Our Mission
Carebridge of Michigan sustains and strengthens Private Practice Primary Care Physicians in Michigan by providing expert consulting and support services. Our mission is to ensure practices remain viable, delivering high-quality, cost-effective healthcare to their communities.
About Us
Carebridge of Michigan is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining and strengthening independent private practice primary care across the state. We work directly with physicians, practices, and future primary care leaders to ensure Michigan communities continue to have access to the personal, value-based care only independent primary care can provide.
Our focus is simple and essential: help practices remain independent, stable, and prepared for the future—while guiding the next generation of physicians into long-term, fulfilling careers in private practice.
About Us
Carebridge of Michigan is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining and strengthening independent primary care across Michigan.
We provide Private Practice Primary Care Physicians (PPPCPs) with strategic consulting services, operational support, and succession planning to support long-term practice stability. By supporting both established physicians and the next generation of PPPCPs, we help practices remain independent, financially viable, and connected to the communities they serve.
Our History
In 2014, Carebridge was founded to help Michigan’s Physician Organizations (POs) take part in the Michigan Primary Care Transformation (MiPCT) Project. MiPCT was one of the largest and longest-running efforts in the country to improve how primary care is delivered.
The project focused on strengthening Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) by placing care managers in primary care practices. These care managers worked directly with patients to improve care coordination, manage chronic conditions, and address social and behavioral health needs—leading to better outcomes and lower costs.
As the largest participating MiPCT entity, Carebridge supported 80 practices across 8 physician organizations and played a key role in helping practices improve performance and patient care at the population level.
Our History
In 2014, Carebridge was founded to help Michigan’s Physician Organizations (POs) take part in the Michigan Primary Care Transformation (MiPCT) Project. MiPCT was one of the largest and longest-running efforts in the country to improve how primary care is delivered.
The project focused on strengthening Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) by placing care managers in primary care practices. These care managers worked directly with patients to improve care coordination, manage chronic conditions, and address social and behavioral health needs—leading to better outcomes and lower costs.
As the largest participating MiPCT entity, Carebridge supported 80 practices across 8 physician organizations and played a key role in helping practices improve performance and patient care at the population level.
Our Evolution
When federal funding for MiPCT ended, the Carebridge Board of Directors identified a new and pressing challenge: ensuring the long-term sustainability of Michigan’s independent primary care practices.
In response, Carebridge expanded its focus and became Carebridge of Michigan, strengthening its commitment to preserving private practice primary care. Today, we support leadership transitions, stabilize operations, and prepare the next generation of physicians to carry these vital practices forward—helping ensure that communities across Michigan continue to have access to high-quality, relationship-based care.
Our Evolution
When federal funding for MiPCT ended, the Carebridge Board of Directors identified a new and pressing challenge: ensuring the long-term sustainability of Michigan’s independent primary care practices.
In response, Carebridge expanded its focus and became Carebridge of Michigan, strengthening its commitment to preserving private practice primary care. Today, we support leadership transitions, stabilize operations, and prepare the next generation of physicians to carry these vital practices forward—helping ensure that communities across Michigan continue to have access to high-quality, relationship-based care.
Our Impact
Improving Access to Care
Many communities rely on independent primary care as their main source of healthcare. Carebridge helps keep these practices strong so patients—especially in rural or underserved areas—can continue to see a doctor close to home and get care when they need it.
Promoting Fair and Equitable Care
Independent practices serve a wide range of patients, including those who face barriers to care. By supporting these practices, Carebridge helps make sure everyone has a fair chance to receive quality primary care, no matter where they live or what challenges they face.
Growing the Primary Care Workforce
Michigan needs more primary care physicians. Carebridge helps practices recruit new doctors, supports early-career physicians, and ensures retiring doctors can transition their patients responsibly. This strengthens the future of primary care and reduces gaps in care.
Lowering Healthcare Costs and Supporting Communities
Independent practices deliver high-quality care at a lower cost than hospital-owned clinics. By helping these practices stay independent, Carebridge reduces overall healthcare spending and supports local jobs, local businesses, and the economic well-being of communities across Michigan.
Why Independent Primary Care Needs Support
Independent private practice primary care is essential to community health—but it is increasingly difficult for practices to remain independent without targeted support. Across Michigan, physicians are facing a combination of pressures that threaten the long-term stability of their practices and risk patients’ access to continuous, patient-centered care.
Workforce
Gaps
Workforce shortages, limited recruitment pipelines, and rapidly approaching retirements of senior physicians–often without identified successors–leave many practices without the stability and leadership needed to continue serving their communities.
Financial
Pressures
Independent practices face rising costs and lower reimbursement rates, making it difficult to remain financially stable—especially when competing with large health systems. These financial constraints also make it challenging to absorb the significant recruitment and onboarding costs required to bring a new physician into the practice.
Administrative Overload
Billing, compliance, and day-to-day management responsibilities place substantial operational demands on independent practices and already contribute to physician burnout. As a result, practices often have limited capacity to take on the additional administrative work required to recruit and onboard a new physician.
Limited Growth Resources
Most independent practices lack the funding and infrastructure needed to modernize and strengthen their operations. Without investments in technology, facility updates, staffing, or process improvements, practices struggle to present competitive, attractive opportunities for new physician recruits—putting them at a disadvantage compared to larger healthcare organizations.
Our Evolution
When federal funding for MiPCT ended, the Carebridge Board of Directors identified a new and pressing challenge: ensuring the long-term sustainability of Michigan’s independent primary care practices.
In response, Carebridge expanded its focus and became Carebridge of Michigan, strengthening its commitment to preserving private practice primary care. Today, we support leadership transitions, stabilize operations, and prepare the next generation of physicians to carry these vital practices forward—helping ensure that communities across Michigan continue to have access to high-quality, relationship-based care.
What happens if practices close?
Personalized Care Disappears
Patients lose trusted doctors and are absorbed into large, impersonal health systems.
Less Access to Care for Patients
In many rural or underserved areas, these practices are the only healthcare option. When they close, care disappears for that community.
ER and Urgent Care Overflow
Without regular checkups, people miss early warnings and end up in the hospital with preventable issues.
Delays
Seeing Specialists
Primary care physicians connect you to specialists—without them, important treatments are delayed.
Local Economies Suffer
These practices support jobs, pharmacies, and small businesses—closures weaken the entire community.
Board of Directors
Dr. Robert Jackson, MD, MMM
President
Paul MacLellan
Treasurer
Benjamin Louagie
Secretary