HOPCo Expands in Connecticut

Phoenix, Arizona-based Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo) has just closed its second significant transaction of 2023 and, since its founding in 2005, has partnered with or acquired a significant number of musculoskeletal care practices.

HOPCo is now one of the largest musculoskeletal care providers in the United States with more than 1,100 care providers in 30 U.S. locations.

It’s most recent transaction is a partnership with OrthoConnecticut, one of the largest musculoskeletal multi-specialty practices in Connecticut with 48 musculoskeletal providers and 9 locations. It was created from the merger of Coastal Orthopedics, Danbury Orthopedics, New Milford Orthopedics, and Connecticut Pain Care.

OrthoConnecticut President Michael Brand explained, “Our intention to join forces and become OrthoConnecticut was always to combine best practices so as to provide the best possible outcomes and experience for our patients.”

Dr. Brand continued, “Now that we have consolidated into one platform, we knew we would benefit from an experienced partner that could provide a proven infrastructure for continued growth and accelerated market transformation. We witnessed how HOPCo helped enhance practices similar to ours with the value they bring, so we knew they were the best choice as a partner.”

HOPCo is a leading healthcare management company. Its strategic objective is to partner or acquire orthopedic or spine practices and give them access to “HOPCo’s proprietary suite of MSK Service Line Transformation offerings.”

According to the company, HOPCo “develops and manages highly successful MSK value-based care models, including full MSK population health programs that have proven to improve outcomes and access for patients while dramatically lowering the total cost of MSK care.”

Just a couple months before announcing the OrthoConnecticut partnership, HOPCo acquired Florida-based Institute for Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine.

HOPCo President and Chief Transformation Officer Wael Barsoum, M.D. discussed the partnership. Dr. Barsoum stated, “OrthoConnecticut is a shining example of a practice that is leading the transition to value-based care in their market.”

Dr. Barsoum continued, “Their decision to become OrthoConnecticut signaled to the community their commitment to expanding access to excellent care. Now that they have partnered with HOPCo, we aim to help them accelerate their growth, improve outcomes and reduce costs for patients and payors while still providing unparalleled patient access and personalized care.”

Jason Scalise, M.D., Chief Growth Officer at HOPCo, spoke to OTW about HOPCo’s continued growth. Dr. Scalise elaborated, “HOPCo has seen tremendous growth both nationally and internationally. In just the last few years alone, we have completed dozens of acquisitions and partnerships in various areas, including MSK physician practices, hospital service lines, ambulatory surgical facilities and specialty hospitals, clinically integrated and value-based care networks and innovative technology platform acquisitions.”

Dr. Scalise continued, “HOPCo has partnerships in over 30 states and includes over 1,100 MSK providers across more than 100 office locations. Each provider shares HOPCo’s mission and vision of transformative practice growth and to lead MSK value-based care efforts for their region.”

What’s next for HOPCo? According to Dr. Scalise, “We expect to see continued growth in 2024 and already have several partnerships we will announce in the coming months. These new partnerships will expand our platforms in current markets and also add new markets to the HOPCo footprint.”