Case Study

Virginia network health centers: Better access leads to better outcomes

Uncover how Virginia employers partnered with Marathon Health to expand access to advanced primary care, improving workforce health and lowering regional costs.

Read the case study

Healthcare costs in Virginia are climbing, and access to care remains uneven. Families spend 18% more out-of-pocket than the national median while employers absorb annual cost increases averaging 9%. The real question isn't how much organizations spend—it's whether that investment reaches people. When primary care is accessible, results follow.

Provider holding a tablet talks with a person seated on an exam table beside a bright window

THE VIRGINIA NETWORK

A regional network reshaping access to primary care

A region with rising healthcare demand

Rapid growth in Richmond, Virginia is straining the local healthcare infrastructure. Today, more than 40% of residents report that long wait times and limited appointment availability prevent them from accessing care.

A workforce spread across a challenging landscape

One in 10 Virginians lives with three or more chronic conditions that worsen without consistent care. With 102 of 133 counties designated as primary care shortage areas, equitable access remains a pressing challenge for employers.

THE VIRGINIA CHALLENGE

Persistent barriers to primary care access

For Virginia employers, rising costs aren't the only concern—access gaps are driving them. A distributed workforce makes it difficult to ensure employees receive consistent, high-quality primary care, and the consequences compound.

Chronic conditions affecting more than one in 10 Virginians
Limited primary care access across 102 of 133 Virginia counties
Rising employer costs averaging 9% in annual increases

These access gaps have measurable consequences: Delayed treatment worsens chronic conditions, preventable emergency visits drive up costs, and absenteeism rises. Traditional insurance alone cannot close these gaps. Virginia employers need a better model that brings care directly to their workforce.

THE MARATHON HEALTH APPROACH

Advanced primary care delivered through a scalable network model

Building the network in close partnership

Marathon collaborated with brokers and plan sponsors to model access, select locations, and shape services—managing real estate, construction, and operations from the ground up.

Delivering integrated care across the community

In 2024, Marathon opened network health centers in Richmond. Within a year, three locations offered primary care, chronic disease management, pharmacy, and mental health services.

Scaling access without scaling employer costs

Employers pay only for what they use. As the network grows, existing partners gain access to new health centers at no added cost.

Arched concrete railway bridge spanning a rocky river under a partly cloudy sky

0 %

of at-risk, engaged members reduced their health risk

0 %

engagement rate achieved among high-risk employees in the network

0 %+

member satisfaction rate reported across the Virginia network

0 %

of all member visits were focused on preventive care

$ 0 K+

average annual savings per engaged member across the network

We are grateful for this partnership with Marathon Health and look forward to expanding its reach to other locations in the city of Richmond.

LEVAR STONEY

Mayor of Richmond

GET THE CASE STUDY

Virginia employers are achieving better outcomes

Plan sponsors in Richmond faced rising costs and care access gaps that traditional benefits couldn't solve. Partnering with Marathon Health, they built a network that improves health and delivers measurable ROI. Download the full case study to see how.

LET'S CONNECT

Find the best advanced primary care model for your people

Talk to our team