Building for Medicaid's regulatory moment with Neil Batlivala from Pair Team
Nov 28, 2023
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Neil Batlivala from Pair Team discusses building infrastructure to connect care facilities for Medicaid's vulnerable populations. Topics include the gap in health tech for vulnerable communities, regulatory issues, doing well financially while doing good in the world.
Pair Team is dedicated to connecting Medicaid's highest-risk patients to the care they need by partnering with shelters, food pantries, and rehabilitation facilities, creating accessible care sites within the community.
Pair Team's success is tied to the changing landscape and regulatory advancements in Medicaid, as government-funded programs recognize the need to support non-clinical services and promote innovative care models that address social determinants of health.
Deep dives
Pair Team: Connecting Underserved Communities to Primary Care
Pair Team, a virtual and community-based primary care solution, is dedicated to connecting Medicaid's highest-risk patients to the care they need. By partnering with shelters, food pantries, and rehabilitation facilities, Pair Team creates accessible care sites within the community. This approach increases access points for care, as underserved individuals often struggle to prioritize their health due to numerous competing obligations. Pair Team's mission-driven focus extends beyond clinical care, encompassing social support services, such as housing support, healthy grocery delivery, and mental health assistance. With a connection to government programs and a strong belief in compassionate care, Pair Team is making a significant impact on the health and well-being of underserved populations.
The Role of Government in Medicaid Innovation
Pair Team's success is closely tied to the changing landscape and regulatory advancements in Medicaid. Government-funded programs have recognized the need to support non-clinical services and are promoting innovative care models that address social determinants of health. By allowing healthcare dollars to be spent on non-healthcare services and promoting community-based programs, the government is fostering the integration of social care and clinical care. Pair Team is actively involved in advocating for Medicaid innovation, participating in discussions with policymakers and venture capitalists to drive investment and entrepreneurial growth in this under-invested area of healthcare. The government's support and focus on cost containment and improving patient experiences are creating opportunities for Pair Team's expansion in multiple states.
Addressing Financial Challenges and Investor Skepticism
Pair Team faces unique financial challenges in providing access to care for underserved populations. Community organizations that serve as care sites often struggle due to tight budgets and limited funding sources. To address this, Pair Team integrates these organizations into the healthcare payment model, enabling them to receive healthcare dollars and reinvest in expanding their social support services. Navigating government contracts and garnering investor support can be difficult due to skepticism surrounding the profitability of such endeavors. However, Pair Team's strong track record of reducing emergency department visits and improving patient outcomes helps overcome skepticism, attracting investors who are mission-driven and committed to the long-term vision of creating sustainable, scalable change.
Product Expansion and State-by-State Growth
Pair Team's roadmap includes product expansion and state-by-state growth. They are focused on developing robust tools and technology to support their community-based care model, enabling efficient coordination and communication among care teams, community organizations, and healthcare providers. By integrating telemedicine capabilities and connected devices, Pair Team aims to provide comprehensive care plans and support both social and clinical interventions. In terms of growth, Pair Team follows government programs at the state level, expanding into states where regulatory changes align with their mission. By educating state Medicaid departments and demonstrating successful outcomes, Pair Team is poised to expand its impact, targeting underserved individuals and communities beyond California.
Medicaid is in its regulatory moment. Today we’re joined by Neil Batlivala from Pair Team, which is building the infrastructure that will help the most vulnerable populations get the clinical and social care they need through the Medicaid expansion. Dom and Becca talked to Neil about how his previous health tech experience lead him to start a company solely focused on connecting care facilities like food pantries and shelters to clinical training and care through Medicaid funding. They also talked about:
Why there is a gap in health tech to serve our most vulnerable communities
The regulatory issues that dictate the businesses growth and expansion to new states
How he thinks about doing well financially and doing good in the world
