A Top Doctor's Move Signals a New Era for Chronic Skin Care in the Midwest

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – August 05, 2026 – In a move that sends ripples through the regional healthcare landscape, AndHealth announced that Dr. Andrew Bridge, one of Indiana’s most respected dermatologists, has joined its practice. On the surface, it’s a standard announcement: a prominent physician joins an expanding clinic. But look closer, and this isn't just about a new hire. It’s a calculated play that reveals a seismic shift in how we approach chronic disease, patient access, and the very structure of specialty medicine.

This is a story about a company betting that the future of healthcare isn't just about finding the best doctor, but about building an entire ecosystem around the patient—and making it accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it.

The 'Top Doctor' as a Strategic Asset

Dr. Andrew Bridge is not just any dermatologist. He is an Indiana native with over 15 years of clinical experience, dual board certification in Dermatology and Dermatopathology, and a string of accolades, including repeated recognition as an Indianapolis Monthly "Top Doctor" and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2022. As the immediate Past-President of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology, his name carries significant weight in the local medical community.

His dual certification is particularly noteworthy. It means he can evaluate a condition like psoriasis in the exam room and then analyze the same tissue under a microscope, grounding his diagnoses in a level of precision that bridges the clinical and the cellular. For a company like AndHealth, which focuses on complex, chronic autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, securing a physician with this depth of expertise is a strategic masterstroke. It lends immediate credibility and clinical firepower to their mission.

Dr. Bridge's decision to join a practice built on an integrated model speaks volumes. "What drew me to AndHealth is the ability to partner with a comprehensive health care team to serve patients to quickly deliver results, and sustain successful treatment over time," he stated in the announcement. This isn’t a physician simply moving from one clinic to another; it's a seasoned expert endorsing a new philosophy of care.

Beyond the Prescription: Deconstructing the 'Whole-Person' Model

AndHealth's model is what truly sets this story apart from a typical personnel announcement. The company is tackling some of the most stubborn and debilitating skin conditions—psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa—not as isolated skin issues, but as systemic problems requiring a coordinated, holistic response. This is the commercial strategy at the heart of the enterprise: moving beyond the transactional, 15-minute specialist appointment to a continuous, supportive relationship.

Their "whole-person" approach assembles a multidisciplinary team around each patient: a dermatologist, a clinical pharmacist, a health coach, and a patient navigator. This structure is designed to dismantle the fragmented nature of modern healthcare. Instead of a patient juggling appointments, navigating insurance hurdles for biologics, and trying to decipher lifestyle advice on their own, the AndHealth team coordinates it all. The pharmacist manages medication access and adherence, while the health coach works on nutrition, stress, and other triggers that research shows are deeply intertwined with inflammatory skin diseases.

This model is backed by a commitment to data. The company reports an 81% improvement in skin condition for its psoriasis patients, using the clinically validated PASI scoring system. It even runs a patient research registry to formally evaluate its methods. This isn't just wellness jargon; it's an attempt to quantify the outcomes of a more integrated, root-cause-focused approach, turning a care philosophy into a measurable product.

Bridging the Great Divide in Patient Access

Perhaps the most disruptive aspect of AndHealth's strategy is its direct confrontation of the access crisis in specialty care. In states like Indiana and Ohio, seeing a dermatologist can be a significant challenge. Patients face average wait times exceeding 32 days, and those in rural areas or on public insurance plans face even greater barriers. Dermatologist shortages are rampant, and low reimbursement rates mean many practices are hesitant to accept Medicaid, leaving the most vulnerable populations underserved.

AndHealth attacks this problem from multiple angles. First, it explicitly accepts Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, and most commercial plans, offering zero-copay appointments for Medicaid patients. This removes the financial barrier that slams the door on so many. Second, it promises appointments within one to two weeks, a radical reduction in wait times that can be life-changing for someone suffering from a painful, chronic condition. Third, its hybrid model of in-person clinics in Indianapolis and Carmel, combined with broad telehealth availability, breaks down geographical barriers.

This focus on access is embedded in its business model. AndHealth was founded in 2021 by Matt Scantland, the entrepreneur who sold CoverMyMeds to McKesson for $1.4 billion. With over $72 million in funding from major players like Francisco Partners, this is a well-capitalized venture aimed at systemic change. A key part of its growth strategy involves partnering directly with Community Health Centers (CHCs) to integrate specialty care in-house, closing the notorious "referral gap" where patients, daunted by cost and wait times, never make it to the specialist. By bringing the specialist into the community hub, AndHealth is redesigning the delivery channel for healthcare itself.

The addition of Dr. Bridge is the catalyst that supercharges this model in the region. By combining a top-tier local expert with a radical approach to access and a comprehensive care system, AndHealth is not just opening another clinic. It is making a bold statement about the future of chronic disease management—one where expert care is no longer a luxury, but a fully supported, accessible standard for all.