Camden Coalition, UnitedHealthcare enter 15M partnership

Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers and UnitedHealthcare announced a $15 million strategic partnership Tuesday that will focus on scaling new models of care for patients based on Dr. Jeffrey Brenner’s work identifying social determinants of health.Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers and UnitedHealthcare announced a $15 million strategic partnership Tuesday that will focus on scaling new models of care for patients based on Dr. Jeffrey Brenner’s work identifying social determinants of health.

Brenner, founder and executive director of the coalition, will also be named senior vice president of integrated health and human services at UHC.

He will continue to work with the Coalition until next year before transitioning fully into his role at UHC, based out of Camden.

The partnership allows both entities to develop, test and scale new models, expanding on UnitedHealthcare’s myConnections services model, which focuses on addressing the known determinants of health in an “integrated, holistic manner,” according to a joint statement.

 Brenner will lead operations for myConnections, which gives his work a national platform.

“By partnering with the Camden Coalition, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make a transformational impact on our health, behavioral and social service systems,” said Austin Pittman, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community & State, in a statement. “Dr. Brenner’s passion and commitment to bringing sustainable health care to our most vulnerable people make him an ideal leader to further build and integrate our myConnections approach across UnitedHealthcare’s entire portfolio.”

Brenner said the partnership will reform health care.

“This partnership is poised to create the first comprehensive, scalable and sustainable solution for one of society’s biggest challenges — reforming the health care system to make it work for its most complex and vulnerable people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the coalition will continue its work, aided by the 50 percent boost from UHC’s funding for its annual budget over the next three years.

Natassia Rozario, senior director for external affairs, said the coalition is thrilled with the boost and recognition by the country’s largest insurer.

“We see this as a glimmer of promise when the largest health care insurer in the country is turning to a nonprofit in Camden and saying: ‘You guys have the answers. We want to uplift that work and give it a bigger platform,’ ” Rozario said.

The coalition is now looking to expand on projects it has been waiting to tackle, including housing first programs and working with patients who cycle frequently through the criminal justice system, Rozario said.