Welcome to the latest installment of “5 Questions With…” – Health Tech Idaho’s monthly feature to help you quickly get to know an innovator who is changing the face of healthcare and technology in Idaho.
Co-Founder and CEO
In the ever-evolving landscape that is healthcare, it’s not uncommon for people’s paths into the industry to take all kinds of twists and turns. Take Priya Kanaparti, Carehandler’s Co-Founder and CEO, for instance. Growing up in a family of physicians, Priya initially set out to become a doctor. But when she faced the reality of dissection, she realized that medicine wasn’t the right path for her.
This realization led her to pursue an MBA, where she discovered her true passion: transforming innovative ideas into tangible realities. After building a successful career in enterprise tech and product management, Priya couldn’t shake the desire to make a meaningful impact on healthcare. That’s when she teamed up with her longtime colleague and co-founder, Ben Whitaker, to create Carehandler. Read on for the rest of the story.
What’s your current gig?
As the Co-Founder and CEO of Carehandler, I often joke that I do everything but coding. My role encompasses every facet of our operations, from product development to customer service, and even shaping our company culture.
No two days are the same. One moment, I might be collaborating with marketing; the next, I’m working alongside our product team on new feature designs. I may switch gears to set sales goals and conduct product demos, or even take customer support calls myself.
For me, being able to step in wherever I’m needed is essential. It helps build a sense of trust and camaraderie within our team. We’ve created an environment where no task is too big or too small for anyone, including myself. When the team sees me rolling up my sleeves, it encourages them to do the same. I believe this shared commitment is what drives us forward together.
“Our true state-of-the-art billing automation system…allows agencies to get back 35% of their time.”
– Priya Kanaparti
What is your elevator pitch and how do you deliver on it?
Carehandler is a software as a service solution designed to help homecare agencies grow and thrive by simplifying their operations and easing compliance concerns. Our mission is to give agencies more time to focus on what truly matters—providing exceptional care—by reducing the time spent on administrative tasks and compliance issues.
What sets us apart are 3 things.
First is our true state-of-the-art billing automation system which allows agencies to get back 35% of their time back to focus on things that matter to them, while getting paid on time for the claims submitted.
Second is our commitment to exceptional customer support. Unlike the typical experience of being passed from one representative to another, at Carehandler, each client works with a dedicated point of contact who understands their unique needs. This approach not only simplifies the support process but also builds stronger, more trusting relationships.
Third is our product led growth mindset. Through these relationships, we gather valuable insights from our clients, allowing us to continuously improve our product and share best practices across our network. By integrating real-world feedback, we help agencies operate more efficiently and effectively, enhancing their ability to deliver outstanding care.
What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned getting to this point in your journey?
In the early stages of our journey, we faced a talent gap in subject matter expertise and firsthand experience within the homecare industry. This made it challenging to communicate the full value of our product to agencies, even though we knew its potential impact. Bringing someone onto our team who owned a homecare agency for 15 years has been a game-changer. Her firsthand experience has not only deepened our understanding but also helped us grow as a team and start building a strong, supportive community among our customers.
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about healthcare right now, what would change?
I would love to see a truly value-based system in healthcare. Right now, everyone gets paid regardless of the outcomes: you visit your provider, they check a box, and the payment process moves forward. But no one is incentivized to actually solve your problems or pursue the best course of treatment. The restrictions and limitations imposed by insurance companies are overwhelming. Providers need to be liberated from these constraints to deliver genuine, effective care.
Why are you excited about healthtech in Idaho?
Idaho is at a unique and exciting point where a growing business community meets people who genuinely care about their health and well-being. There’s so much talent here, and a real sense of wanting to help others. These are the core values that define Idaho, and they create the perfect environment for health tech companies to truly make a difference.
Want to learn more about Carehandler? Reach out to Priya directly at priya@carehandler.com to get connected. The company is open to conversations about investment, joining the Carehandler team, and other kinds of resources to make a difference for homecare agencies.
