Better Together: A lesson in integrated health care

March 11, 2025

From a young age, Dr. Charles Bloom demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership through his aspiration to become a teacher and coach. “I really liked the idea of bringing people together towards a common goal,” he said. His mother was a teacher and through her, Bloom was inspired to follow a similar career path. However, it was not until his undergraduate studies at Michigan State that he considered changing course to pursue a career in medicine instead.

“My brother-in-law had a couple of contacts, two of which happened to be physicians at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing,” said Bloom. “One of them, who later became my mentor, convinced me to shadow him for a couple hours in the ER. That was the moment I realized I was all in on a career in medicine.”

Bloom was subsequently accepted into MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Although he had other opportunities, Bloom was set on remaining at MSU for medical school. “I grew up in an MSU household. Both of my parents are alums, as well as my two other siblings. I spent a lof of my childhood going to athletic events, especially football games. I also met my wife on campus. It was a no-brainer to stay within that community.”

The core competencies he cultivated at Michigan State propelled him through a successful residency in emergency medicine at Botsford General Hospital, part of the MSU Residency Consortium, eventually establishing his career as a clinician. For sixteen years, Bloom served in many clinical leader roles, including chairperson in emergency medicine, before transitioning to health insurance.

Currently, as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Health Alliance Plan (HAP) in Troy, Michigan, Bloom’s focus has shifted from direct patient care to eliminating barriers to health care access, advocating for HAP members and strengthening relationships between payer and providers throughout the care continuum.

Bloom has a unique perspective, having gained invaluable experience on both the provider and payer side of the system. “As the clinical leader at HAP and part of an integrated system with Henry Ford Health, we aim to merge the worlds of payers and providers to achieve optimal health outcomes,” he said. While fiduciary responsibility remains critical in the insurance industry, he emphasizes that clinicians’ primary goal is to enhance patient experiences and ensure the best possible results.

“If we break down the idiosyncrasies of our health care system, we all ultimately want the same thing for our members and patients,” Bloom stated. “A priority for us at HAP is partnering with providers to achieve value for our members. To me, that will not change this year or ten years from now. Our members are at the center of what we do. It’s why we come to work each and every day.”

Bloom says one way to introduce the advantages of an integrated care system is by expanding the option to more Michiganders. Bloom is hopeful that promoting the benefits of insurance plans and healthcare providers working together will encourage other insurers to act similarly. “We can create competition within the health insurance market and challenge other plans to consider a more integrated approach,” he said.

HAP has also expanded their offerings, partnering with MSU Health Care to on plans designed with low out of pocket costs and benefits not often included in traditional health insurance plans such as dental, vision, hearing and a flex card for health-related expenses.

As for partnering with his alma mater, Bloom couldn’t be happier. “It feels a bit like a homecoming,” he said. “I have come full circle, from my early years as a student to now, partnering with the university as a clinical leader at HAP.”

Contributing Writer(s): Hannah Curtis