Better Health Partnership

What Better Health Partnership does

Better Health Partnership is a 501c3 nonprofit regional health improvement collaborative founded in 2007 and headquartered in Brooklyn Heights (Cleveland), Ohio. It operates as a neutral backbone organization that convenes 18 competing health systems, more than 2,000 primary care providers, payers, public health departments, social service agencies, and community-based organizations across 17 Northeast Ohio counties to address healthcare quality, health equity, and social determinants of health for a population of nearly 600,000 individuals.

The organization's differentiated product is the Better Health Pathways HUB, an evidence-based care coordination model certified by the Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI) that connects at-risk Cuyahoga County residents to community health workers and standardized pathways covering health insurance, medical care, food, transportation, housing, and employment. Complementary offerings include a closed-loop Clinic-to-Community Linkages referral system integrated with United Way 2-1-1, Trusted Data and Reporting services that combine EHR data with public health, social needs, environmental, and payer datasets, Neutral Convening facilitation, Shared Learning collaboratives, and Community Health Impact initiatives spanning blood pressure control, maternal/infant health, lead screening, asthma, and cardiovascular health.

Better Health Partnership generates revenue through a mix of annual membership dues from member health systems and other organizations, outcomes-based reimbursement from managed care organizations for Pathways HUB care coordination, and grant funding from foundations and government sources (notably a $1M grant from the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition in 2025, plus sustained support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, The Bruening Foundation, Ohio Commission on Minority Health, First Year Cleveland, and Case Western Reserve University). Leadership transitioned in November 2024 with the appointment of Robert Eick, MD, MPH as President & CEO and Aimee Budnik, PhD, RD/N, LD as COO. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Better Health Partnership

Legal name

Better Health Partnership

Website

https://betterhealthpartnership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Better Health Partnership is a 501c3 nonprofit regional health improvement collaborative that convenes 18 health systems, 2,000+ providers, payers, and community organizations across 17 Northeast Ohio counties to drive data-informed quality improvement, health equity, and care coordination for nearly 600,000 residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Population Health Collaborative Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Governance, Interagency Coordination & Partnerships (HLAJAMAD), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Nutrition, WASH & Social Determinants Partnerships (Cross-Sector Health Initiatives) (HLAJAOAO)

Keywords

• Regional health collaborative
• Care coordination services
• Population health management
• Community health partnerships
• Social determinants health

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Health systems, providers, and organizations join as members. Members set direction and execute strategic priorities and metrics aligned with community needs. Benefits include strategic leadership opportunities, tailored performance reports, regional recognition, CME credits from learning collaboratives, and access to BHP experts for convening, project management, and performance improvement.
2. Pathways HUB Reimbursement: The Pathways HUB receives referrals from managed care organizations (MCOs) and community-based organizations. The model pays for outcomes achieved through care coordination agencies. Partners with the Pathways HUB to better manage social needs of patients and receive reimbursement for outcomes.
3. Grant Funding: Significant grant funding from foundations and government sources. Example: $1 million grant from Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition to administer lead screening and testing program over 17 months.
4. Foundational Support: Funding support from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (original AF4Q initiative), Ohio Commission on Minority Health, First Year Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, and local foundations including The Bruening Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, and Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Better Health Partnership is a regional health improvement collaborative that convenes health systems, payers, public health departments, and community-based organizations across Northeast Ohio to advance equitable population health. Its core product is the Better Health Pathways HUB, an evidence-based, PCHI-certified care coordination model that connects at-risk individuals to clinical care and social services through trained Community Health Workers using standardized pathways. The organization complements this with Trusted Data and Reporting, Neutral Convening, Shared Learning, and quality improvement programs spanning 18 health systems and nearly 600,000 patients across 17 counties.

Product overview

Better Health Partnership is a regional health improvement collaborative that operates as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single unified software product. The core offering is the Better Health Pathways HUB—an evidence-based care coordination model certified by the Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI)—which connects at-risk individuals to care and social resources through community health workers. This core service is supported by complementary programs including the Clinic-to-Community Linkages referral system (closed-loop integration with United Way 2-1-1), Trusted Data and Reporting services, Neutral Convening facilitation, Shared Learning collaboratives, and various Community Health Impact Initiatives (Blood Pressure Control, Lead Screening, Maternal/Infant Health). The organization also provides Health System Delivery Improvement services across 18 member health systems. The Pathways HUB is the primary differentiated product, while the other services function as integrated components of the collaborative improvement model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Better Health Pathways HUB: An evidence-based care coordination model connecting individuals with complex health and social needs to community-based services and community health workers (CHWs), certified by the Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI).

Products and services

• Better Health Pathways HUB An evidence-based care coordination model that connects at-risk individuals in Cuyahoga County to care and resources through a network of community-based services and community health workers (CHWs) capable of assisting individuals with complex health and social needs overcome barriers. Certified by the Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI).
• Clinic-to-Community Linkages Referral System A closed-loop referral system connecting clinical care to social services, enabling healthcare providers to refer patients experiencing chronic conditions and social needs to United Way 2-1-1 for coordinated support.
• Trusted Data and Reporting Data collection, aggregation, and reporting services that combine electronic record clinical data with public health, social needs, environmental and payer data to inform meaningful action and identify replicable best practices across the region, supporting public reporting on health and health disparities for over 600,000 individuals.
• Neutral Convening A collaborative improvement model that creates safe spaces for healthcare competitors to work together, enabling trust-based partnerships for health improvement across competing organizations.
• Shared Learning Collaborative learning initiatives using educational approaches including leadership teams, quality circles, member committees, and project-based research/evaluation to disseminate best practices across the regional healthcare network.
• Health System Delivery Improvement Collaborative quality improvement initiatives across 18 member health systems in Northeast Ohio to improve healthcare delivery, ensure high quality patient-centered equitable care, and advance population health improvement strategies for infants, children, and adults.
• Community Health Impact Initiatives Cross-sector community impact initiatives including Blood Pressure Control (B/Pressure), First Year Cleveland, Heart Health Cuyahoga, HIP-Cuyahoga, Lead Screening and Testing, and Nourishing Beginnings to improve health and reduce disparities.
• Social Drivers of Health Interventions System-level interventions addressing social determinants of health including the Clinic to Community Linkages 2-1-1 referral system and the Better Health Pathways HUB to assist at-risk populations in meeting complex health, social and economic needs.
• Learning Collaboratives Annual regional learning collaborative events bringing together healthcare leaders and professionals to share best practices and advance improvement strategies, featuring CME opportunities.
• Pathways Structured pathways used by CHWs to guide individuals through addressing health and social needs including health insurance, medical care, food insecurity, transportation, housing stability, and employment.
• Pathways HUB Referral Services Referral processing services accepting referrals from managed care organizations (MCOs), community-based organizations, healthcare systems, and community residents, assigned to trained CHWs for outreach and assistance.
• Lead Safe Screening and Testing Program A grant-administered program to expand and strengthen blood lead screening, testing, and early intervention services for residents of the City of Cleveland, focusing on the city's most at-risk populations in collaboration with the Cleveland Department of Public Health and Cuyahoga County Board of Health.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 6,000 ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations avoided in Cuyahoga County
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding and minor.

• Lead Safe Cleveland CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2025Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition selected Better Health Partnership to administer a $1 million grant to increase blood lead testing rates in the City of Cleveland over 17 months. BHP will spearhead efforts to expand and strengthen lead screening, testing, and early intervention services, focusing on at-risk populations. The partnership includes collaboration with Cleveland Department of Public Health and Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
• The MetroHealth SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member and host of BHP administrative offices. Strong supporter of BHP mission. Dr. Robert Eick, BHP President & CEO, previously served at MetroHealth. MetroHealth staff serve in key BHP leadership roles.
• Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Pathways Community HUB Institute is the nation's only certifying body for community-based care coordination. BHP's Pathways HUB is certified through this organization, which has built its model based on a 30+ year journey starting in Mansfield, Ohio.
• Health Action CouncilfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Better Health Partnership from its establishment in 2007.
• The Center for Community SolutionsfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Better Health Partnership from its establishment in 2007.
• Neighborhood Family PracticefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly adopter and founding member of Better Health Partnership. Federally Qualified Health Center with multiple Gold Star recognized practices.
• Cleveland Clinic Health SystemfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of Better Health Partnership. Multiple Cleveland Clinic practices have received Gold Star recognition for excellence in diabetes care, blood pressure control, and colorectal cancer screening.
• Akron Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember health system participating in the Children's Health Leadership Team. Serves 33 counties in eastern Ohio with a population of one million children.
• Ohio Department of MedicaidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner supporting BHP initiatives including statewide cardiovascular health collaborative and hypertension and diabetes quality improvement projects.
• UnitedHealth GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan member participating in collaborative quality improvement efforts. Multiple UnitedHealthcare executives serve on BHP board and leadership teams.
• Cuyahoga County Board of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic health partner collaborating on community health initiatives including lead poisoning prevention and children's health programs.
• Cleveland Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity public health department partner collaborating on asthma initiatives, lead safety, and community health improvement efforts.
• First Year ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative funder and partner supporting maternal and infant health improvement efforts. BHP leadership involved in reducing racial inequities in infant mortality.
• Case Western Reserve UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner and funder. Multiple CWRU faculty serve on BHP board and in advisory roles. BHP's Chief Data Scientist Consultant is from CWRU.
• American Heart AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on cardiovascular health improvement initiatives including Heart Health Cuyahoga.
• Greater Cleveland Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner addressing food insecurity as part of social determinants of health interventions through the Pathways HUB.
• United Way of Greater ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through the 2-1-1 closed loop referral system connecting patients experiencing chronic conditions to community resources.
• Civitas Network for HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network partner for health improvement collaboratives, connecting BHP to broader health system transformation efforts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative: Regional health improvement collaborative operating in a comparable Midwestern metropolitan market with cross-stakeholder quality improvement, similar to BHP's Cleveland-based model.
• Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality: Member-driven collaborative pooling data from Wisconsin health systems for public quality reporting and improvement; comparable membership-based reporting and benchmarking model.
• Minnesota Community Measurement: Regional health measurement and quality improvement collaborative originally funded under the same RWJF Aligning Forces for Quality initiative as Better Health Partnership; aggregates multi-stakeholder clinical data across MN and publishes public quality reports, directly mirroring BHP's 600,000-patient data and reporting model.
• Massachusetts Health Quality Partners: Another AF4Q legacy multi-stakeholder collaborative convening providers, payers, and patients to measure and improve healthcare quality in Massachusetts; same neutral-convener nonprofit backbone model applied at the state level.
• Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation: Independent nonprofit driving healthcare quality measurement, public reporting, and community health improvement in Oregon, originally an AF4Q grantee, comparable data-sharing and convening focus.

Emerging players

• Unite Us: Technology platform provider for social determinants of health referral networks. Overlaps with BHP's Clinic-to-Community Linkages and United Way 2-1-1 closed-loop referrals. A former BHP team member previously worked at Unite Us, indicating direct exposure in the same space.
• Health Leads: National nonprofit that builds and operates social needs referral programs for health systems, comparable to BHP's Pathways HUB and social drivers of health work though operating at national scale.
• Findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha): Closed-loop social care referral network serving health plans, providers, and CBOs; comparable technology-enabled approach to connecting at-risk populations with community resources.

Others

• Pathways Community HUB Institute: The certifying body that grants PCHI certification to BHP's Pathways HUB. Other PCHI-certified HUBs in additional regions operate essentially the same care coordination model, making them direct ecosystem peers despite not being competitors in Cleveland.
• Civitas Networks for Health: National membership network of regional health improvement collaboratives, HIEs, and quality organizations. BHP is explicitly a partner member; peer collaboratives inside Civitas operate analogous membership and data-sharing models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/better-health-partnership

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Better Health Partnership