Babylon continues buying spree with another California-based practice
Babylon Health bought two California-based medical practices as it charts a broader expansion across the U.S. But it’s still facing questions about the safety of […]
Health Tech
Death, Taxes — and Paperwork
By KIM BELLARD Tuesday, in case you missed it, was the deadline for filing your 2020 federal taxes (it was postponed from its usual April […]
Google unveils tool for checking skin conditions
Google is making its first foray into patient-facing healthcare tools with a dermatology symptom-checker. Users take an image of the spot they’re concerned about and […]
Johns Hopkins medication adherence spinoff emocha raises $6.2M
The company, which uses asynchronous video visits to help patients take their medication, raised a series A round led by Claritas Health Ventures.
Vaccine access demands health tech that is designed for equity
When developing tools to tackle a public health threat, product developers don’t have the luxury of not accounting for the needs of the most vulnerable […]
Komodo Health’s CEO on $220M Series E & What’s REALLY Happening with Big Data in Healthcare
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH You know all that “magic” that machine learning is meant to bring to seemingly lackluster healthcare data and our limited […]
Yes, vaccination will be required to attend HIMSS this year
Two healthcare conferences with in-person events slated for later this year will require people to be vaccinated. HIMSS’ annual conference, which will be held in […]
GoodRx leadership downplays Amazon Pharmacy worries despite lackluster stock price
In a month where GoodRx’s stock has been trading below IPO levels, the startup’s leadership says Amazon Pharmacy still isn’t a threat. Citing third-party data, the […]
Will Virtual Care Platforms (VCPs) Become Healthcare’s Mega-Platforms?
Seth Joseph Vince Kuraitis By VINCE KURAITIS and SETH JOSEPH Let’s start with a pop quiz. Take 15 seconds to look at the list below, […]
StartUPDATES: New developments from healthcare startups
Read about new developments from Vivor, Kiio, Blue Therapeutics, and Seven Bridges.
Cedar bulks up billing platform with $425M acquisition
Healthcare payments startup Cedar acquired another billing startup, OODA Health, for $425 million. The deal would bring together billing tools for providers and payer onto […]
Health tech company DrFirst nabs $50M to grow product suite
DrFirst, which provides an array of services including telehealth and e-prescribing, received a $50 million equity investment from Sixth Street Growth. The company plans to […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 207 | Aetion, Halodoc, Vori, Heartbeat Health & Memora Health
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, the survey says digital health is optimistic! Find out more on the other side. On Episode 207, Jess […]
Digital health startups saw better-than-expected revenue during the pandemic
According to a survey conducted by Catalyst @ Health 2.0, a whopping 41% of digital health companies said their revenue was above expectations last year. […]
Why health tech is a win for mental health
For Mental Health Awareness Week (10 May 2021 – 16 May 2021) myGP discusses the benefits of the healthcare system becoming digitised and the impact […]
Bigfoot Biomedical gets FDA clearance for ‘smart’ insulin pen caps
The startup received 510(k) clearance for its “smart” insulin pen cap, which pulls in data from users’ connected glucose monitor to help them calculate the […]
The Catalyst @ Health 2.0/Wipfli State of Digital Health Survey
By MATTHEW HOLT & ELIZABETH BROWN Last year was a remarkable time for digital health. Obviously it was pretty unusual and tragic for the world […]
Amazon eschews per-employee fees with new telehealth business
Amazon may be a big fish, but its first customer for its new telehealth business is a bit smaller. Notably, Amazon is moving away from […]
The interplay between emotional wellness and physical health
As society looks to improve our post-pandemic world, it is a chance to recognize how emotional wellbeing directly impacts physical wellness and to prioritize providing […]
What is digital care’s destination? 4 Predictions for 2021 and Beyond
Where is digital innovation headed — and how should it be incorporated into member benefits for a patient-centric, value-added experience?
How Kiio’s on-demand digital platform for musculoskeletal pain cuts wasteful spending
Kiio CEO Lydia Zeller talks about the digital health company that guides users through personalized therapeutic programs through their smartphone or tablet to reduce and […]
Mayo Clinic finds algorithm helped clinicians detect heart disease, as part of broader AI diagnostics push
Mayo Clinic shared results of a study showing that an AI tool developed by the system could be used to improve diagnosis of low ejection […]
Oura raises $100M, looks to add more health features to sleep-tracking ring
Oura, a startup making a sleep tracker in the form of a ring, raised $100 million in funding. The startup plans to invest the funds into
What other industries can learn from innovation in healthcare during Covid
As an industry historically slow to adopt new technology, healthcare has flipped the narrative during the pandemic.
Vida Health raises $110M for chronic condition management
General Atlantic led the $110 million funding round, with participation from insurers Centene and AXA Venture Partners. Vida plans to use the funds to build […]
Inside Vida Health’s $110M Series D & Big Push into Digital Mental Health
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH It’s another mega-round for a digital health chronic condition management startup, as Vida Health closes its $110M Series D – […]
Sidestepping the system – Is D2C the next winning model in healthcare?
While D2C can enable creativity in customer acquisition and B2B strategies allow for rapid monetization, companies must thoughtfully target consumers, track clinical outcomes, and demonstrate […]
Addressing behavioral health crisis through an integrated approach
The ability to leverage predictive algorithms to analyze data and proactively intervene with the most complex cases and get individuals the help they desperately need […]
INVEST Video Conference: Pitch Perfect Health IT Track
Startups in the health IT field present their products to a panel of judges and investors.
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 203 | Privia goes public, Vocera acquires PatientSafe Solutions & more
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess hardly knows the value of $100 million anymore – is it a salary, is it an entire […]
We Are All Designers
By KIM BELLARD Raise your hand if you had to go through the Hunger Games labyrinth to score a COVID-19 vaccine earlier this year – […]
Headway raises $70M to build network of mental health providers
Headway, a startup working to build a network of therapists covered by major insurers, raised $70 million in funding. The startup manages claims, credentialing and […]
INVEST Pitch Perfect winner spotlight: Oshi builds digital approach for oft-overlooked GI conditions
As awareness grows around GI conditions, startup Oshi Health is building a platform to connect people to teams of clinicians and health coaches to better […]
Digital Mental Health Hits Mainstream: Cigna’s Behavioral Health CMO on National Rollout of Ginger
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Cigna is making digital mental health services available to its entire nationwide network of 14 million members, and it’s selected […]
INVEST Video Conference: Video visits to comprehensive humanized virtual Care
Listen in as our panel discusses how to achieve the right balance to combine the importance of technology while providing human touch to healthcare.
Some People Don’t Think Like Doctors (!)
By HANS DUVEFELT This may come as a surprise for people with business degrees: Doctors don’t really care when a test was ordered. We care […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 202 | Virta, Seqster, Kaia, Capsule & Accolade acquires PlushCare
On Health in 2 Point 00, Jess and I talk about TDOC earnings before getting into today’s deals. First, Virta Health scores $133 million in […]
CVS launches $100M venture fund
The company launched CVS Health Ventures, a corporate venture fund that will make early investments in healthcare startups. It will start with a $100 million […]
Online pharmacy startup Capsule passes $1B valuation
Capsule, an online pharmacy startup that offers same-day prescription delivery, raised $300 million in funding. It plans to use the funds to build out an […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 201 | European Funding Deals – complete with accents!
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, we’re back from our 200th episode celebration! In Episode 201, we have an all-European funding deals episode for […]
4 ways the pandemic has shaped healthcare
While the long-term impacts of Covid-19 are still unfolding, here are four ways hospitals and health systems are beginning to understand the monumental impact of […]
With new funding, digital physical therapy startup Kaia strikes partnerships with clinicians
Kaia Health, a startup providing app-based programs for musculoskeletal conditions and COPD, recently raised $75 million in funding. As competitors look to round out their […]
The “Health Tech Responds to COVID-19” Showcase Webinar!
By ELIZABETH BROWN Catalyst @ Health 2.0 is excited to be hosting the Health Tech Responds to COVID-19 Showcase Webinar, sponsored by the Robert Wood […]
Startup making digital therapeutic for pelvic floor disorders raises $17M
Renovia, a digital health startup that developed an app-based program for urinary incontinence, raised $17 million in funding. The company recently completed a clinical trial […]
Healthcare tech is failing patients
The problem is that we’re approaching technology from a clinical and billing perspective, with little input from patients. We must demand and implement technology that […]
Wireless carriers wade into telehealth
Mobile carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile are dipping their toe into telehealth through partnerships and acquisitions. Earlier this month, Verizon rolled out a telehealth platform […]
INVEST Conference Video: The future of at-home testing beyond Covid-19
Covid-19 has renewed interest in diagnostics and a way to deliver care at home. Learn from companies and experts as they address the future of […]
Sharecare’s SPAC IPO: A Second Success for WebMD Founder Jeff Arnold?
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Sharecare, the population-health-slash-care-navigator of the stars (literally, celebrity doc Dr. Oz is a co-founder, and Oprah’s Harpo Productions, Sony Pictures […]
Keto-based digital diabetes program nets $133M
Virta Health, a digital health startup with an app-based coaching program for type 2 diabetes, raised $133 million led by Tiger Global. Unlike other digital health […]
Healthcare companies raise record-breaking $31.6B in first quarter
Healthcare companies had another record-breaking quarter, according to CBInsights. They raised a total of $31.6 billion in the first quarter, including big investments in telehealth […]
AliveCor seeks ban on import of Apple Watches
The digital health company filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission last week, seeking a ban on the import of the Apple Watch. AliveCor […]
The secret sauce of health tech innovation
If satisfying emotional needs allows one doctor to improve the life of one patient, imagine what a winning product can do for millions of them.
Accolade to acquire telehealth startup PlushCare for $450M
Care navigation startup Accolade struck an agreement to buy telehealth startup PlushCare for $450 million. The goal is to support primary care physicians with information […]
Startup looking to build the ‘Mint.com of healthcare’ raises $12 million
Seqster, a San Diego based company looking to build a platform for patients’ health records, DNA data and wearable data, raised $12 million in a […]
More than half of FCC telehealth awards went to equipment for providers
After the Federal Communications Commission awarded $200 million to help healthcare providers purchase telehealth equipment, more than half of the awards went to equipment for […]
Inside Cano Health’s SPAC IPO & Tailoring Medicare Advantage Primary Care for the Latino Market
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Healthcare SPAC-trackers interested in placing bets on value-based primary care for the lucrative Medicare Advantage market will love hearing Cano […]
HHS reverses previous administration’s push to deregulate more than 80 medical devices
In the final days of the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services sought to deregulate 83 different types of medical devices, citing […]
Investment in healthcare is soaring, but entrepreneurs must be wary of over-capitalizing
The Covid-19 pandemic pushed the already impressive growth in healthcare investing to new heights, with valuations on the rise and companies gaining access to vast […]
In scramble to respond to Covid-19, hospitals turned to models with high risk of bias
Of 26 health systems surveyed by MedCity News, nearly half used automated tools to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, but none of them were regulated. […]
Crossover Health’s CEO on Next Move: Private? Public? With a Payer??
By JESSICA DaMASSA What’s the move for Crossover Health? Looking past the virtual-first primary care co’s $168M Series D, CEO Scott Shreeve gets grilled on […]
Let’s Build Some LTC Infrastructure!
By KIM BELLARD Quick now: what’s the biggest single component of President Biden’s infrastructure plan (a.k.a The American Jobs Plan)? Fixing roads and bridges? Upgrading […]
NorthShore, Sema4 set up genomics program to advance personalized treatment
The Illinois-based health system is teaming up with the analytics company to launch a genomics program, which will focus on predicting the risk of illness […]
McKesson Ventures highlights investment priorities amidst a trail of successful exits [Sponsored]
McKesson Ventures is one of the most active investors in the biopharma software sector with Komodo Health, Evidation and M2Gen among its portfolio companies.
After his own experience, Tomorrow Health founder looks to make home care easier to navigate
Tomorrow Health, a startup looking to streamline the process of getting medical equipment and supplies for home care, raised $25 million in funding led by […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 199 | Olive acquires Empiric plus raises by Medable & Papa
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, I air some of my grudges as we get into our deals for the day. In the third […]
Smart Healthcare Platforms Shine a Light On Price Transparency
By MATTHEW DALE Did you know that as of January 2021, price transparency is being mandated for hospitals? But what exactly does that mean for […]
Anthem, K Health, Blackstone launch digital health company
The new joint venture will bring K Health’s artificial intelligence-driven technology to the consumer, employer and insurer markets. The solution enables patients to understand their […]
Omada adds virtual consultations to help members manage meds
Digital health startup Omada is adding virtual consultations with physicians to its platform. To start, the company is offering physician-guided care for diabetes and hypertension.
In MedCity Pivot podcast, Glen Tullman says other care navigation firms aren’t really taking risks
Livongo’s founder has created a new care navigation venture because he believes that both the experience that people undergo as they look for care and […]
Ways to improve the patient experience for African-Americans
There should be a discussion about how to address the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on Black communities.
Mayo Clinic launches two joint ventures to build, commercialize diagnostic AI tools
Mayo Clinic struck joint ventures with two startups to develop and commercialize AI diagnostic tools. It’s part of a broader plan by Mayo Clinic to […]
FDA-cleared AI devices lack critical information on performance, equity
In a review of 130 FDA-cleared AI tools, researchers found that the vast majority of them relied on retrospective studies. Most of the developers also […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 198 | Microsoft buys Nuance & lots of IPO rumors
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess claims to be blameless for the drama between Jonathan Bush and Glen Tullman. On Episode 198, we […]
To Add is Expected, To Subtract is Design
By KIM BELLARD A couple years ago I wrote about how healthcare should take customer experience guru Dan Gingiss’s advice: do simple better. Now new […]
Covid-19 was a lightning rod for life science deals last year. What investment trends are taking shape in 2021? [Sponsored]
Peter Meath, Co-Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences for Middle Market Commercial Banking at J.P. Morgan, is bullish that the momentum will continue, particularly with […]
Microsoft builds out cloud healthcare business with $19.7B Nuance acquisition
Microsoft will buy up healthcare AI partner Nuance for $19.7 billion. Nuance makes speech-recognition tools for clinical documentation, as well as security tools.
Our Healthcare System Needs More Than Policy Overhaul: It’s Time for Private Sector Innovation to Kick into High Gear for Our Health’s Sake
By SACH JAIN Last year I was heading to a meeting on a Fortune 500 business campus and stumbled upon a bake sale. It was […]
Better Therapeutics plans to go public through SPAC merger
Digital health startup Better Therapeutics plans to go public through a SPAC merger that would value it at $187 million. The company is currently running […]
Fitbit tests if smartwatch could measure blood pressure
Fitbit is launching a trial to see if its its newest smartwatch could use pulse arrival time to measure blood pressure. Other wearable companies have […]
KKR buys majority stake in health software company Therapy Brands
Global investment firm KKR plans to acquire a majority stake in health software company Therapy Brands. PSG, a previous investor in the company, will remain […]
Bridging the digital divide: How providers can continue to reach the digitally excluded
If we don’t prioritize solutions now, the healthcare digital divide may present more widespread national and international challenges.
Jean Drouin, Clarify Health, on the new data stack.
By MATTHEW HOLT Clarify Health has linked (but anonymized) data on about 300m Americans, including their claims, lab, (some) EMR data and their SDOH data. […]
Health Tech Deals, on Clubhouse tomorrow (Thursday 8th) at 1 PT/4 ET
Tomorrow we are taking a break from #THCBGang. Don’t worry it’ll be back with a vengeance next week. Instead, Jess DaMassa & I will host […]
Akili tests if therapeutic game could be used to treat Covid ‘brain fog’
Akili Interactive received FDA clearance last year for its game-based digital therapeutic to be used as a treatment for ADHD. Now, the company is testing […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 197 | BrightInsight, SteadyMD, CirrusMD, and Cleo
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, I’m getting my shots soon! On Episode 197, General Catalyst is throwing more money around – $101 million […]
Firefly Health’s CEO & Exec Chairman on $40M Raise & Becoming a “Bloat-less Kaiser”
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Virtual-first primary care company Firefly Health is becoming a health plan! Backed by a $40M Series B, CEO Fay Rotenberg […]
Trends in the dental industry: Dental technology in the next decade
We can expect the introduction of novel and groundbreaking technologies that will immensely benefit both the dentists and the patients over the years.
AstraZeneca lands first big partner for digital health platform
The drugmaker struck a collaboration agreement with Mass General to use its platform for heart failure and asthma management. The health system plans to launch […]
Using data for anti-racist medical research: An interview with COTA’s chief legal officer
Nadine Peters, chief legal officer of Cota Healthcare, shares her journey to leadership in health data privacy law and policy recommendations for the Biden Administration […]
Some Discord Could Be Good for Health Care
By KIM BELLARD By the time you read this, Microsoft may have already struck a deal with the messaging service Discord. VentureBeat reported two weeks […]
SOC Telemed buys specialty telemedicine provider for $194M
After going public through a SPAC merger last year, SOC Telemed bought acute telemedicine provider Access Physicians for $194 million. The deal is expected to […]
Billing software startup Inbox Health raises $15M
Medical payments platform Inbox Health raised $15 million in series A funding. The company works with third-party billing companies to better communicate with patients and […]
Digital health companies raised $6.7B, breaking a record for Q1
Digital health startups raised a record-breaking $6.7 billion in the first quarter of 2021. Large funding rounds propelled them past previous months.
Leveraging the cloud to meet the ONC final rule compliance deadline
The deadline for ONC’s final rule on interoperability and information blocking is upon us. The time is past due for health providers, networks, and vendors […]
Report: Bright Health eyes $1B IPO
Insurance startup Bright Health is reportedly planning to raise up to $1 billion in an IPO that will be launched in the second quarter of […]
The shift to value-based care has accelerated in the wake of the pandemic
The pandemic has upended virtually every industry, and although many of the impacts are undeniably devastating, negative events can also offer opportunities for positive change, […]
Women’s health startup Tia strikes partnership with CommonSpirit
The two companies plan to open a clinic in Phoenix this fall, and additional locations over the next five years. To start, Tia will offer […]
The Medicaid Plan of the Future: Sean Lane on Building Circulo on Top of Olive’s AI Platform
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH What’s better than being the CEO of one blazing-hot disruptive health tech company that’s raised $450M to build “the internet […]
Chat-based telehealth provider CirrusMD snags $20M
The Denver-based company provides a platform through which patients can text, send images to and have video calls with physicians. The new funds will be […]
Decentralized clinical trials are opening the drug development pipeline
With the emergence of smart and connected devices and technologies, CROs and life sciences organizations are able to more easily perform decentralized, virtual clinical trials. […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 196 | Rightway, AKASA, Viz.ai, AppliedVR, & Harmonize
We’ve only got one $100 million deal today on Health in 2 Point 00 — has the bubble burst? On Episode 196, Jess and I […]
Digital Therapeutics, Megan & Me!
Anyone who follows me knows that I’ve been questioning whether digital therapeutics are real and more importantly whether the people building and trying to sell […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 195 | Cityblock, Crossover, Redesign Health & Vesta
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, I’ve been banned from talking about the Suez Canal by Jess. On Episode 195, we cover Cityblock raising […]
Meet Rightway: The Little-Know $1.1B Care Navigator PBM Startup That Just Scored $100M
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Despite nearly 900 employer clients (including big brands like Burger King, Kroger, and DoorDash), a net promoter score of 84, […]
General Catalyst leads $101M investment in startup helping pharma build digital health tools
BrightInsight, a startup developing infrastructure to make it easier for companies to make their own health apps, raised $101 million in funding. General Catalyst led […]
Evidation plans to launch virtual health programs with $153M in new funding
Evidation, launched as a research app where people can opt into virtual clinical trials, plans to turn some of those insights into digital health programs. […]
AppliedVR raises $29M as it seeks FDA clearance of VR system for pain treatment
Earlier this year, AppliedVR shared results of a pivotal study that it plans to submit to the FDA. It received a breakthrough device designation last […]
With telehealth, pharmacy offerings, Amazon starts to encroach on PBMs
As Amazon starts to roll out its telehealth and pharmacy offerings, most big health systems and insurers don’t yet view it as a threat. But […]
The Drive To Standardize Records: Progress or Chaos?
By MERLE BUSHKIN I recently asked my Primary Care Physician’s Medical Records Department for copies of my records covering the last eight months during which […]
At-home testing company Everlywell acquires telehealth business
After a busy year, at-home testing company Everlywell is growing through two acquisitions. It bought telehealth practice PWNHealth and another at-home lab testing company.
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 194 | Ro, Appriss, Everlywell & Ginger
We’re swimming in a pool of money, health tech! Today on Health in 2 Point 00, we have over $1 billion and 3 acquisitions in […]
Health tech and digital transformation lessons from the NHS
In the year since the UK went into its first lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19 the country’s health service has undergone an unprecedented […]
Mental health startup Ginger raises $100M
Ginger, a startup that connects users with mental health coaches and therapists, raised $100 million in funding. The company is shifting to a risk-based model […]
Inside Ginger’s $100M Funding & Plans to Scale Value-Based Digital Mental Health Care
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Digital mental health startup Ginger just closed a $100M funding round on the heels of its biggest growth year yet: […]
Maximizing the Long Term Value of Virtual Care
By JON BLOOM The rate of adoption for virtual care and remote monitoring solutions has skyrocketed over the last year as access to in-person appointments […]
Direct-to-consumer health startup Ro raises $500M
Ro, a direct-to-consumer health startup, recently raised a $500 million funding round. It plans to use the funds to expand into at-home diagnostics and care.
Providence’s newest digital health spinout snags $20M
A new digital health company — spun out from Providence’s Digital Innovation Group — has raised $20 million in its first funding round. The company […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 193 | Evidation, Komodo Health, Bigfoot Biomedical & Glooko
On Episode 193 of Health in 2 Point 00, we have another huge day! We catch up on Amazon’s telehealth news before covering more massive […]
Will new behavioral health solutions withstand the test of time?
The emergence of new approaches to the coordination and delivery of behavioral health services is long overdue. Evaluating their impact on some of the most […]
Nanoparticles On My Mind
By KIM BELLARD Nanoparticles are everywhere! By that I mean, of course, that there seems to be a lot of news about them lately, particularly […]
Accelmed closes $400M fund, invests in medication adherence company
Private equity firm Accelmed recently closed an oversubscribed, $400 million fund. The firm primarily invests in health-tech startups, such as its recent investment in medication […]
Health analytics startup Komodo passes $3.3B valuation
Komodo, a data analytics startup building out information on patient encounters and outcomes, raised $220 million in funding. It plans to use the funds to […]
Suicide and the malpractice myth
It may seem intuitive to avoid telehealth or remote care to avoid increased liability and malpractice exposure. But remote behavioral health assessment tools, real-time data-driven […]
Intelligent automation: The secret to combating health inequities
Automation expands the capacity of care teams, allowing providers to accomplish more with less. As a result, automation can offer an unbiased and personalized mechanism […]
Healthcare leaders: disorganization, disparities characterized health crisis
Reflecting on lessons learned from the pandemic, healthcare leaders pointed to the lack of coordination and glaring health disparities that hampered the U.S. pandemic response. […]
Stroke detection startup Viz.ai raises $71M
Viz.AI, a San Francisco-based care coordination startup, raised $71 million in series C funding. The company plans to use the funds to build out its […]
The Covid-19 vaccine distribution strategy is struggling. Care Management can help.
With widespread vaccine shortages alongside continuing deaths from Covid-19, we must act now to leverage existing technology in order to improve the distribution process.
Livongo founder’s newest venture: a health navigation startup
Livongo Founder Glen Tullman is leading a new healthcare venture. Called Transcarent, the patient navigation platform strikes risk-sharing agreements with employers.
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 192 | Happify, 100Plus, Health Recovery Solutions—& Glen Tullman is back
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, we’re back with more deals as promised for our post St-Patty’s episode. On Episode 192, Jess and I […]
Glen Tullman’s Return to Digital Health: In-Depth Chat on New CEO Role at Transcarent
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH As if one consumer digital health company with an $18.5B exit wasn’t enough, Livongo founder Glen Tullman has decided to […]
Analysis: Amazon enters telehealth, but competitors “will not go quietly”
Amazon is rolling out a telehealth service for other companies to offer as an employee benefit. But scale alone will not help it to unseat […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 191 | Doctor on Demand & Grand Rounds merge, plus more staggering deals
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, it’s St. Patrick’s Day and to top off your green beer we’ve got plenty of green money. First […]
Ofer Leidner, Happify Health
by MATTHEW HOLT Happify Health is a online mental health company that is focused almost exclusively on scaling care by offering self-service tech solutions across […]
Digital therapeutics platform Happify Health raises $73M
Happify Health, a startup building digital health tools, raised $73 million in funding. The company plans to use the funds to build out more specialized […]
Grand Rounds strikes merger with Doctor on Demand
In another big tie-up between a telehealth and digital health company, Grand Rounds and Doctor on Demand reached a merger agreement. Grand Rounds CEO Owen […]
Care coordination startup Unite Us raises $150M
Unite Us, a New York-based technology company that makes coordination of care software, passed a $1.6 billion valuation. It build networks with local providers and […]
Roblox and Healthcare’s Metaverse
By KIM BELLARD As neither a gamer nor the parent of a gamer, I’ve been proud that I’ve stayed even mildly in touch with the […]
Cardiac monitoring startup CEO: iRhythm and others are “one-trick” ponies
VitalConnect’s CEO Peter Van Haur believes his company’s product not only does a great job in real time cardiac remote monitoring but also has something […]
Cognito looks to light, sound for potential Alzheimer’s treatment
Digital health startup Cognoa shared results of a Phase 2 trial of its device, intended to treat Alzheimer’s disease using gamma frequency light and sound. […]
The mounting behavioral health crisis is our next pandemic
Covid-19 will continue to illuminate the behavioral health crisis, but effective use of digital solutions can drive clinical innovation and expand access to care.
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 190 | Forward Health, Cedar, & Babylon
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, primary care appears to have jumped the shark because there is a deal in this episode in which […]
Inside Owlet’s SPAC IPO: From Smart Sock Baby Monitor to Data-Driven Pediatric Healthcare Co
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Oh Baby! Connected digital nursery startup, Owlet Baby Care, just announced their SPAC IPO and intention to take their infant […]
Adopt a millennial mindset for 21st Century healthcare success
The days of the primary care provider (PCP) acting as a gatekeeper to care for Millennials are gone. Some 85% of previous generations elected a […]
Concierge primary care startup Forward Health raises $225M
Forward, a concierge primary care startup, raised $225 million in funding. The San Francisco-based company plans to use the funds to expand to additional markets.
How Microsoft can transform healthcare delivery [Sponsored]
Microsoft’s latest eBook offers a look at how technology can help organizations meet patients’ changing expectations and provide personalized care.
Babylon Health buys Fresno-based practice as part of U.S. expansion
Fast growing UK telehealth provider Babylon Health bought a California-based practice as it looks to expand in the U.S. The company has several large contracts, […]
New patient engagement company created as PatientPoint takes over rival Outcome Health
PatientPoint is combining with Outcome Health, which experienced a swift and sharp downfall after its former executives defrauded its clients. Together, they will form a […]
Digital physical therapy company Hinge Health expands into pain relief
The digital physical therapy company acquired a startup making a small, adhesive device that use electrical pulses for pain treatment.
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 189 | DispatchHealth, TytoCare and Highmark Health
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, we’re wishing Jess a happy belated birthday! On Episode 189, Jess asks me about DispatchHealth raising a massive […]
Your Health Data May Be a NFT
By KIM BELLARD I must admit, after I wrote about digital currency last week, I did not expect to be writing about crypto anytime soon. […]
Kelsey Mellard, CEO Sitka
By MATTHEW HOLT Kelsey Mellard is CEO of Sitka, one of the emerging companies that’s providing specialty consults online to primary care docs. They’ve been […]
Top digital health exec’s advice to startups: Once you think you “know” you’ve lost the game
After Livongo sold to Teladoc last year, the company’s former president, Dr. Jennifer Schneider, is starting a new chapter on Cityblock’s board of directors. In […]
Telehealth is ready for its second dose – introducing virtual care 2.0
While 2020 incited widespread adoption of video-based consultations, the healthcare ecosystem is now presented with a new mandate of delivering virtual care at scale. Fortunately, […]
Providers, tech companies to advocate for expanding clinical care at home
A group of healthcare stakeholders — Amazon Care, Intermountain Healthcare and Ascension, to name a few — has created an alliance to advocate for home-based […]
Meet Circulo, the insurtech firm on a mission to disrupt Medicaid managed care
A new startup has entered the highly competitive insurtech market — with $50 million in new funds. Circulo, co-founded by Olive CEO Sean Lane, is […]
How digital health impacts the development and adoption of cancer immunotherapies [Sponsored]
In an interview, BrightInsight Co-founder and CEO Kal Patel, MD, offered a preview of the report, The Role of Digital Health in Immuno-oncology Therapy Development […]
Could AI reduce healthcare waste? Approach of online retailers could provide clues
Just as Amazon leverages machine learning to develop valuable insights into consumer purchasing behavior in real time, healthcare organizations can strengthen their ability to reduce […]
Wanna Buy Some Bitcoin
By KIM BELLARD To healthcare organizations, digital currency is the thing you’re forced to deal with when your systems are held for ransomware. To the […]
Going through their own pregnancies, founders launch hybrid maternity clinic
Two founders started Oula, a maternity care startup that combines virtual and in-person care. They began seeing patients virtually in December and opened an in-person […]
Highmark strikes deal with Verily as part of broader Google partnership
Verily become part of a six-year collaboration between Google Cloud and Highmark Health. A big part of the partnership will be Verily’s platform for managing […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 188 | MDLive, Devoted Health, Medisafe, January AI
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, we cheat a little bit and go overtime. On Episode 188, Jess asks me about MDLive getting acquired […]
Can You Trust Digital Health Firms To Trust You?
By MICHAEL MILLENSON What kind of health care organization would let a 10-year-old child make an instructional video for patients? And what might that decision […]
Otsuka launches pivotal trial of digital therapeutics for depression
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is partnering with Click Therapeutics to launch a remote clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of digital therapeutics in reducing depressive symptoms.
4 takeaways from Teladoc’s earnings
After a year of record growth, Teladoc set expectations for limited growth in its paid memberships and visits in 2021. But the company still sees […]
Does digital mental health need to rethink user engagement?
Gamification is being hailed as a promising tool within the digital mental health industry. But should the same tactics that are fueling our online addiction […]
More healthcare startups go public through SPACs — but will they succeed?
More healthcare startups are choosing to go public through mergers with special-purpose acquisition companies— publicly-traded shell companies created with the purpose of taking a private […]
Buoy Health Wins Over Three Health Plans, Turns Symptom Checking into Patient Decision-Making
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Symptom checker startup Buoy Health’s $37.5M Series C caught a lot of attention among health tech market watchers because of […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 187 | Redox, Nanit, Innovacer & MindMed
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess makes me pronounce some impossible words while we cover lots of funding deals. Redox has raised $45 […]
With results of pivotal study, AppliedVR to seek FDA clearance
Digital health startup AppliedVR shared results from a pivotal study of its platform for lower back pain relief. The company plans to submit the results […]
Amwell’s CEO Roy Schoenberg on Telehealth as “Healthcare Infrastructure”
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH “Telehealth has a much bigger role to play than just carrying out transactions,” says Amwell’s President & CEO, Roy Schoenberg, […]
Google, Ascension expand pilot of health record search tool
After Google struck a controversial partnership with Ascension to build a searchable health record, the companies are now launching an expanded clinical pilot of the […]
Study finds promise in digital programs for treating knee pain
A randomized, controlled study published in JAMA Open found that patients who engaged in a virtual physical therapy program saw a greater reduction in knee […]
Oscar Health looks to raise $1B in IPO
Insurance startup Oscar Health plans to price its IPO between $32 and $34 per share. The New York-based startup plans to trade on the New […]
Will IBM’s reported desire to sell Watson cast a shadow over big tech’s healthcare ambitions?
IBM is reportedly looking to sell its Watson Health business. If true, it would be another stumble in a much-hyped healthcare project by a technology […]
Mayo Clinic, Google eyeing ‘AI factory’ as collaboration moves forward
The health system and tech giant are more than a year into their 10-year collaboration. As their partnership evolves, the organizations are looking to create […]
Apple limits pandemic ‘health pass’ apps
With a number of testing or vaccine pass apps being developed, Apple said it will only accept ones that are being developed in conjunction with […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 185 | Modern Health, Owlet, & Mymee
On Episode 185, Jess has beat us to an interview on WTF Health before we cover it here on Health in 2 Point 00 – […]
Primary care startup 98point6 adds text-based therapy
Digital primary care startup 98point6 is adding digital mental health services to its app. The company added text-based visits with a therapist or behavioral health […]
The Habit Change Provider? Newtopia & the Case for a New Category of Healthcare Provider
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Chronic disease prevention is often lumped into chronic disease management – but should it be? Aren’t there different nuances to […]
Health Care Needs Its Mary Barra
By KIM BELLARD With all that has been going on, I’ve been remiss in reflecting on General Motor’s big announcement a couple weeks ago: it […]
Navimize helps physicians overcome scheduling woes with virtual waiting rooms
A physician started a business to eliminate long appointment wait times. But when the pandemic hit, she found a new use for it in helping […]
Modern Health’s CEO on Becoming Digital Mental Health’s Latest Unicorn
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Digital mental health startup Modern Health just closed a $74M Series D, bringing their funding total to $170M, and earning […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 184 | Zocdoc, RapidSOS, Capital Rx and Equip
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess and I are back to cover more fun(draising) deals. First, Zocdoc raises $150 million and Jess asks […]
Dexcom launches first VC fund
Dexcom launched its first venture fund. The company, which makes continuous glucose monitors, plans to invest in glucose sensing technologies and metabolic monitoring.
Humana, IBM Watson Health team up to provide access to AI chatbot
Through a new collaboration, Humana’s Employer Group members will gain access to IBM Watson Health’s AI-powered digital assistant. The chatbot will provide information on member […]
Sharecare confirms plans to go public through SPAC merger
Digital health startup Sharecare plans to go public through a merger with a blank-check company created by Alan Mnuchin. The deal will value the company […]
After pivot from scheduling tool to telehealth platform, Zocdoc raises $150M
Zocdoc, which had built its business as an online scheduling platform for doctors, quickly pivoted at the beginning of the pandemic to offer telehealth visits. […]
Signify Health goes public in upsized IPO
Signify Health, a company that provides services for value-based care programs, went public on Thursday in an upsized IPO. The company’s stock began trading at […]
Insightin Health gains $12M to help payers engage, retain members
Insightin Health aims to help payers retain and engage their members via its proprietary platform. The funding round was co-led by the Blue Venture Fund, […]
Nuance buys healthcare voice assistant startup Saykara
Nuance Communications acquired Saykara, a startup building a medical AI voice assistant to help with charting and other administrative tasks. The deal is expected to […]
Survey: 65% of benefits executives expect use of remote patient monitoring to increase
Most benefits executives plan to use remote patient monitoring more in the future, according to a survey from Employer Health Innovation Roundtable and Hello Heart.
When algorithms help — and when they hurt
A recent study published in Nature found that an algorithm was able to detect causes of knee pain not seen by a radiologist, helping account […]
In adding more conditions, is Onduo becoming a me-too platform of Omada and Livongo?
Verily’s virtual diabetes platform, Onduo, is expanding to support additional conditions and languages, Onduo’s CEO Vindell Washington shared. How will the company differentiate itself among […]
Highmark expands access to device that helps manage panic, PTSD symptoms
The payer is expanding access to Freespria’s digital device that aims to eliminate or reduce symptoms of panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. The expansion […]
Remote patient monitoring is not the “future.” It’s the “now.”
Every patient who could benefit should be armed with the sophisticated and validated technologies currently available to monitor key biometrics at home to alert patients […]
Democrats propose bill to protect privacy, data security amid growing use of pandemic-related tech
As the use of technology proliferates during the Covid-19 pandemic, concerns rise about privacy and health data security. Congressional Democrats have proposed new legislation that […]
Report: Ro in talks to go public through blank-check merger
Direct-to-consumer health startup Ro is reportedly in talks go public through a merger with a blank-check company, according to a report by Reuters.
The Home health landrush: Getting ahead in a complex market
Few people question whether care delivery will continue to migrate out of the hospital into new settings such as the home. The better question is, […]
Mental health startup Lyra passes $2B valuation
Mental health startup Lyra Health raised $187 million in funding, giving it a post-money valuation of about $2.3 billion. The company also struck a partnership […]
Sharecare acquires Doc.ai, reportedly plans to go public via SPAC
Sharecare, a digital health startup created by Web MD founder Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz, is reportedly in talks to go public through a […]
DarioHealth moves into back pain with $31M acquisition
Digital health startup DarioHealth bought musculoskeletal startup Upright for $31 million. The company makes adhesive devices users can stick to their back to track their […]
Healthtech is great at innovation, but less so at commercialisation. Here’s how we change that.
For digital health entrepreneurs to truly seize the moment, the focus has to be on developing an exceptional go-to-market engine, alongside those transformative products.
Verana strikes research collaboration with Janssen on ophthalmology and urology
Data analytics startup Verana Health struck a partnership with Janssen Research & Development. They’ll focus on exploring better treatments for diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
3 recommendations that would improve adoption of digital mental health tools
A group of stakeholders recommended developing reimbursement mechanisms and standards frameworks to help improve uptake of digital mental health tools in the U.S.
Insurtech startup Sidecar Health’s valuation hits $1B
The new startup unicorn’s insurance product enables members to shop for medical services and pay directly for care. The company raised $125 million in a […]
Strategies that will help make 2021 a banner year for life sciences industries
Covid-19 showed that pharma companies can be nimble and implement changes that prevent processes from weighing down on operations. But which of these operational and […]
What we’re expecting in 2021, and beyond…
From telehealth to digital trials, customer engagement to healthcare data, Healthware Group outlines the key trends that are expected to shake up digital health this […]
Searching for vaccine information? Google wants to make it easier to find
As states begin to roll out vaccines to the broader public, Google will make it easier for people to find out when they are eligible […]
Hillrom to buy cardiac monitoring company Bardy Diagnostics for $375M
Hillrom will buy Bardy Diagnostics, a startup that makes a wearable ECG patch, for $375 million in cash.
Boston Scientific to acquire cardiac monitoring company Preventice for $925M
Boston Scientific will acquire remote cardiac monitoring company Preventice for $925 million in cash and up to $300 million in milestone payments. The deal is […]
Capital BlueCross provides members access to mental health app
The Pennsylvania-based insurer is offering members using its small group products access to the NeuroFlow app, which provides self-guided activities to combat mental health issues.
Value-based care platform Signify Health files for IPO
Signify Health, a startup that provides in-home healthcare services and value=based payment programs, filed early paperwork for an IPO. The company plans to be traded […]
Aledade snags $100M to grow Medicare Advantage partnerships, invest in tech
The company partners with independent practices, health centers and clinics to establish primary care-focused accountable care organizations.
Symptom checker K Health raises $132M for push into pediatrics
K Health raised $132 million in funding, which it plans to use to expand its platform into pediatric patients. The company has built a symptom-checker […]
Memorial Sloan Kettering computational pathology spinoff raises $100M
Paige, a New York-based computational pathology startup, raised $100 million in a series C funding round. The company develops clinical decision support algorithms for oncology.
4 takeaways from Talkspace’s plans to go public in $1.4B blank-check deal
The digital therapy provider plans to go public through a blank-check acquisition by Hudson Executive Capital. The deal would value Talkspace at $1.4 billion and […]
Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, Cerner join coalition to provide digital access to Covid-19 vaccine records
A group of organizations have come together to work on a solution that will provide digital access to Covid-19 vaccination records. As the country eyes […]
Google closes Fitbit acquisition — without DOJ approval
Google announced it had closed its planned acquisition of Fitbit on Thursday, even thought the deal is still being investigated by the U.S. Department of […]
‘Smart pill’ startup etectRx strikes partnership with Pear Therapeutics
EtectRx, which makes wireless sensors embedded in medications, struck a partner with Pear Therapeutics. The companies hope to build products together combining medication adherence data […]
At the height of digital wellness, are we missing the human touch?
Medicine will never progress without technology—there’s no denying that. But for the foreseeable future, human interaction remains an instrumental part of the healthcare experience.
Period-tracking app settles FTC charges that it misled users about privacy
Flo, a popular period-tracking app, reached a settlement with the FTC over allegations that it misled users about how their health information would be shared. […]
For underserved patients, the promise of telemedicine still holds
Despite concerns over broadband access and reimbursement, telehealth still brings many opportunities to care for patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid, panelists said at CES.
Patients report unmet care needs despite rising telehealth use
Roughly a third of adults had a telehealth visit in the first 6 months of the pandemic, according to a new survey conducted by the […]
Turing’s mission to provide software engineers to meet the needs of digital health
Jonathan Siddharth, co-founder and CEO of Turing, talks about how the company provides access to a global pool of 170,000 talented software engineers in more […]
How digital health startups are staying competitive in a fast-growing arena
In an increasingly crowded landscape, digital health startups must figure out what sets them apart. Three startup leaders shared what differentiates their companies from the […]
Biogen, Apple to launch virtual study on cognitive health
Biogen plans to launch a virtual study with Apple this year to identify early signs of mild cognitive impairment. The study is expected to launch […]
Digital health meets value-based care: It’s time for a new chapter
The next chapter of value-based care should measure engagement like our lives depend on it. We should unleash the power and convenience of digital tools […]
Blue KC, HealthMine’s expanded partnership will extend digital rewards program to ACA members
The Missouri-based payer is expanding its partnership with the technology company to offer an incentive and rewards program for its Affordable Care Act members in […]
Digital Health: Avoiding a Second TechLash!
By JEFF GOLDSMITH As John Glaser argued a recent piece in Harvard Business Review, many health care executives seem have been blinded by the shiny […]
Virtual physical therapy startup Hinge Health reaches $3B valuation
Hinge Health, a startup offering virtual physical therapy, recently raised $300 million in funding. The company now has a value of more than $3 billion, […]
Health-tech funding breaks another record in 2020
Healthcare technology companies raised a record of $15.3 billion in 2020, according to a report from Silicon Valley Bank. For the first time, digital health […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 176 | Optum acquires Change & deals for Hinge, Liva, and Metronom
Insurgents have stormed the Capitol and we’re still here to talk about health tech deals. On Episode 176, Jess and I discuss Optum acquiring Change […]
Push for better patient outcomes drives new standard of care [Sponsored]
In this webinar on Feb. 10,healthcare experts from Desert Oasis Healthcare and iRhythm Technologies will discuss how Zio monitors, designed to be worn for longer duration than […]
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 175 | Haven, Color, RapidSOS & more
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess and I chat about Haven finally closing its doors. On Episode 175, we cover Color raising $167 […]
No Safe Haven to be Found!
By MIKE MAGEE Can you wrestle a collusive, private, profiteering Medical-Industrial Complex to the ground by throwing more private entrepreneurs at it? Apparently not. The […]
Health Care: Don’t Be Evil
By KIM BELLARD Google’s corporate motto – written in its original Code of Conduct — was once “Don’t be evil.” That softened over time; Alphabet […]
Color hits $1.5B valuation, plans to build on testing infrastructure
The company, which got started in genomic testing, has quickly expanded its services to include providing Covid-19 testing at businesses and universities. With the new […]
Goodbye, 2020. Hello, 2030
By KIM BELLARD 2020 is almost over; thank goodness. It has been one of the strangest, and longest, years most of us have ever endured. […]
Online healthcare community DXY raises $500M
The Tencent-backed company, which offers a community for clinicians in China and consumer-facing information, raised $500 million in funding.
Need to Choose a Doctor? What Does AI Think About the Choices?
By ZEESHAN SYED Tens of millions of Americans rely on consumer experience apps to help them find the best new restaurant or the right hairdresser. […]
Humana rolls out virtual diabetes program for Kentucky Medicaid patients
The insurer picked digital health startup Vida to offer a virtual diabetes management program for Medicaid patients in Kentucky.
Private equity sees robust markets in healthcare
A Bass Berry & Sims-hosted panel looks back at 2020 and forward to 2021.
Australian regulators pose challenge to Google’s Fitbit acquisition
After European regulators signed off on the deal, Australian regulators rejected a proposal by Google to assuage concerns about its proposed acquisition of Fitbit. They […]
EverCommerce buys healthcare communication platform Updox
EverCommerce, a provider of solutions for businesses in the service sector, has added Updox to its roster of health services companies. Updox offers a variety […]
Startup gets Army funding to test wearable monitor for early Covid-19 detection
Remote monitoring startup BioIntelliSense and Royal Phillips received $2.8 million to test BioIntelliSense’s device for the early detection of Covid-19 symptoms. The startup received FDA […]
How 2020 has shaped the future of healthcare
Covid-19 provided everyone with a rare example of why it is so vital to communicate end-of-life wishes in a clear and easily accessible way.
Primary care physicians outperform eight symptom checkers
In a study that tested eight symptom checkers against seven primary care providers, physicians still outperformed the apps. But between them, there was wide variation […]
Catching up on care post Covid-19 requires ‘digital compassion’
In addition to human empathy, we are also seeing a new “digital compassion” emerging as healthcare providers work to support patients in need during this […]
Olive CEO Sean Lane on 2020’s Big Numbers: 3 Funding Rounds, $450M, & a 5-Point Plan for the Future
By JESSICA DaMASSA, WTF HEALTH Arguably 2020’s hottest health tech startup, Olive (olive.ai) closed THREE funding rounds this year, totaling $450M and valuing the company […]
How Verily plans to use $700M in new funding
Alphabet and other investors poured $700 million in funding into Verily last week. The company, which is Alphabet’s life sciences subsidiary, plans to pour some […]
