UnitedHealth Group is expanding its health hubs in Tennessee, with plans to take the model nationwide. The expansion is part of the company’s Communities of Health initiative, which aims to support community-based health care models in areas such as rural health, maternal and child health, and preventive care.
The United Health Foundation has committed $20 million to expand Communities of Health across the country, with $4 million specifically earmarked for Tennessee. This investment will help increase the number of health hubs in the state from five to 13 by the end of 2027.
The health hub model is being expanded into rural counties across West, Middle, and East Tennessee, with the goal of reaching 200,000 residents by the end of 2027. UnitedHealth Group is providing technical support to help the health hubs generate sustainable funding, strengthen integration, and improve data sharing.
The company is also working with the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at UT Health Sciences to advance career pathways in rural areas, including rural-focused physician assistant, nurse practitioner, midwife, and health coach/doula dual certification.
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Health hubs offer a range of services, including screenings, health coaches, exercise groups, healthy cooking classes, and care in community locations. Since 2022, UnitedHealth Group and the University of Tennessee Health Sciences have developed health hubs that have served over 4,000 people through more than 20,000 visits.
UnitedHealth, the foundation, and the university have developed health hubs that have served over 4,000 people through more than 20,000 visits. The foundation has contributed nearly $2 million in support since 2022.
According to UnitedHealth, more than half of participants have lowered their blood pressure, helping reduce their risk for serious health complications. The foundation has contributed nearly $2 million in support since 2022.
The health hub expansion is part of a larger effort by UnitedHealth Group to support community-based health care models. The company has previously launched initiatives to expand doula care in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and to develop food-as-medicine initiatives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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UnitedHealth Group’s senior vice president for health optimization, Catherine Anderson, noted that the innovation in Tennessee’s health hubs is about human connection – building trust, understanding individual and community needs, and bringing care and compassion that actually improves health. “The health hubs reinforce that healthcare works best when people connect directly with one another and trust the care they receive, shifting focus from treating illness to a proactive culture of preventive well-being across a community,” she said.
Dr. Peter Buckley, chancellor of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences, added that by expanding the health hub network and strengthening pathways into the health professions, the university is bringing preventive care, health education, and support services closer to where people live.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, a public, statewide academic health system, is partnering with UnitedHealth Group to advance the health hub model. The center does not directly offer inpatient care but partners with hospitals and clinical health systems across Tennessee.
As the health hub model expands, it’s likely that other states will look to Tennessee as an example of how to improve access to health care in rural areas. With the support of UnitedHealth Group, the University of Tennessee Health Sciences is well-positioned to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of residents across the state.