SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Homeward, a company committed to rearchitecting the delivery of health and care in partnership with communities everywhere, starting in rural America, today announced the appointment of Centene executive Brent Layton to its Board of Directors. Layton brings more than 30 years of healthcare and public policy experience, with expertise building, scaling and operating businesses focused on government-funded programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
During his more than 20-year tenure, Layton supported Centene in a variety of key positions and growth-oriented roles, including: the head of business development, and overseeing the company’s health plan market expansion and provider network development. He played an important role in supporting the development and scaling of Centene’s Medicare and Health Insurance Marketplace businesses, including Ambetter, the nation's largest Exchange provider, and WellCare, a leading brand of Medicare products. Following his tenure as President and Chief Operating Officer, Layton announced that he would be retiring from Centene in late 2023 and transitioned to a senior advisor role working closely with the Chief Executive Officer.
“Brent brings a wealth of expertise in managed care, having supported the development and scaling of business units that were important to Centene’s growth strategy and rise in position within the Fortune 100,” said Dr. Jennifer Schneider, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Homeward. “He adds another dynamic component to Homeward’s world-class team and further validates our industry leadership and opportunity ahead. Now, more than ever, we are in a strong position to continue advancing our mission while delivering the best possible care experience to our members.”
When Layton joined Centene, the company served approximately 300,000 Medicaid members across three states. Centene is now the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care organization, and the leading Marketplace health insurance provider, offering affordable and high-quality products to more than 28 million people across 50 states. During Layton’s tenure with Centene, the company grew its annual revenue from about $300 million to $144.5 billion.
“I believe that healthcare access in rural America is one of the nation’s most prominent challenges today, and it’s clear that we cannot solve the problem using traditional care models or simply by building more brick-and-mortar clinics within rural communities,” said Layton. “Addressing the root causes of the healthcare delivery challenges in rural America requires an innovative, multimodal approach that is rooted in the community and focused on reaching people when and where they need it. Homeward – through its combination of in-person visits, technology and clinical expertise, is uniquely positioned to address these problems. With the right team and healthcare technology, Homeward is realizing its mission and vision to transform rural health and care.”
Homeward is an in-network provider that deploys an integrated care model including in-home visits, community-based care, and technology-enabled clinical services. Today, Homeward delivers care in Michigan and Minnesota, and has raised $70 million from leading investors including General Catalyst, ARCH Venture Partners, and Human Capital.
About Homeward
Homeward is rearchitecting rural health and care for the 60 million Americans living in rural communities. As a new value-based care provider, Homeward employs multidisciplinary care teams, available in-home, within the community, and virtually, with technology to better connect patients to high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive care. The company supports Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, including by partnering with Medicare Advantage plans, and takes full risk for the cost of care of its members to improve outcomes and reduce costs. For more information, please visit www.homewardhealth.com.
