Startups

Startup focused on social determinants of health secures $35M Series B

The company, New York City-based Unite Us, raised the funding from investors including Oak HC/FT, Town Hall Ventures and Define Ventures.

ACA, Trump, healthcare reform

Unite Us, a New York City startup tackling the social determinants of health, has nabbed $35 million in a Series B funding round led by Oak HC/FT. Town Hall Ventures (an investment firm co-founded by Andy Slavitt) and Define Ventures also participated, as did existing investors New York Ventures, Scout Ventures and Luminate (which is part of The Omidyar Group).

The company offers a care coordination and outcome tracking platform that can connect healthcare and social service providers. Its software allows providers and community partners to follow each patient’s health journey. Providers can also use the tool to externally refer patients and report on outcomes.

Ultimately, the goal of the solution is to improve individuals’ overall health and quality of life while also lowering costs.

Unite Us was founded in 2013 by Dan Brillman (who serves as CEO), Taylor Justice (who serves as president) and Andrew Price (who serves as director of outreach).

Its initial objective was to assist the military-connected population, but it has since expanded its aim to aid vulnerable populations such as the homeless, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, justice-involved individuals and people with behavioral health and substance use challenges.

“The market is just getting started when it comes to comprehensively addressing the social determinants of health,” Justice said in a news release. “Providing the infrastructure and methodology that connects organizations across silos, enabling them to work together seamlessly, and proving that patients received services is just the start. There is still a long way to go, and with this investment, Unite Us will accelerate the industry’s transition to a value-based care system driven by social care.”

The New York City company intends to use the new money to grow and continue to expand coordinated networks that link payers, health systems, government agencies and community organizations.

Unite Us said this Series B round brings its total funding to $45.3 million.

It’s not the only organization pursuing social determinants of health efforts.

Signify Health, a Dallas-based company providing complex care management services and at-home medical services for Medical Advantage patients, recently bought TAVHealth in an effort to extend its ability to address SDOH. TAVHealth creates networks of community health partners that are connected through a platform for sharing information and coordinating patients.

Additionally, Kaiser Permanente is taking on housing security as a healthcare issue. The Oakland, California-based entity has teamed up with Community Solutions, a nonprofit organization, on an anti-homelessness initiative.

Photo: Ann Cutting, Getty Images

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