How a Texas healthcare company cracked the code on rising employer healthcare costs

Business Journals

3 hours ago

At a time when most employers are bracing for double-digit increases in healthcare spending, one Texas-based company has taken a different path, quietly sidestepping the crisis and helping others do the same.
Next Level, the name behind Texas' ubiquitous urgent care clinics, isn't just in the business of treating colds and sprains. With just over 800 employees of its own, the company faced the same challenge plaguing businesses across the country: how to offer meaningful, accessible healthcare benefits without going bankrupt.
'Claims were up 30 percent year over year, and pharmacy spend was climbing faster than ever,' said Juliet Breeze, MD, CEO and Founder of Next Level. 'Like everyone else, we were staring down a future where doing right by our people meant unsustainable costs.'
But rather than pass the cost on to employees or trim benefits, Breeze and her team decided to rethink the model altogether. The result was Next Level Prime, a healthcare benefits program built on the principles of direct primary care (DPC), layered with wraparound services aimed at improving access, reducing chronic disease risk, and lowering total cost of care.
What started as an internal solution for Next Level's workforce has since become a fast-growing option for other Texas employers looking for a better way. In 2024 alone, organizations using Next Level Prime saved a combined $26 million in healthcare claims, proof that a more proactive, prevention-first model doesn't just sound good – it works.
A Smarter Front Door to Healthcare
At the core of Next Level Prime is the belief that early, convenient access to care changes everything. Rather than waiting until health issues spiral into costly emergencies, members can walk into any Next Level clinic (open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week), access telemedicine 24/7, and receive care that emphasizes prevention and chronic disease management.
One of the biggest impacts? Emergency room avoidance. In 2024, over 7,100 Prime members reported that without access to the program, they would have sought care at the ER. Those avoided visits alone accounted for $19.5 million of the total savings.
'The best way to save money on healthcare is to keep people healthy and out of hospitals in the first place,' said Breeze.
That philosophy extends beyond urgent care and into proactive, lifestyle-based interventions. Recognizing that obesity is a key contributor to chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, Next Level integrated a comprehensive weight management program into its Prime offering. The program includes personalized coaching, regular monitoring, and access to effective, affordable medications for eligible members. While nationally about 33% of health plan members now use high-cost, brand-name medications for weight loss and diabetes, fewer than 1% Next Level's health plan members do. It's not because they're going without care, but because they're using Next Level's in-house alternative instead. At an employer cost of just $189 per month, the program delivers the same therapeutic benefit at a fraction of the typical $1,140 monthly cost of brand-name drugs. Employers avoid skyrocketing pharmacy bills, and employees get meaningful support without the co-pay.
A Growing Community of Savvy Employers
Next Level isn't alone in its desire to fix a broken system. As more employers push their benefits consultants to explore nontraditional options, word about Next Level Prime is spreading. Today, the program serves more than 360 employers and boasts a 97% retention rate.
'Employers are done accepting the status quo,' said Breeze. 'They're asking tougher questions. They want to know what else is out there, and they want solutions that are proven, not just theoretical.'
Next Level works both directly with employers as well as through brokers, making it easy to customize the program based on each company's needs. The goal is to ensure employers have access to innovative solutions like Prime, whether they come through a trusted advisor or explore it on their own.
More Than a Benefit—A Retention Tool
The ripple effects of Prime go beyond dollars and cents. Healthier employees are less likely to miss work, more likely to stay with their employers, and more engaged when they're on the job. With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) over 90, the program is proving to be as popular with employees as it is with finance teams.
'When healthcare is easy to access, judgment-free, and actually helps people feel better, it changes everything,' said Breeze.
And in an era of rising healthcare costs and growing burnout, that kind of change isn't just welcome, it's essential.
Click here to learn more about Next Level Prime.
Next Level is a physician-founded healthcare organization providing high-quality, affordable care across more than 45 clinics throughout Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Beaumont. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Next Level is committed to transforming the healthcare experience through speed, convenience, and compassion. In addition to urgent and primary care services, the organization partners with employers through its innovative Next Level PRIME program, a direct primary care and urgent care solution that offers employees and their families unlimited in-clinic and virtual visits with no copays or deductibles. Employers benefit from significant reductions in emergency room visits, increased productivity, and improved staff retention. Next Level also provides customized onsite clinics and occupational medicine programs designed to streamline workplace injury care and enhance overall employee health. As a trusted healthcare partner for businesses, schools, and municipalities, Next Level Urgent Care continues to set the standard for accessible, value-driven medical care in Texas.