three core services from its Papa Plus platform to Medicare Advantage members in Massachusetts and Arizona. The services — post-discharge support, care gap closure, and fall risk prevention — are delivered by Papa's "Pals," who provide hands-on, real-world assistance like arranging transportation to follow-up appointments, picking up medications, and spotting fall hazards like rugs or clutter at home.
The partnership, which began in 2023, has grown organically as members became more comfortable with their Pals and began requesting help with things like telehealth visits and doctor trips. Papa CEO Andrew Parker emphasized that the key to success is member buy-in — services work best when members want them, not when they're pushed. The company has trained Pals and call center staff to address member concerns around independence and benefits.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As Medicare Advantage plans look for ways to improve outcomes and reduce costs, human-connection-based models like Papa's offer a scalable, member-friendly approach to closing care gaps and preventing costly events like falls and hospital readmissions.
