...exchanges. MobiHealthNews broke the exclusive including Aetna’s confirmation and also the quiet departure of two CarePass executives from the company which took place earlier this summer. This Editor wonders if Cigna’s similar GoYou has had more success, having gone far more public in its introduction with some of the oddest TV and web spots to see daylight [TTA 4 Oct 13], but at least they attempted to break out of the bland insurer communication mold to something that might resonate with the intended audience. Other than through industry conferences, this Editor would never have learned of CarePass’ existence. Does this... Continue Reading
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Health kiosks, insurers–perfect together?
The real revenue stream of health kiosks revealed? The business model of free health kiosks placed in places like Wal-Mart and sibling Sam’s Club has to date been advertiser-dependent. Now SoloHealth [TTA 27 Feb 13]is adding an agreement in California with insurer Anthem Blue Cross to solicit name, email and phone number of individual users who want more information on insurance. They must opt in to add this, but it is not disclosed by the friendly animation (a doctor, no less) that a broker will be contacting them; to find out, the user has to hit a blue button–not the... Continue Reading
Is the ‘last mile’ of app certification efficacy metrics?
...evolved nearly two years ago when the reporting/analysis needed for this was largely not available. Newer programs such as Johns Hopkins’ mHealth Evidence and the new IMS Health AppScript [TTA 15 Dec] can dip into the ‘big data’ pool far more effectively. Will Happtique be able to address this, or leave the ‘last mile’ to others? And what is the real and quantifiable demand for app certification anyway? Health app prescribing by physicians is a question mark in this Editor’s observation; the larger market may be health plans and programs such as Partners HealthCare’s Wellocracy, Cigna’s GoYou and Aetna’s CarePass.... Continue Reading
Launches: MyHealthApps directory, mobile mental health app in Cambridgeshire
...website with mirror sites in 48 languages from Albanian to Welsh, including four varieties of English (!) There are also submission links for patient groups and developers. PatientView developed this with support from: GSK, Janssen, Novo Nordisk, O2/Telefonica Europe, Vodafone Foundation, NHS England’s Library of Health Apps, UK government body KTN CONNECT and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). The patient group review and backing adds credibility, and along with US-based Cigna’s GoYou Marketplace and the home-grown MobileHealthMarketplace [TTA 4 Oct] gives those who are shopping apps some means of judgment, which was... Continue Reading
The lack of evidence in health IT and patient engagement
...apps and the endlessly touted Holy Grail of patient engagement–the signal being improved outcomes, reduced cost. Some positive indicators on his VU meter: Wellocracy [TTA 30 Oct], the WebMD acquisition of Avado [TTA today], and Aetna’s CarePass [TTA 12 July]. But then we arrive back at another Holy Grail: “The Holy Grail of Health IT right now is to create a trusted app platform and marketplace.” Perhaps Happtique was premature, and CarePass and Cigna’s strange GoYou Marketplace (which he doesn’t mention) are the wave of the future. HL7Standards Hat tip to reader Vince Kuraitis of Better Health Technologies via Twitter.... Continue Reading
Wellocracy launched to explain fitness tracking, apps
Partners HealthCare’s Center for Connected Health has launched Wellocracy, to explain to consumers how you can get the most out of their fitness trackers, health apps and related devices. It won’t be a ‘Consumer Reports’ of devices or apps (though provides a comparison chart), ‘curate’ them as the now seemingly dormant Happtique once intended to do or screech at you on your ‘issues’ as Cigna’s Go You does, but offers sensible advice on how to get the most out of the kit you just bought and the information it provides. Also it addresses the ‘stickiness factor’–staying with a regimen–connects to... Continue Reading
Two health app directories/curation sites debut, contrastingly
[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/CignaGOYOU_Judging_720x426.jpg” thumb_width=”175″ /]Health app curation and directory listing is becoming a popular space with Cigna’s GoYou Marketplace, launched at Health 2.0 this week, and start-up MobileHealthMarketplace.com. Cigna’s move is clearly designed to counter Aetna’s CarePass, which is a more broadly centered consumer platform [TTA 12 July]. GoYou will include not only health monitoring/wellness apps but also lifestyle/money management with a strong social (rating/sharing) overlay. Developed with SocialWellth, the latter’s Las Vegas location must account for the blindingly bright, about-as-far-as-you-can-get-from-insurance graphics (despite the Cigna logo), to the point where the approach becomes New Age kitschy: “We want to inspire you... Continue Reading
Audax Health raises $20 million
...product is Zensey, a mobile-based platform for personalized health content, connection with like minds via online communities, challenges, health assessments and games. The funds reportedly will be used for product development, build out the company’s mobile and engineering teams and expand partnerships with health plans, employers and providers. Previous funding has exceeded $35 million since its 2010 founding ($21 million this past January alone). Corporate partners include Cigna and Cardinal Health, with New Leaf Ventures their leading VC. Press release via Yahoo Finance; Gigaom; Washington Business Journal. Hat tip to reader David E. Albert, MD of AliveCor via Twitter (@DrDave01)... Continue Reading
Jawbone definitely ‘up’ with BodyMedia acquisition
BodyMedia, mentioned earlier today in context with wireless expansion into telehealth M2M (in this case, T-Mobile) is being acquired by Jawbone (of the UP bracelet). BodyMedia’s wearable (on the upper arm), wireless syncing body monitors, developed over 14 years and with FDA Class II approval, have primarily targeted the ‘serious’ dieter with chronic weight problems and/or a diabetes prevention need, not the occasional exerciser. Their partnerships with Jenny Craig, Apex Gyms and a trial with Cigna employees have been tailored to this objective. In contrast, Jawbone has consistently targeted the more casual user with fashionable wrist-worn bracelets plus a wider... Continue Reading
Telemedicine breaking through with payers? (US)
Cigna, the tenth largest insurer in the US, jumped this week on the virtual consult wagon train with earlier pioneers UnitedHealthcare (#1), WellPoint (#2) and Aetna (#5). Cigna is partnering with MDLive to offer online video, telephone or e-mail consultations with doctors for non-urgent care as an option for self-insured employers nationwide starting 1 July for plans effective 1 January 2014. MDLive will send, via Cigna, summaries of telehealth visits to patients’ physicians. Cigna’s present telemedicine partner, McKesson’s RelayHealth, will remain for virtual consults with the patient’s own physician. Among payers, the widest coverage appears to be UnitedHealthcare with NowClinic... Continue Reading
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