Research & Impact

Creating and scaling a category-defining model requires continual monitoring, measuring, and adapting based on results. With a long-time commitment to research and impact, Papa has a growing body of evidence—both in numbers and in smiles—that shows companion care’s clear value. View our impact data below.

Reduced healthcare costs

Papa reduces healthcare costs across populations. The higher the need, the greater the impact.

Medicare Advantage (MA)¹

-9%

reduction in medical costs

Socially isolated MA²

-19%

reduction in total cost of care

High-risk Medicaid³

-33%

reduction in total cost of care

MA high Papa utilizers¹

-30%

reduction in medical costs for MA members who average more than 3 Papa visits/month

Improved healthcare utilization

Reduced costs for our members are driven by favorable changes in healthcare utilization. This includes fewer emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, a boost in primary and preventive care measures, and more informed use of healthcare services.

ED usage¹

-34%

fewer ED high-utilizers (members with 4+ ED visits during the intervention year) among Papa MA members, compared to a matched cohort of non-Papa members

Hospital admissions²

-18%

reduction in inpatient hospital admissions among MA members

Skilled nursing facility use²

-22%

reduction in skilled nursing facility use among MA members

Primary care visits³

+19%

increase in primary care visits among socially isolated MA members

Cancer screening rates⁴

+5.4%

increase in breast cancer screening rates among Papa MA members, compared to a matched cohort of non-Papa members

Chronic conditions care gap closure⁵

+6%

higher composite care gap compliance rate among rural MA members when compared to a matched control group

Improved member outcomes & experience

Improving healthcare utilization is just one way Papa delivers value for our members and partners. Our model reduces loneliness and social isolation, while improving quality of life and overall member experience.

Less loneliness¹

69%

of chronically ill MA members reported a significant reduction in loneliness and 39% reported being no longer lonely at all in a randomized controlled study

Fewer unhealthy days¹

-4.5

fewer physically unhealthy days reported by chronically ill MA members in a randomized controlled study

Reduced member churn²

-15.8%

lower churn rate (members who voluntarily left their health plan) among MA members

High satisfaction

4.8

out of 5 is the average rating members give their Papa Pals

Resources

The Proven Impact of Companion Care

See how Papa’s companion care model reduces medical costs, improves healthcare utilization, and advances important healthcare actions in a series of studies across populations.

ResearchEconomic OutcomesClinical Outcomes

The Cost of Unhealthy Days: A New Value Assessment

Papa study using the CDC’s Healthy Days Measure supports using unhealthy days as a tool for calculating cost implications of SDoH interventions.

ResearchEconomic Outcomes

Papa’s State of Social Health Report

Findings from one of the largest studies on loneliness help fill knowledge gaps about social health among older adults and underserved populations.

ResearchUnmet Needs