Highmark Health Options celebrates 10 years of transformative community impact

Wilmington, Del. (June 25, 2025) — Highmark Health Options (HHO) marked its 10-year anniversary by staying true to its mission — hosting a free Community Health and Wellness event at the Milford location of the Food Bank of Delaware. The celebration brought together HHO members, leading community and nonprofit organizations, care coordinators, and families from across the state for a day of service, connection, and care.

Highmark Health Options began operations in 2015 with 100 Delaware-based employees. At the time, it was the only Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) serving children. The organization invested heavily in high-impact, locally tailored programs designed to improve health outcomes and address underlying health related social needs like food and housing insecurity. Health related social needs, or social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, account for up to 80% of a person’s health.

Today, the organization is the largest MCO in the state, serving nearly 120,000 members, many with complex health care challenges and socioeconomic limitations. Highmark Health Options employs more than 300 Delawareans — building a statewide workforce rooted in trust, consistency, and community-based care.

“We didn’t just build a health plan — we built a Delaware-grown workforce, and a hands-on model of care rooted in compassion and community,” said Todd Graham, president, Highmark Health Options. “Ten years in, we’re not slowing down. We’re evolving, expanding, and staying deeply committed to delivering holistic, measurable impact for our members — while strengthening nonprofits and the communities they serve.”

That measurable impact includes ranking in the 95th percentile nationally for prenatal and postpartum visit adherence — key indicators of maternal and infant health in Medicaid populations. Highmark Health Options also recently launched an annual Health Equity Fund to invest in local community organizations and nonprofits driving solutions across the state. A recent campaign with Wilmington-based Network Connect helped more than 25,000 Delawareans retain Medicaid coverage following the 2023-2024 redetermination period — contributing to one of the lowest procedural disenrollment rates in the nation, 10 percentage points below the national average, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The 10-year anniversary event, co-hosted with organizations including Network Connect and I Support the Girls, featured free health screenings, nutritious food giveaway, a clothing pantry, educational resources, and youth activities — underscoring HHO’s belief that real healthcare starts in the community where people live and gather.

Highmark Heath Options has also taken a leading role in aligning health care with the state’s “Food is Medicine” initiative, expanding access to nutrition-based interventions like medically tailored meals for members managing chronic conditions.

As HHO enters its second decade, it remains committed to delivering care that’s not only effective, but deeply human — meeting people where they are and honoring the dignity of every member it serves.