Health IT

Teladoc’s telehealth acquisition adds small, medium-sized employer plans

Despite the concerns over limited or no reimbursement by payers, telemedicine shows signs of growing. […]

Despite the concerns over limited or no reimbursement by payers, telemedicine shows signs of growing. The latest acquisition in the sector seems to underline that trend. In a move to widen its audience Teladoc has acquired Consult-a-Doctor for an undisclosed amount, according to a company statement.

Teladoc, which claims to have an audience of 6 million users, provides access to physicians by video or phone for non emergencies such as bronchitis, sinus problems and allergies. Consult-a-Doctor works with small- and medium-sized employer health plans. By increasing access to physicians for minor conditions using email, phone and video, the idea is that employees will be healthier and spend less time out of the office.

A survey of IT and business decisionmakers at payer and provider organizations, by Technology Business Research found that providers were giving more priority to telemedicine investment. Earlier this year Oscar, a startup health insurance business in New York poised to launch when New York Health Insurance Exchange opens next month, developed a partnership with Teladoc to give its members 24-hour access to physicians through phone and video consults.

A Frost & Sullivan report published last year said the top five telemedicine markets combined produced more than $1.9 billion in annual revenue. Zachary Bujnoch, a senior industry analyst for Frost & Sullivan, told American Medical News that home health care services and remote doctor and specialists services each generate an annual revenue of between $100 million and $300 million.

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