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Ding dong—healthcare’s front door has gone digital
Even before the pandemic, an increasing number of consumers were turning to Dr. Google—a trend that underscores the tech giant’s strategy to reinvent how people access health information. With virtual care offering greater convenience, CVS’s Chief Digital Officer is betting the shift to telemedicine will continue. We reflected on this trend and identified five ways health systems can build or refine their digital front door strategy. And we’re putting our money where our mouth is: Rock Health is proud to announce our latest investment in Brightline’s $20M round, as they expand virtual pediatric behavioral health services to families across California (and more states coming soon)!
Evidence generation above all
As the nation’s mental health crisis surges, digital behavioral health solutions are poised for takeoff. Yet some argue there’s reason to be wary—concerns around clinical validation and patient privacy are emerging. Evidence generation is more important now than ever. Check out how Omada and Evidation are partnering to measure outcomes in everyday life and creating the gold standard of decentralized clinical trials on the Rock Health Podcast.
Teladongo has arrived
In an explosive $18.5B megadeal, Teladoc announced its merger with Livongo to become the “greatest virtual care platform in the market.” This announcement is merely the starter pistol for a virtual care platforms race—we anticipate a chain reaction of M&A among telemedicine companies looking to build more comprehensive healthcare solutions. There’s more on the exit horizon—GoodRx filed for an IPO and PE firm Blackstone acquired a majority share of Ancestry for $4.7B.
Femtech—it’s more expansive than you think
We’re just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to transforming the health of all women. Just 3% of all digital health funding since 2011 has focused on women’s health—65% of which has gone to supporting fertility and pregnancy/motherhood. But the Femtech opportunity extends much further—we see an untapped market capable of supporting the diversity of women’s experiences, with an emphasis on addressing health inequities and tackling stigmatized conditions.
Data infrastructure, interoperability, and privacy, oh my!
As COVID-19 cases surge, data continues to be key—and contentious—in fighting the pandemic. Following last week’s directive for hospitals to bypass the CDC when reporting coronavirus stats, HHS unveiled a new Coronavirus Data Hub—but hospitals are scrambling to pivot.
The digital health IPO window is back open
The nation’s largest insurer has entered the digital diabetes management scene. As the industry sways between build versus buy, UnitedHealth Group debuted its home-grown type 2 diabetes platform. Meanwhile, online health insurance marketplace GoHealth made its public market debut to the tune of $914M.
Primetime for primary care
In the shadow of the pandemic, a number of players are looking to make waves in the $260B primary care market. Walgreens is taking the plunge—with a $1B investment in VillageMD, the retail pharmacy giant plans to open as many as 700 doctors’ offices in its stores.
Digital health’s unexpected, unprecedented funding run
The first half of 2020 was beset by a perfect storm of maladies. At the end of Q1, we anticipated a swift, pandemic-driven slowdown in digital health funding. While there was a downswing, we couldn’t have predicted the subsequent reversal—funding topped $5.4B in the biggest H1 on record. There has never been a greater need—or demand—for tech-enabled healthcare, a sentiment that investors have resoundingly affirmed.
Here’s what Apple Health is up to now
Sleep tracking for the Apple Watch is finally here. Among a slew of health-related features announced last week, Apple also introduced new mobility metrics, which may help clinicians monitor patients’ recovery or decline. In other launch news, Anthem released an Amazon Alexa skill that enables members to easily access benefits info, while CVS Health rolled out a return-to-work program for employers and universities.
Walmart eyes the digital pharmacy
Watch out, Amazon. Walmart scooped up CareZone's medication management tech, bolstering the retail giant’s existing prescription program. Meanwhile, acquisition talks between Otsuka and former digital health unicorn Proteus didn’t quite pan out—the smart pill pioneer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. One digital therapeutics company that did have a good week: Akili’s video game for kids with ADHD became the first game-based therapeutic to receive FDA de novo clearance.