Wider Circle joins with Highmark Wholecare to launch peer-led community health program

— Neighbor-to-Neighbor Model Aims to Improve Health Outcomes for Medicaid Members

PITTSBURG (August 31, 2026) — Wider Circle, a company focused on building communities to improve health and quality of life through trusted connections, recently joined with Highmark Wholecare to launch a proven peer-led, community-based health program for its Medicaid members.

The initiative launched Aug. 3 in six counties in the Lehigh-Capital and Southwestern regions of the Commonwealth — Beaver, Lancaster, Lehigh, Washington, Westmoreland and York. Approximately 5,000 Highmark Wholecare members are expected to be supported by the program.

At the heart of the program is Wider Circle's proven peer-led model, Connect for Life®, which is powered by people and enabled by technology. Connect for Life links members to their neighbors through facilitation by community health professionals to enhance adherence to preventive and primary care services and improve long-term health outcomes.

The company recruits and trains trusted members of the community to lead engagement efforts in neighborhoods, connecting members effectively, and identifying those most at risk of disengagement or preventable health events. This approach has demonstrated measurable results nationally, including higher adherence to care plans and retention rates, along with a reduction in hospital stays and the total cost of care. Wider Circle currently operates Connect for Life in 14 states.

Wider Circle will be supporting Pennsylvanians as they navigate the health care system, address health-related social needs, and connect with the preventive and primary care services they need before a health issue becomes a crisis.

“Technology will play an increasingly important role in the next generation of health care, helping us identify needs earlier, coordinate care more effectively, improve affordability, and reach members in new ways,” said Victor Fields, president, Highmark Wholecare. “But real change still happens through human connection. Through our work with Wider Circle, we are investing in trusted, person-to-person relationships that help members feel seen, supported, and empowered to take charge of their health. By combining innovation with meaningful human interaction, we can deliver better outcomes for the communities and the people we serve.”

“Our model is built on a simple but powerful belief that health starts with trust, and that trusted local leaders are the most effective force for connecting people to the care they need,” said Brett Zelkind, Chief Business Officer, Wider Circle. “This expansion reflects not only the strength of our relationship with Highmark, but the growing recognition that community-based care is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve health outcomes at scale.”

The Pennsylvania expansion comes on the heels of a successful launch of Connect for Life with Highmark Health Options West Virginia, which has seen strong initial results.