Better Health backs up model

SAN FRANCISCO – Better Health, an online provider of ostomy and urological supplies that has grown 30% month-over-month since its launch in 2020, is entering a new growth phase, says CEO Naama Stauber Breckler. 

“We want to keep helping people live their best lives at home with our model of peer education and medical support,” she said. “Our goal for the next year is to do more research and gain more validity of the value (of our model) for growing our partnerships and (adding) new product categories with a similar model.” 

To that end, in February, Better Health appointed Alisha Mecier as vice president, strategic partnerships, to develop relationships with payers and expand relationships with health systems and provider groups. Currently, it operates in 46 states and accepts many insurances, including Medicare, Medicaid, Oscar Health and Humana. 

A white paper that Better Health published in December 2021 showed 64% of ostomy patients were able to avoid a visit to their doctor or hospital as a direct result of participating in a coaching session. It’s that model – and those results – that sets the company apart from its competitors, says Stauber Breckler. 

“You can’t offer what everyone else is offering and be able to compete successfully,” she said. “We look at what’s out there and what is missing. People are looking for a personalized experience and when it comes to medical supplies, one size does not fit all.” 

Even as Better Health has scaled up – in October 2021, it secured $10 million in Series A funding – it has been able to weather supply chain challenges, says Stauber Breckler. The company has built a high-redundancy network and has access to more than 40 warehouses nationwide. 

“We work with every customer on a Plan B – what other product will work,” she said. “If we do see something is backlogged, we are able to ship an alternative. We need to be ready for it in our space.”