Amazon has made a significant stride into the digital health arena, revealing its Health Condition Programs during the JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The initiative allows customers to access digital health benefits through their employer or insurance carrier, with chronic care management company Omada Health as the inaugural partner.
The primary objective of Amazon’s Health Condition Programs is to empower individuals in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, prediabetes, and high blood pressure by providing access to digital health tools. Omada Health, founded in 2011, specializes in prediabetes management and has expanded its services to encompass diabetes, hypertension, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Omada Health’s platform employs personalized data-driven behavior change coaching to assist individuals in managing their health conditions. Users can track various metrics, including exercise, diet, and blood glucose, while also accessing virtual care for support through the platform. Eligible members of Omada can enroll in diabetes, diabetes prevention, and hypertension programs through Amazon.
Amazon expressed its intention to broaden the Health Condition Programs by collaborating with more digital health companies, aiming to make it easier for individuals to discover and utilize health care benefits. Aaron Martin, Vice President of Healthcare at Amazon, emphasized the goal of supporting customers in improving their health without additional costs.
Larger Healthcare Trends
Amazon’s foray into digital health dates back to the launch of Amazon Care in 2019, initially a virtual clinic for its employees that later expanded to external employers. Despite the shutdown of Amazon Care in 2022, the company introduced Amazon Clinic, a virtual care platform addressing common conditions like hair loss, heartburn, acne, dandruff, and seasonal allergies.
Amazon’s strategic moves in the healthcare sector include the $3.9 billion acquisition of One Medical in 2022, demonstrating its commitment to expanding healthcare services. Partnerships with Employee-focused care navigation platform Rightway and virtual care provider Maven Clinic further underscore Amazon’s dedication to comprehensive healthcare solutions.
Omada Health, in the same year, secured substantial Series E funding amounting to $192 million, emphasizing the growing recognition and support for innovative digital health solutions.
