Curative and Vytalize Health finalize network agreement, expanding hassle-free, $0-Copay healthcare access in the Northeast. Aug 17, 2026, 12:11 ET AUSTIN, Texas and HOBOKEN, N.J., Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Curative, a leading health insurance provider known for its disruptive $0-deductible, $0-copay plans, and Vytalize Health, a premier risk-bearing provider enablement platform, today announced the finalization of a major network contract. Under the newly finalized agreement, all primary care physicians within the vast Vytalize Health network - including those affiliated with the Independent Practice Association of New York Inc. (IPANY) - will be officially included in the Curative provider network, dramatically scaling up healthcare access for members. The partnership brings together organizations explicitly aligned on removing administrative friction and lowering the financial barriers that traditionally prevent patients from seeking timely medical care. "We are incredibly excited to contract with a progressive health plan like Curative," said Michael Ruiz, Northeast President at Vytalize Health. "Curative is fundamentally focusing on helping members access the right care, rather than putting up roadblocks to prevent care. Because their model eliminates financial burdens for members - offering zero copays, zero deductibles, and no out-of-pocket costs - our physicians don't have to worry about the administrative headache of collecting money from their patients. Instead, they can focus entirely on what matters most: providing the high-quality care that their patients truly need." "Welcoming Vytalize Health and its extensive network of independent physicians into the Curative provider network marks a significant milestone as we continue expanding our national footprint," said David Van Houtte, Vice President of Network at Curative. "As the leader responsible for our Northeast network strategy, I'm especially excited to strengthen our presence across New York and the broader tri-state region through this partnership. Vytalize Health has built a highly respected physician network that shares our commitment to delivering high-quality, value-based care. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible by removing financial barriers for patients while reducing administrative complexity for physicians. Vytalize Health and IPANY exemplify the innovative, patient-centered organizations that are helping us build the future of healthcare." By integrating Vytalize Health's extensive clinical footprint into Curative's revolutionary insurance structure, the agreement ensures that patients can seek essential medical attention without fear of surprise billing, while doctors are empowered to prioritize clinical outcomes over payment collections. About Vytalize Health & IPANY Vytalize Health is the fastest-growing value-based care enablement platform in the United States. The company empowers primary care providers with advanced data analytics, technology, and financial incentives to deliver vastly improved patient outcomes. Vytalize Health supports more than 5,000 primary care providers and shapes the healthcare experiences of over 400,000 patients across 30 states. Vytalize Health's primary affiliate in the Northeast is the Independent Practice Association of New York Inc. (IPANY). As the largest IPA in New York and one of the fastest-growing in the nation, IPANY represents a physician membership base of 3,000 independent physicians dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care while maintaining clinical autonomy. About Curative Curative is an employer-sponsored health insurer built to reduce the cost and complexity that too often stand between members and their care. Members start with $0 copays and deductibles for in-network care and preferred prescriptions from day one. To keep no out-of-pocket costs for the plan year, members complete an annual Baseline Visit within their first 120 days - a one-on-one session with a Curative clinician and Care Navigator that helps members understand their health and make the most of their benefits. While primarily serving employers headquartered in states like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and the Maryland/DC region, Curative provides robust, nationwide network access to its members across the country. Backed by an AM Best rating of A-, Curative transforms health insurance into a strategic advantage for modern employers. Learn more at www.curative.com. SOURCE Curative Services LLC

Texarkana, Texas council proposes flat 65-cent tax rate, cuts 25 positions as health costs jump 45 percent. TEXARKANA, Texas - The Texarkana, Texas City Council on Monday advanced a fiscal year 2027 budget built on a flat 65-cent property tax rate, a 3 percent spending reduction and the elimination of 25 positions through attrition, as city leaders warned that a roughly 45 percent spike in employee health insurance costs is straining the general fund. The council voted unanimously to propose keeping the tax rate at 65 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, the same rate in place today. The vote does not adopt the rate. A public hearing and final vote on both the tax rate and the budget are set for Sept. 14. Health insurance drives budget squeeze. The council approved a new contract with United Healthcare for employee medical and dental coverage effective Oct. 1. Administrative Services Director J.W. Bramlett told the council the city's total medical package will cost an estimated $9.36 million, with the city paying nearly 80 percent, or about $7.38 million. That is an increase of roughly $1.77 million in city contributions over the current year. Employees will pay about $731,000 more. Bramlett said the city conducted a comprehensive request for proposals but received only two medical quotes. Six other carriers declined to bid, and the competing quote from Curative far exceeded United Healthcare's. The city also studied returning to a self-insured model but found that its claims experience over the past 24 months would have made self-insurance about $5.5 million more expensive than current spending. Staff said they will revisit self-insurance at next year's renewal. City Manager David Orr said the health cost increase, combined with state revenue caps, forced difficult choices. Senate Bill 2, passed in 2019, limits annual property tax revenue growth to about 3.5 percent, and voter-approved Proposition 9 raised the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $125,000, costing the city about $600,000 in revenue. "Even though this was a tough year, I do think that these reductions will set up the city for the next several years," Orr said. Three years of cuts planned. Finance staff outlined budget reductions totaling 7 percent by fiscal year 2029: 3 percent in the proposed FY27 budget, followed by 2 percent in each of the next two years. Nearly every department reduced its budget year over year, with the exception of police and fire, which the council prioritized. The overall general fund reduction is about $1.3 million. The budget cuts 25 positions in FY27, with up to 16 more proposed in future years. All reductions have come through attrition, staff said. Chief Financial Officer Kristin Peeples said sales tax, which generates about half of general fund revenue, is essentially flat. Collections through May sales are down 0.74 percent from last year, and FY27 collections are budgeted at $22.3 million with no projected growth. Certified property values came in $25 million lower than the October 2025 tax roll, a 0.64 percent decrease that trims projected net property tax revenue by just over $205,000. Non-civil service employees would receive a 1 percent base salary increase plus longevity pay. Police civil service personnel would receive 2 percent across all grades and steps. Fire department pay is still in collective bargaining. The city plans to issue tax notes generating about $700,000 for major street maintenance and about $20 million in water and sewer revenue bonds, the second of two issuances assumed in the 10-year rate structure the council adopted in 2022. Water rates will rise about 5 percent and sewer rates about 4 percent on Oct. 1 under that plan. At the end of FY27, the city projects total fund balance just under $21.9 million, with $14.9 million unassigned, or 125 days of expenditures. City policy requires 60 days. Waste Management offers to skip 5.16 percent increase for 5-year extension. The council was briefed on a proposed five-year extension of the city's solid waste contract with Waste Management, which expires at the end of February 2027. Ryan Fraser, representing Waste Management, said the company is contractually due a 5.16 percent rate adjustment on Oct. 1 but will forfeit it in exchange for the extension. Residential base rates would stay flat at $31.63 per month, and commercial rates would also hold. Fraser said a rate study found Texarkana businesses pay about $325,000 less than those in neighboring communities. Councilmember Jay Davis pressed the company on the contract's exclusivity for roll-off dumpsters, which the council had asked to be reconsidered during earlier workshops. "It's problematic for me to not consider it," Davis said. Fraser said the roll-off business helps subsidize rates elsewhere in the contract and that removing exclusivity while also withholding the rate increase may not be possible, but he agreed to work with staff over the next 30 days on an alternate proposal. Under the current contract, Waste Management holds exclusivity for hired residential and commercial waste hauling in the city, though contractors and residents may haul debris in equipment they own. New school zone at Parks Elementary. The council adopted an ordinance establishing a 20 mph school zone around Parks Elementary School at 1915 Pine St. and repealing the zones at Paul Lawrence Dunbar Early Education Center and Spring Lake Park Elementary School, which Texarkana ISD has closed. Students from both campuses have relocated to Parks. The new zone covers sections of West 20th Street, Main Street, Pine Street and West 16th Street, generally in effect 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. when school is in session. Councilmember Steve Thompson, whose ward includes the school, said residents had raised concerns about traffic routing and speeding during drop-off and pickup. Traffic staff said they are working with the district on alternative routing and will implement it once the new zones are in place. SWEPCO substation, zoning items advance. In public hearings, the council approved a specific use permit allowing Southwestern Electric Power Co. to rebuild its substation in the 5700 block of Gin Road serving the Richmond Road corridor. A SWEPCO representative said the existing equipment is more than 50 years old and serves the hospital and commercial district. The new substation will be built next to the current one to avoid service interruptions, and the old facility will then be removed. The council also approved permits for a skating rink at 2729 New Boston Road, rezonings and manufactured home permits on Finley Street and at 2506 Liggett Street, a site plan amendment at 1047 Terry St., and the city's 2026 Community Development Block Grant annual action plan. Briefing items set for Sept. 14 votes include a 105-foot cell tower in the 4300 block of Gibson Lane, a permanent cosmetics permit at 6500 Summerhill Road, and an off-premise multi-tenant sign at 3701 New Boston Road requested by developer Kirk Green, who told the council he plans a connector road through his property between New Boston Road and the loop, with a Choice Hotels project in the works and about 11 acres left to develop. The proposed FY27 master fee list, also up for a hearing Sept. 14, includes higher fees across animal services, fire inspections, building inspections, development review and solid waste rates, plus new library fees for 3D printing and other services. Public comment targets Flock cameras, data centers. During open forum, Texarkana resident Brianna Gretline spoke in opposition to the city's Flock Safety license plate reader cameras and to data center development, citing water consumption and environmental effects. Other business. On the consent agenda, the council approved contracts for the Lakeridge Drive sewer main extension ($115,071), North Street water looping ($65,178), Spring Lake Park sewer replacement ($157,538) and West 32nd Street sewer main replacement ($535,199), along with a change order adding an inch of asphalt to the Runway 4-22 extension and overlay project at Texarkana Regional Airport. In his report, Orr highlighted the state's biennial military preparedness report, which credits Red River Army Depot with $1.2 billion in annual economic impact and more than 6,700 jobs, and the 10th anniversary report for the Texarkana Arts and Historic District, which estimates $9.1 million in annual economic impact. The council meets next at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24 for a budget public hearing. The regular September meeting is Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. Council members Betty Page and Christie Matlock were absent Monday for school meet-the-teacher events. Mayor Bob Bruggeman voted on items due to the absences.

Curative raises $150 million Series B funding. * Curative raises $150 million to scale its $0-out-of-pocket health insurance model. * The valuation reaches $1.275 billion. * Funding supports national expansion and AI-powered service upgrades. Curative secures major Series B funding. Curative has raised $150 million in fresh Series B funding. The raise confirms the company's unicorn status at a valuation of $1.275 billion. The company said the investment will accelerate its plan to redesign the structure of employer health insurance in the United States. Curative has positioned itself as an alternative to the traditional BUCA insurers. It has built a health plan that removes financial barriers for members. It uses a $0-out-of-pocket model. Members only need to complete one annual preventative appointment called the Baseline Visit. The company said its model has already produced clear results. Primary care engagement has increased by 20%. Hospitalisations have fallen by 30%. Drug costs have dropped by up to 40%. Curative believes these changes stem from preventative care and early intervention. The company now serves more than 1,200 employer clients. It covers more than 165,000 members. It has reached profitability in under three years. The Series B round was led by the Upside Vision Fund. Justin Mateen also expanded his position. He invested through JAM Fund and in a personal capacity. Other investors include Galaxy Digital, DCVC, and the Duquesne Family Office. Curative said the capital will support regulatory requirements in new states. The company intends to expand throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. It already operates in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. A plan built to remove barriers. Curative said its mission is to remove financial friction from the healthcare system. The company uses a simple model. Members face no co-pays. They face no deductibles. They face no coinsurance. Payments are tied to the completion of one Baseline Visit. This structure shifts the entire benefit design to prevention. It keeps members engaged. It reduces long-term treatment costs. It gives employers a more predictable cost structure. Curative uses AI across its member platform. The company said this technology improves navigation through the healthcare system. It also supports faster responses from service teams. Investors believe this approach is reshaping behaviour. Chris Anderson from Upside Vision Fund said he has not seen another insurer grow at this pace. He said the sector has suffered from misaligned incentives for decades. He described Curative's progress as refreshing. Justin Mateen said the company is solving a problem many believed impossible to fix. He said Curative is rebuilding insurance from first principles. He expects the company to influence the wider market. Curative Cash Card gains momentum. Curative introduced the Curative Cash Card to expand access to $0 care. The card works with over one million providers across the United States. It removes the need for legacy network restrictions. The Cash Card pays providers instantly. It removes administrative delays. It removes the complexity that often leads to surprise medical bills. Curative said this tool has become a core component of its member experience. The company said it has used new capital to improve this product. It aims to expand its integrations across a broader national network. It said the Cash Card will allow members to move freely between high-value providers. Employers and brokers have responded positively. They want predictable pricing. They want transparent claims. They want a plan that improves health outcomes. Curative said its work is timely. Rising costs and dissatisfaction have pushed employers to seek new insurance models. Curative believes the industry has reached a breaking point. It sees an opportunity to replace legacy structures with a more modern solution. You can read Curative's public materials for additional context through this external source: Curative Company Information. Scaling a national expansion strategy. Curative plans to use the new capital for national expansion. It will strengthen internal reserves. It will meet state regulatory requirements. It will maintain the financial stability needed for continued growth. The money will also support AI-enhanced operations. The company will invest in deeper health engagement. It will add new tools that improve preventative care. It will expand its provider network through new partnerships. The company said it intends to modernise payment methods across the system. Curative wants to eliminate administrative burdens for providers. It aims to create a cycle where providers get paid instantly. This reduces friction and builds trust. Curative will also use the capital to support large enterprise clients. It wants to create consistent performance across employer groups. It will deploy more staff to support onboarding and engagement. The company said its focus remains on prevention. It wants to show that simple plan designs can produce lasting results. It also wants to improve efficiency across the broader healthcare supply chain. A founder Vision built on reform. Curative was created to solve problems that had remained untouched by traditional insurers. Fred Turner, the CEO and co-founder, said the company's goal is to rebuild incentives around health. He said the funding round confirms investor belief in that mission. Turner said Curative will use this capital to scale the experience. He said the company will open new markets. He said it will bring its $0-out-of-pocket model to more employers. Curative believes it has the structure to compete with legacy insurers. It plans to grow its footprint through the next expansion cycle. It expects employers to push for change as they seek simpler and more transparent health plans. Curative continues to highlight its AM Best A- rating. It believes this rating proves that the company can grow responsibly. It also believes it proves the financial strength behind the model. The company said members want guidance. They want a plan that encourages preventative behaviour. They want care they can access without financial fear. Curative intends to deliver that on a national scale. To stay updated on crypto venture capital funding and market trends, visit its venture capital news section for more insight. Clinton Nwachukwu is a crypto and finance writer with an MBA in Artificial Intelligence and 6+ years of experience creating content for leading global brands. He turns complex topics into clear, actionable insights for readers worldwide. VentureBurn is a media platform covering the latest in cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, venture capital, and the startup ecosystem. Opinions expressed on VentureBurn are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Before making any high-risk investments in digital assets or emerging technologies, readers should conduct their own due diligence. All transactions and financial decisions are made at your own risk, and any losses incurred are solely your responsibility. VentureBurn does not endorse or recommend the buying or selling of any digital assets and is not a licensed investment advisor. Please note that VentureBurn may participate in affiliate marketing programs.