Greater Memphis Chamber, YMCA, WeCare tlc partner to open health centers in Memphis in 2024

| August 8, 2023

Health centers will expand access to affordable primary care for businesses, individuals

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023) – Greater Memphis Chamber subsidiary Chamber Benefits, Inc., the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, and WeCare tlc today announced a new partnership to open primary care health centers at YMCA locations across Greater Memphis starting in 2024.

The partners are in the process of determining which YMCA locations will house the first three ChamberCare Health Centers, but target markets are Whitehaven, Downtown, and Cordova. Businesses of all sizes can enroll their employees in the program for $40 per month per employee, which will allow them to offer employee health care at a more affordable cost. Similarly, individuals can also enroll for $40 per month. Dependents are included at no extra charge.

For more information or to sign up, visit https://wecaretlc.com/wecare-tlc-memphis.

“This is a partnership united by its love of Memphis and desire to see greater access to primary care throughout our community,” said Ted Townsend, president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. “ChamberCare Health Centers are designed to improve not only the health of our community but of our economy. Enrolling in this program will help small businesses, which create two out of every three jobs, provide their employees with exceptional benefits at low costs in a highly competitive jobs market.”

After opening the first two health centers, the partners plan to open a new health center in or near a different local YMCA for every 2,000 lives enrolled in the program, including dependents.

“At the Y, strengthening community is our cause,” said Jerry Martin, president and CEO of YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South. “This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission to support programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Providing access to quality healthcare, especially in areas with fewer options, enables us to broaden our services to continue to help families and individuals thrive on their journey to wellness.”

The ChamberCare Health Centers will be operated by WeCare tlc, a nationally recognized and Tennessee-certified Woman Business Enterprise that operates health centers across the nation. Each of the approximately 2,500-square-foot centers will have full-time staffs, including primary care physicians and health coaches.

“WeCare tlc delivers proactive primary care solutions that prevent and manage costly conditions, while allowing our clients to provide an exceptional benefit to attract and retain top talent,” said Raegan Le Douaron, president and CEO of WeCare tlc. “Primary care can address an estimated 95% of health issues, making this an affordable, equitable solution for potentially tens of thousands of Memphians.”

Chamber Benefits, Inc. (CBI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chamber dedicated to providing the highest quality, most cost-effective employee benefit products to Memphis businesses, will help promote and administer the ChamberCare clinics.

About the Greater Memphis Chamber: One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to relentlessly pursue prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers. For more information about the Chamber, visit memphischamber.com and memphismoves.com. Also, follow the Chamber on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for its weekly newsletter, Memphis Fourword.

About the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South: The YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South is one of the area’s largest nonprofits focused on engaging individuals and families in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With 11 full-service facilities and 100+ program sites, the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South spans from the Greater Memphis area to include Jackson, Trenton, and Milan in West Tennessee, down to DeSoto County and Oxford in MS. The Y is dedicated to helping people achieve goals, make friends, and find a true sense of belonging. Centers offer quality time for families to be together, resources for parents, and a variety of opportunities for seniors to be active. The YMCA ensures these opportunities are available to everyone no matter their ability to pay with generous support from community partners and donors. For more information about the Y, visit ymcamemphis.org

About WeCare tlc: WeCare tlc is a leader in onsite and near-site advanced primary care healthcare centers for employers. The company is on a mission to change how healthcare is delivered in the United States by disrupting the care delivery model. Its health centers are available to individual employers or can be created through a cooperative effort of multiple companies. Healthcare services include primary care, chronic care management, laboratory testing, medication dispensing, and negotiation for outpatient procedures. WeCare tlc has developed systems that streamline claims data, which is coupled with health center data to clarify how healthcare dollars are spent. The company has adopted best practices to mitigate medical risks. WeCare tlc has saved clients more than $420 million in claim costs, reduced healthcare costs by 20 percent, and reduced urgent care visits by 50 percent. The company was founded in 2005 in Lake Mary, Fla., and now has more than 200 employees nationwide. For more information, visit https://www.wecaretlc.com or call us at 1-800-941-0644.