NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As employers and universities search for ways to improve access to healthcare while controlling rising costs, a Birmingham-based company is offering a new model centered on prevention, accessibility, and whole-person wellness.
LLH Healthcare, also known as Live Life Healthy, is expanding into Tennessee through a partnership with Vanderbilt University, marking its first collegiate collaboration in the state. The partnership was officially introduced during a Vanderbilt’s basketball game on Saturday, January 17.
“What we’re trying to do is impact peoples households and lives by giving them needed benefits that they may not otherwise be able to pay for,” said Business Development Manager Brett Reeder.
At the core of LLH’s model is preventative medicine, a concept emphasized by the Affordable Care Act but often difficult to implement in traditional healthcare systems.
“We’re trying to do is decrease barriers and cost to provide impactful services like nutrition and human performance coaching.” Reeder said. “These are things that not only are there when you have a cold or you need a prescription filled, but help you build and create a healthier lifestyle so that you’re not as susceptible to having major medical issues.”
LLH offers a suite of virtual services through its app, allowing faster access to care and eliminating common cost barriers.
“The average wait time in America for a first time in person mental health service is 63 days,” Brett said. “We are able to help get someone seen in a mental health capacity within 48 hours,” Reeder added as they continue to decrease barriers that ultimately raise prices for ongoing care that is preventable.
Many services are offered at no out-of-pocket cost to employees who sign up.
“No co-pay, no deductible and unlimited usage as long as they are participating in their own health,” he said.
The partnership with athletic departments is intentional. According to LLH, universities serve as a natural extension of community health leadership.
“They are a symbol of health, if you will,” Brett said. “They reach out to the public in their community, their donors, their sponsors, and if they use the services then it helps support that athletic department and their mission” Reeder said. “It also helps to better their community too.”
The model began in Alabama, where LLH partnered with the University of Alabama before expanding rapidly.
LLH Healthcare CEO Zach Rogers says that this new step into Nashville was an important one that had been on the company’s radar for a while.
“Vanderbilt has an amazing reputation both on and off the field, and we’re partnering not only with the university, but its existing partners and alumni to help bring these benefits to the Nashville and greater Nashville area,” Rogers said.
“They adopted it and from there we were up to about 10 universities within two athletic conferences,” he said. “They just love the model and love what we stand for,” Brett added.
LLH tracks participation and outcomes through its app, allowing employers to see how benefits are being used, and where gaps exist.
“The app gives them a suite of virtual services and so we can monitor that usage,” Brett explained. “We can better serve that company by highlighting things that may not be used.”
The company also partners with Quest and LabCorp to provide zero co-pay lab testing for entire households.
“Now we can assess if there is anything underlining that they need to address as far as their healthcare,” Brett said. “Then from there, we provide the things to help sustain them and get them healthier.”
Beyond medical care, LLH integrates nutrition planning, financial coaching, stress management and so much more.
“We coordinate all of that for them, not just try to medicate the problem,” Brett said. “We give them resources to let them make healthy decisions when it comes to life.”
Zach Rogers, LLH Healthcare CEO, hopes to focus on comprehensive, no-cost healthcare benefits, strategic community partnerships, and innovative approaches to supporting student athletes through NIL opportunities.
“We’re able to connect student athletes not only to ourselves, but a wide variety of businesses where they can gain real world business experience and access some NIL dollars as well in the process,” he added.
LLH operates on a business-to-business model, with employers enrolling employees automatically to reduce administrative burden.
“We handle all of the employee education,” Brett said. “Helping them use the benefits and showing them how to use their urgent care services.”
The approach also supports employee retention, which Brett says is an ongoing issue employers are facing.
“We are here to give them another hand to keep a healthier, happier and sustainable workforce,” he added.
Vanderbilt’s partnership with LLH was announced during halftime at the Commodores’ SEC matchup against Florida in late January.
For LLH, the goal goes beyond insurance.
“We’re trying to create wellness within the community which helps empower people to be able to take control their own health,” Reeder said.
As the company expands further into Tennessee and beyond, its partnership with Vanderbilt marks a significant step in reshaping how preventative healthcare is delivered, not just to athletes or employees, but to entire households and communities.
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