Written by : Nikita Saha
January 9, 2024
This initiative is part of Amazon Health’s efforts to provide comprehensive, digitally-enabled healthcare services. It is designed to help individuals better manage their health conditions and overall well-being.
In an effort to enhance care for chronic conditions, Amazon Health has launched “Health Condition Programs” in the US. The program offers digital health benefits to customers for managing chronic conditions such as pre-diabetes, diabetes, and hypertension.
This initiative is part of Amazon Health’s efforts to provide comprehensive, digitally-enabled healthcare services. It is designed to help individuals better manage their health conditions and overall well-being.
Sharing thoughts, Aaron Martin, VP, Amazon Health, said, “Many people aren’t aware of the health care benefits they’re eligible for, that are typically no cost or subsidised by their employer or insurance plan…When customers are shopping for health-related products on Amazon, we can surface these additional benefits to provide even more support in improving their health, at no additional cost.”
1. Customers first verify if their insurance plan covers a Health Condition Program
2. If their plan covers it and they are clinically eligible, they can access additional features. These include:
Health management via devices including continuous glucose monitors and blood pressure monitors
Personalised virtual health coaching
Access to exclusive forums, and more.
For this initial launch, Amazon Health is partnering with San Francisco-based digital health company Omada Health. Omada uses integrated care pathways and a personalised approach via one-on-one support and custom-built health plans to engage with members.
This helps to manage customer’s health, by providing insights and analytics on their progress, thereby addressing their long-term and holistic needs.
Through this strategic partnership, Amazon Health aims to extend access to health programs and care management services for numerous customers, potentially introducing them to services they may not be aware of.
Going forward, the company is expected to forge several partnerships with other digital health companies, expanding their scope of coverage for both services provided and members that can benefit from these services.
Lately, many non-traditional players are flocking to healthcare space recognising its vast potential and the chance to make a positive impact on the community. Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens have all ventured into this field.
For instance, Walmart Health, notably expanded its clinical offerings over the last two years, while CVS and Walgreens have both invested significant resources to enable front-line care delivery.
Amidst competition, Amazon relies on its extensive industry experience, consumer technology prowess, and customer service excellence to establish a distinctive presence in the healthcare space.
Earlier, Amazon expanded its healthcare presence by launching a new location for One Medical. Amazon’s One Medical is a membership-based healthcare service offering both virtual and in-person care, recently acquired by Amazon to expand its presence in wellness, medicine, and primary care.
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving senior digital health leaders. CHIME includes more than 5,000 members in 56 countries and two US territories and partners with over 150 healthcare IT businesses and professional services firms. CHIME enables its members and business partners to collaborate, exchange ideas, develop professionally and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and care throughout the communities they serve. CHIME's members are chief information officers (CIOs), chief medical information officers (CMIOs), chief nursing information officers (CNIOs), chief innovation officers (CIOs), chief digital officers (CDOs), and other senior healthcare leaders. The CHIME India Chapter became the first international chapter outside North America in 2016 and is now a community of over 70+ members in India. For more information, please visit www.chimecentral.org