Doctors with big egos, a steep learning curve and complex regulations are the barriers keeping tech entrepreneurs out of the healthcare industry. Nat Turner – whose online ad management startup was acquired by Google – looks at why this is the case and debates his arguments with readers.
An FDA advisory committee has approved an in-home test for AIDS that works like OTC pregnancy tests: two colored lines on the test strip after 20 minutes means the person is positive for HIV. The vote was 17-0 in favor of the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test.
A FitBit for kids is using avatars and points to motivate 11 to 14-year-olds to get off the couch. The data is tracked and uploaded to an online account. Parents can put money in the account so that children can redeem their Zamz point to buy virtual clothing and accessories or save up for an iPod or a Wii.
Medical expense tracker Simplee has great market coverage, high user engagement and now $6 million in Series A funding. After only a year, the company has managed nearly half a billion dollars in doctor bills for members across thousands of medical providers and is planning to launch a new feature that will spot billing errors.
This fall Colorado will launch a payer claims database that compares prices for all medical procedures. The Center for Improving Value in Health Care expects to have data from most of the claims in the state in 2013 and will identify providers by name at that point. Thirteen other states either have similar databases or are working to build them.
