Teladoc Health Unveils New Capabilities to Treat More Conditions and Detect Care Gaps Earlier

Teladoc Health, a virtual care provider, has expanded its 24/7 urgent care service to treat more conditions, the company announced on Monday during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.

The New York City-based company’s virtual urgent care program connects patients to providers for non-emergency medical needs, such as a sinus infection, sore throat or the flu. Patients can connect by phone, web or app. In addition to urgent care, Teladoc Health offers virtual primary care, mental health, weight management, diabetes management and more. The company’s services are covered by most major insurers, and Teladoc works with employers as well.

Now, patients can be treated for a wider range of conditions — such as back and joint pain, hair loss and sleep problems — through the 24/7 urgent care service. Several direct-to-consumer companies also offer treatment for these conditions, like Hims & Hers and Ro, though these companies don’t accept insurance like Teladoc Health does.

For members with more complex health concerns, Teladoc Health providers can also now instantly consult board-certified specialists during a visit. This helps confirm care plans and resolve issues faster during 24/7 Care visits, reducing delays, follow-ups and unnecessary referrals, according to Teladoc. About 95% of member concerns can be addressed in one 24/7 Care visit, Teladoc claims.

In addition, Teladoc’s new capabilities allow providers to use integrated claims and Health Information Exchange data so they can identify care gaps earlier and intervene, such as by referring patients for cancer screenings. The company can also refer patients to in-network specialists and or connect them to other Teladoc programs, including for diabetes, hypertension, weight management and mental health. According to early data, about 70% of members agree to act on preventive care recommendations made during a 24/7 Care visit.

Lastly, Teladoc unveiled new prescription benefit capabilities. Its providers can now more easily view a patient’s pharmacy benefits, like what drugs are covered by their plan, copay amounts and preferred alternatives. This helps patients access affordable medications and adhere to their prescriptions, according to the company.

“As the pioneer in virtual care, we continue to innovate and raise expectations about the value that can be created in virtual visits,” said Kelly Bliss, Teladoc Health’s president of U.S. group health, in a statement. “Our clinical expertise, purpose-built technology, and operational scale are unmatched and enable us to deliver meaningful outcomes and measurable ROI for our customers.”

This news comes after Teladoc announced in April that it launched a new cardiometabolic program to prevent the advancement of diabetes, hypertension and obesity. In February, it also acquired Catapult Health, a virtual preventive care company that offers an at-home wellness exam.

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