Kristen Helton, CEO of Herself Health— a network of clinics designed for women 65 and older—is tackling the often overlooked healthcare needs of an underserved population. With a value-based care model that prioritizes patient outcomes and focuses on community, Herself Health aims to address the unique challenges older women face, who are statistically more likely to be misdiagnosed or dismissed by traditional healthcare systems. She has raised $70 million in venture capital.
Overlooked And Underserved: Women 65+ An Opportunity For Healthcare
Herself Health is a network of clinics that provide healthcare services designed for women ages 65+ and has a goal of serving the 32.5 million women 65 years or older in the U.S. Juxtapose, a venture studio, developed the concept, conducted user research, recruited Kristen Helton as the founding CEO in 2022, and invested in the company.
The company is based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and has since expanded to four locations, and in November it will be five. Herself Health has over 100 employees serving over 6,000 patients. Helton—who also founded Profusa, a biosensor company, after leading product development for Amazon Care, a digital health company—believes the traditional healthcare model fails women, especially as they age.
“When you talk to women 65 and older, they say things like, ‘I don’t feel listened to, I don’t feel heard, I’m invisible, my doctor doesn’t believe me,’” sighs Helton. “I’m hearing that I just have to live with this.”
Instead, “I loved the time and attention that I received,” said Kimberly Lieb, a Herself Health patient.” Nothing felt rushed, and I felt listened to and understood.”
Indeed, the statistics back up this claim. According to Deloitte, women’s health represents just 2% of the $41.2 billion in venture funding to healthcare companies in 2023. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Herself Health Enhance Network Contract in Support of Stronger Health for Senior Women report states that women are four times more likely than men to be diagnosed with osteoporosis, three times more likely than men to have autoimmune diseases, two times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and 33% more likely to be misdiagnosed than men.
Most people in the United States pay a fee for a healthcare service. Herself Health uses a values-based business model. Value-based healthcare is a delivery model that prioritizes patient outcomes and overall value as the central metrics of success. Unlike the traditional fee-for-service model, where providers are paid for each individual service, value-based care rewards providers for achieving positive patient outcomes and improving the quality of care.
This shift in focus incentivizes a more holistic, patient-centered approach, promoting preventive care, care coordination, and patient engagement in treatment decisions. By emphasizing value over volume, value-based healthcare aims to deliver the best possible patient outcomes at the lowest possible cost, leading to a more efficient and effective healthcare system.
Herself Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota recently revised their contract to improve healthcare outcomes for senior women in the Twin Cities by shifting to a value-based care model. This means prioritizing preventive care and effective management of conditions to improve health and reduce costs for patients.
Herself Health’s value-based care system allows for more time with patients, allowing providers to focus on preventative measures. In addition, the company has community rooms in all four of its locations, where they hold events like book clubs and speaker series to help combat social isolation and loneliness.
In addition to Herself Health, other companies are focused on seniors. Devoted Health and Modern Age provide health services to all seniors, and Papa offers companionship to all seniors.
Herself Health has raised $70 million in venture capital, including a recently closed Series B round of $37 million. “In spite of all the recent innovation in women’s health, there is still an enormous unmet need for older women,” Andy Stein, Partner, Juxtapose. “They aren’t receiving the care or the experience they deserve, and they know it. Kristen and her team are building something truly unique for these women, and it has been incredible to see the response.”
Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty: Medicare Advantage
Herself Health relies on Medicare Advantage programs to align incentives and support the extra work they do outside of traditional fee-for-service visits. Medicare Advantage plans allow Herself Health to get paid for additional services focusing on prevention and keeping patients out of high-cost care settings. By partnering with Medicare Advantage plans, Herself Health can offer services like same-day appointments, longer visits, and preventative care, which are typically not covered under traditional fee-for-service models. This focus on prevention and value-based care aligns with Herself Health’s mission to provide personalized and preventative healthcare for women 65 and up.
However, the reliance on Medicare Advantage also presents challenges. Herself Health needs to grow quickly to attract payers and gain enough patients to make the value-based care model financially viable. This growth requires significant upfront investment, and the company needs to balance its growth goals with the need to secure contracts and generate revenue.
In addition, the Medicare Advantage landscape is subject to regulatory changes and political uncertainty, especially during presidential elections. Herself Health must navigate these uncertainties while staying true to its mission and avoiding any questionable practices that might jeopardize its reputation or long-term success.
Combat Stress With Community
Personal challenges have recently taken a toll on Helton. Whether it is suicide or substance abuse, when people have behavioral health challenges, it affects the people around them. It’s a challenge not only for Helton but many women. “It’s an incredible amount of stress and responsibility,” she explained. It can affect your health. “Seeing people in need is taxing; it’s also motivating. What I have in my life and what I see in our patients is surrounding yourself with people that lift you.” It counteracts the stress.
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