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§ Private Profile · Boston, MA, USA
Healthcare logistics company that developed a HIPAA-compliant digital platform connecting patients, providers, and transportation for NEMT.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Circulation was a healthcare logistics company that developed a HIPAA-compliant digital platform specifically designed for non-emergency medical transportation. The enterprise software connected patients and healthcare providers directly with third-party transportation networks, including commercial rideshare services and specialized accessible vehicle fleets operating across the United States. By coordinating these logistics, the platform aimed to reduce appointment no-shows, improve patient access to medical care, and generate operational efficiencies for health insurance plans and clinical facilities. In September 2018, the independent company was acquired by LogistiCare, a major non-emergency medical transportation broker that subsequently rebranded its corporate operations as Modivcare. Following the transaction, the startup's proprietary routing technology and digital infrastructure were fully integrated into Modivcare's broader national healthcare services portfolio to manage ongoing patient transit. Circulation was originally founded in 2016.
Circulation has raised $11.0M across 1 funding round.
Circulation has raised $11.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Circulation has raised $11.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $11.0M Series A in July 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2017 | $11M Series A | — | Flare Capital Partners, Flybridge, Boston Children's Hospital, Echo Health Ventures, Humana, Intermountain Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, James Lindstrom | Announced |
Circulation has raised $11.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Circulation's investors include Flare Capital Partners, Flybridge, Boston Children's Hospital, Echo Health Ventures, Humana, Intermountain Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners, James Lindstrom.
Circulation, Inc. is a Boston-based technology company founded in 2016 that builds a HIPAA-compliant digital platform for managing non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) in healthcare. It serves healthcare facilities, payers, case managers, caregivers, and patients across 45 states, solving the critical problem of transportation barriers that cause millions of missed medical appointments annually—estimated at 3.6 million Americans, including nearly one million children. The platform automates ride scheduling, trip assignment, fraud detection, and integration of transport options like outsourced fleets or rideshares (e.g., Uber), improving efficiency, patient satisfaction, reliability, and cost savings while enhancing health outcomes.[1][2][4]
Acquired by LogistiCare (now part of Modivcare) in September 2019, Circulation expanded LogistiCare's capabilities to serve a broader mix of Medicaid/Medicare-focused state agencies, managed care organizations (MCOs), and 3,000+ facilities, contributing to managing over 65 million trips yearly with a 99% complaint-free rate.[1][2]
Circulation was founded in 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts, by co-founders including John Brownstein, Ph.D., a prominent health informatics expert. The idea emerged from recognizing the outdated, fragmented traditional healthcare transportation model, where rides critically bookend patient experiences but often fail due to inefficiency and lack of customization. Early traction came via pilots at major institutions like Boston Children’s Hospital, Mercy Health System in Pennsylvania, and Nemours Children’s Health System in Delaware, with plans for rapid expansion across six more states in 2016. A pivotal moment was its integration with Uber's API, creating a patient-centric portal that customizes rides around healthcare needs.[2][4]
This human-centered approach quickly gained validation from healthcare leaders, such as Mercy Health's CEO praising its seamless system integration for coordinators. The 2019 acquisition by LogistiCare marked a major milestone, merging Circulation's tech with the nation's largest NEMT manager under Providence Service Corporation (Nasdaq: PRSC).[1][2]
Circulation stands out in NEMT through these key strengths:
Circulation rides the digital health logistics wave, addressing NEMT—a $10B+ U.S. market fragmented by outdated models amid rising telehealth, value-based care, and post-pandemic access demands. Timing is ideal as transportation barriers exacerbate no-show rates (up to 25% in some systems), inflating costs and worsening outcomes; regulations like HIPAA and payer shifts to MCOs favor tech-enabled solutions.[1][4]
Market forces like Uber/ride-share APIs, AI-driven scheduling, and healthcare consolidation (e.g., Modivcare's scale) propel it. Circulation influences the ecosystem by setting standards for integrated, patient-first platforms, enabling hospitals to orchestrate rides into care journeys and reducing barriers for vulnerable populations—paving the way for broader health tech adoption.[2][4]
Post-acquisition, Circulation's platform will likely deepen Modivcare integrations, expanding AI fraud detection, predictive analytics, and multimodal transport (e.g., more rideshares, autonomous options). Trends like aging populations, Medicaid redetermination, and personalized medicine will amplify NEMT demand, positioning it for growth in a market projected to exceed $20B by 2030.
Its influence may evolve toward ecosystem orchestration, powering nationwide hubs that blend logistics with outcomes data—ultimately making transportation invisible, so patients focus on care. This transforms Circulation from barrier-breaker to health access enabler, echoing its founding mission.