Atlanta-based Sharecare, the digital health company created by WebMD founder Jeff Arnold and Hawai‘i Medical Service Association (HMSA), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association has kicked off the rollout of Sharecare’s digital health platform statewide. In addition to their expanded partnership, HMSA has made a separate undisclosed strategic investment in Sharecare.
As part of the expanded partnership, Sharecare will provide the digital connectivity and messaging platform to enable Māhie 2020, HMSA’s strategic vision and plan to advance the health of Hawaii. HMSA has already begun onboarding ambassadors and employees onto the newly developed Sharecare platform last month, with deployment to all residents of Hawaii expected this summer.
Sharecare’s comprehensive platform – soon available to other health plans and employers – is the culmination of more than six years of:
– building, acquiring and integrating key technologies and functionality;
– setting a new industry standard in personalization, interoperability and daily engagement;
– efficiently connecting people to the healthcare system.
“As a doctor, I’m excited that the Sharecare digital platform supports the relationship between a patient and their physician by enabling them to connect outside of the doctor’s office,” said Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., HMSA senior vice president and chief medical officer. “By partnering with Sharecare to better inform and support both the patient and physician and by leveraging artificial intelligence through the power of the smartphone, we believe everyone in Hawaii will benefit.”
Additionally, HMSA offers its members access to Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease – also part of Sharecare through its 2016 acquisition of Healthways – which is the only scientifically proven program to stop the progression and reverse the effects of heart disease, and is covered by Medicare and other insurers like HMSA. Later this year, the content, tools and resources of the Blue Zones Project and Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease also will be available on the Sharecare platform.
Since the company’s acquisition of Healthways – Sharecare has been laser-focused on addressing the population health challenges of large employers and health plans in addition to their existing provider and consumer business lines. To date, Sharecare has raised a total of $225 million in funding.
“Over the past few years at Sharecare, we have actively assembled all the capabilities and programs to create one comprehensive, integrated platform, allowing organizations to effectively manage and improve the health and wellness of their diverse populations,” said Jeff Arnold, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Sharecare. “We are thrilled to work with a partner like HMSA who is fully leveraging our robust solution at every possible touchpoint.”
Arnold added, “Beyond the privilege of working with the visionary leadership at HMSA to roll out Sharecare across the entire state and health plan system, we are excited about creating new immersive health experiences that uniquely integrate virtual reality of the human body and 360-degree video to inspire the people of Hawaii to better understand and improve their health.”
