When one (virtual) door closes…

Healthcare’s "virtual front door" concept is getting a much-needed refresh, with organizations rethinking how to meet consumers where they are and how they want to engage. Last week, Cigna and Hackensack Meridian Health (in partnership with K Health) both announced chat-based apps for preventative, primary, and sick care—with the ability to route higher-complexity cases to in-person visits. Meanwhile, Fabric (formerly known as Florence) made its fourth acquisition in 18 months, further expanding its front door capabilities with TeamHealth’s nationwide virtual provider network. At a time when some are getting out of telehealth, these players are doubling down, using engagement modalities like texting and technology like conversational AI to refresh momentum.

Oral health is about more than just clean teeth; it’s a key component of overall health. Rock Health Advisory's latest blog, with support from CareQuest Innovation Partners, explores the connection between oral and general health, developments in dental innovation, and opportunities for whole-person care.

Headlines

Health Care In Schools? Yes!
California Health Care Foundation’s podcast on providing care in schools Making Waves In Health Tech

Amazon Inks Digital Health Partnership With Talkspace
Amazon adds mental health support to its health conditions program Fierce Healthcare

Physical Therapy Startup Sword Health Shifts To A Novel Way Of Getting Paid
Members pay in full only if they show improvements in clinical outcomes Endpoints News

House Panel Advances Bill To Extend Medicare’s Telehealth Flexibilities
Committee suggests PBM reforms could pay for telehealth policy extension through 2026 STAT

Senators Target Telehealth Firms for Misleading Weight-Loss Promotion
False GLP-1 information online could cost $500K in FDA fines The Wall Street Journal

All Independent Board Members Resign From DNA Tester 23andMe
Unexpected outcome of CEO’s take-private attempts one month ago Fortune

Recent Funding

  • PictorLabs lands $30M for its AI-powered histopathology solution
  • Ferrum Health secures $16M to help health systems deploy clinical AI algorithms
  • Smart baby monitor maker Harbor locks down $7M
  • AI-driven women’s health insights platform Cercle closes on $6M
  • Canopie seeds $3.7M for maternal mental healthcare platform