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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Two employer-focused health companies are joining forces to make specialty care less of a financial wildcard. Carrum Health's Centers of Excellence network will be embedded into Included Health's Alternative Health Plan, giving members access to high-quality surgeries, cancer care, and substance use treatment at bundled, predictable prices — with zero out-of-pocket costs for employees.
Two employer-focused health companies are joining forces to take on one of healthcare's biggest cost drivers. Carrum Health's Centers of Excellence network will be embedded directly into Included Health's Alternative Health Plan, creating a coordinated pathway for members to access high-quality specialty care — including surgeries, cancer treatment, and substance use disorder care — at bundled, predictable rates with zero out-of-pocket costs for employees.
The timing is no coincidence. From 2023 to 2025, the U.S. experienced its highest three-year stretch of healthcare cost growth in over a decade, with specialty care consistently ranking as a top spending driver. The partnership aims to close the gap between primary care navigation and specialty treatment by allowing Included Health to identify complex needs through primary care visits, app insights, and claims data — then seamlessly refer members to Carrum's network for care.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As employers scramble to rein in benefits spending, this partnership offers a model that combines navigation, value-based care, and cost transparency — potentially reshaping how employer-sponsored plans manage high-cost specialty needs.
