Consumers are interested in using telehealth `as a replacement or complement to in-person care, according to a joint survey conducted by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and WEGO Health of active healthcare users. The survey revealed that ease of scheduling, reduced travel, and increased access to care for immobile patients would motivate them to choose virtual visits over in-person care.The results released this week at the ATA’s Fall Forum event in New Orleans in a panel discussion
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HHS Names “A Bill You Can Understand” Challenge Winners
On Thursday during National Health IT Week, the HHS announced the winners of the HHS "A Bill You Can Understand" challenge. The design and innovation challenge was launched to solicit new approaches and draw national attention to a common complaint with the health care system: that medical billing is a source of confusion for patients and families.For the challenge, HHS received more than 80 submissions from health care organizations, technology companies, and design agencies. The challenge
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Aetna Launches Apple Watch Subsidy Program for Select Customers
Starting this fall, Aetna will make Apple Watch available to select large employers and individual customers during open enrollment season. As part of the consumer health experience, Aetna will subsidize a significant portion of the Apple Watch cost, offering monthly payroll deductions to make covering the remaining cost easier.In addition, Aetna plans to provide Apple Watch at no cost to its own nearly 50,000 employees, who will participate in the company’s wellness reimbursement program, to
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InstaMed Lands $50M for Healthcare Payment Network
InstaMed, a Philadelphia-based healthcare payment network provider connecting providers, payers and consumers on one platform has raised $50 million in funding led by Carrick Capital Partners. The company plans to utilize the funding to accelerate the growth of the InstaMed Network, accelerate go-to-market strategy and drive further innovation in healthcare payments technology. As part of the latest round of funding, Jim Madden, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Carrick Capital Partners
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AMA Survey: 5 Physician “Must-Haves” to Adopt Digital Health Tools
Physicians are attracted to digital health tools they believe will improve current practices and impact patient care, according to a new survey released today by the American Medical Association (AMA). While there is broad-based optimism, physicians tell the AMA there are “must-haves” that digital health tools need to turn their enthusiasm into adoption. “The AMA is dedicated to shaping a future when digital health tools are evidence based, validated, interoperable, and actionable,” said AMA
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TransUnion Acquires RTech for $62M to Strengthen Revenue Cycle Offerings
This week, TransUnion announced it has acquired RTech (Healthcare Revenue Technologies, Inc), a technology-driven healthcare services company helping healthcare providers uncover hard-to-find, billable revenue and implement long-term improvements that generate future value.Under terms of the acquisition, TransUnion has agreed to pay $62 million consisting of approximately $51.9 million paid at closing and up to an additional $6.2 million, deposited in escrow at closing, upon satisfaction of
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Former Zynga Exec Joins Telehealth Startup Doctor On Demand as CMO
Doctor On Demand, an on-demand video medicine provider has appointed former Zynga Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Nuckles as the compnay's new CMO. In her new role, Nuckles will work to expand Doctor On Demand’s customer engagement and growth efforts. The former Chief Marketing Officer at Zynga, Nuckles has 20 years of extensive experience driving customer growth and engagement with products — from consumer goods, to enterprise channels, to social games, to eCommerce platforms.Alongside her
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Surescripts Offers EHR Vendors Free Access to National Record Locator Service
Health information network Surescripts announced that it will offer EHR vendors free access to its National Record Locator Service, a service that gives providers an effective way to obtain a more complete view of a patient’s health history until 2019. Early EHR adopters of the NRLS include A number of leading EHR vendors, including Aprima, eClinicalWorks (eCW), Epic, Greenway Health, and NextGen Healthcare have already agreed to offer the capability to their users.“Our customers have already
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First Choice Health, MultiCare Health Inks New Accountable Care Deal
First Choice Health, a Seattle-based, physician and hospital owned company and MultiCare Health System and its Accountable Care Organization MultiCare Connected Care (MCC), have announced a new ACO contract. The new contract creates access to MCC’s clinically integrated network for First Choice clients. MCC’s network includes five hospitals, 13 urgent care clinics, 11 Redi-Clinics in Rite Aid stores, plus:- More than 450 primary care providers- More than 1,200 specialists- More than 260 clinic
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Klara Lands $3M to Expand its Secure Healthcare Messaging App
Klara, a NYC-based secure healthcare messaging company has raised $3 million in funding led by Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Project A Ventures from Berlin along with existing investors Atlantic Labs and Groupe Arnault. The company plans to utilize the new funding to support its vision of building the "central nervous system of healthcare" through connecting all medical providers, patients and other medical professionals such as pharmacies, labs and specialists together on one platform.Founded in 2013
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