Anuja Vaidya’s Post

Had the privilege of chatting with Trilliant Health’s Dr. Sanjula Jain for the most recent #HealthcareStrategiesPodcast about the current parameters of the narrowing telehealth market. As always, Dr. Jain follows the data, which shows that telehealth demand is slowing amid an enduring preference for in-person care. This means that stakeholders must adjust their strategy to align with the realistic market opportunity for telehealth tools and care models. “I think that it's really hard for the industry to grapple with facts sometimes,” she said. “I think we have this idea of hope. Hope is not a strategy. We think something should be X, and it makes sense. But the data, for all the reasons we've already talked about, doesn't support that.” Here is the podcast: https://lnkd.in/gttauZqt And the accompanying article: https://lnkd.in/gWbcu6BS

Amazon has rolled its virtual care service into One Medical, offering pay-per-visit options priced at $29 for messaging and $49 for video visits in addition to membership-based access to virtual care. Experts offered a couple of different perspectives on the move. According to Rock Health’s Sari Kaganoff, the move may be an attempt to “convert virtual care users to One Medical membership.” While Health2047’s Larry Cohen, Ph.D, noted that the decision may have been prompted by the challenge of successfully navigating the primary care market. Read more on mHealthIntelligence:

The U.S. Department of Justice has arrested and charged the leaders of telemental health company Done. in a $100 million Adderall distribution and healthcare fraud scheme. These are “the Justice Department’s first criminal drug distribution prosecutions related to telemedicine prescribing through a digital health company,” said Nicole Argentieri, principal deputy assistant attorney general.

#ICYMI: Last week, I published a story about the role health systems can — and, according to experts, should — play in digital health solution development. The article aligns with the idea of “radical collaboration,” an oft-repeated strategy at #ATANexus. As noted by General Catalyst’s Holly Maloney, radical collaboration is necessary for the evolution of virtual care. Sources I spoke with for the article below agree that health systems with the resourses to do so should get involved in digital health development; however, there are numerous potential pitfalls. Read here for insights from PwC’s Thom Bales, Health2047’s Larry Cohen, Ph.D, and Mayo Clinic Platform’s Steve Bethke.

My #ATANexus deep dive is up! I hope this is helpful for those who weren’t able to attend. If I had to sum up the overall feeling at the conference: telehealth for telehealth’s sake is on its way out. Instead, leaders must look to develop thoughtfully integrated and personalized virtual care models. Read here for all my conference takeaways and leave your thoughts in the comments:

#ATANexus is off to a bang — sat in on some insightful sessions this morning. One key takeaway so far? Telehealth is for more than just primary and urgent care. Amid recent virtual primary care exits (looking at you Walmart and Optum), virtual care leaders are emphasizing telehealth’s role in specialty care. Coverage to come. Also, I am here at the conference until Tuesday afternoon. Do DM or email me at avaidya@techtarget.com if you are here and want to chat.

Very excited to be chatting with Twin Health’s Bree Willis at #ATANexus2024 about digital twin technology and how it can be used to care for those with metabolic conditions. Our chat will span not just the technology and patient care benefits, but also addressing challenges like patient engagement. Do join us on Sunday, May 5, at 11:10 AM MST at the Phoenix Convention Center & Venues.

Walmart is shutting down Walmart Health centers and exiting the virtual care arena, citing a “challenging reimbursement environment” and “escalating operating costs.” Between 2022 and 2023, Walmart reduced its price per virtual visit from $67 to $45 amid declining telehealth utilization across the country. “When total supply exceeds demand, by the laws of economics, you have to compete on price. And at such low price points, it is difficult to operate a virtual care business,” Trilliant Health’s Dr. Sanjula Jain told me.