Three entities — American Well, Anthem and Samsung — have partnered on a new telemedicine-related initiative aimed at helping consumers gain additional healthcare access.
Anthem members with a Samsung Galaxy device and the updated Samsung Health app can now access LiveHealth Online, a telehealth service powered by American Well’s technology.
Through the offering, individuals can connect 24/7 with a U.S.-based healthcare provider via video chat. The board-certified providers can diagnose non-emergency conditions like colds, coughs and the flu, as well as submit prescriptions.
Additionally, Anthem members can be in touch with experts in subspecialties such as dermatology and nutrition. They can also access other aspects of the app, including maternity advice, sleep tracking and fitness training.
All the capabilities are available through the Samsung Health app’s “Ask an Expert” feature.
“When we launched Experts just one year ago, our users were mostly using the service for everyday illnesses like the colds and coughs,” Nana Murugesan, Samsung Electronics America’s vice president and general manager of services and new business, said in a press release. “Now our users are increasingly using the service for more advanced telehealth treatments such as the flu, high blood pressure and insomnia, as we expand our relationships with leaders in the healthcare industry. We are pleased to work with Anthem and welcome the LiveHealth Online service into the fold with American well for Samsung Health.”
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
This isn’t the first partnership for American Well this year. In January, the company unveiled a collaboration with Philips. Through it, American Well’s telehealth solution is integrated into a number of Philips’ consumer and digital health solutions.
Anthem has also been in the news lately. The payer recently signed an agreement to acquire Aspire Health, a palliative care provider headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It completed the deal in June, and financial terms were not disclosed.
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