Amazon launches Amazon Clinic, a ‘virtual care storefront’ in 32 states (now live)
After shutting down telehealth service Amazon Care, the e-commerce giant reenters the marketplace with a new affordable service that does not accept insurance.
Amazon is back in the telehealth business. It announced on Tuesday that it is launching Amazon Clinic, just months after shutting down Amazon Care. Amazon describes the new service as a virtual health “storefront” in which users can search for, connect with and pay for telehealth care, addressing a variety of conditions that are some of the more popular for telehealth consultations today. Amazon Clinic initially is launching in 32 states. It does not work with health insurance at this point, and overall pricing will vary depending on providers, condition and location.
Becker’s Hospital Review cited six things to know about Amazon Clinic:
- The service does not yet accept insurance, but customers can use insurance to help pay for medications prescribed by a licensed clinician through the platform.
- The company said patients can fill prescriptions using Amazon Pharmacy or any pharmacy of their choice.
- To use the service, customers select the condition they are interested in speaking about and then choose a preferred provider.
- After completing a questionnaire, they will connect with a clinician in a secure messaging portal to respond at the customer’s convenience.
- If a condition isn’t suitable to be treated through the service, Amazon will let customers know that before they connect with a provider.
- Two weeks of follow-up messages are included with the cost of the initial consultation, which Amazon said in many cases will be equal to or less than the cost of the average copay.
The service builds on Amazon Pharmacy, which offers a way for users to get medication delivered to their door, as well as Amazon’s acquisition of primary care provider One Medical for $3.9 billion earlier this year.
Related: Amazon expands health care footprint with $3.9B acquisition of One Medical
“We believe that improving both the occasional and ongoing engagement experience is necessary to making care dramatically better,” according to a company statement. “We also believe that customers should have the agency to choose what works best for them. Amazon Clinic is just one of the ways we’re working to empower people to take control of their health by providing access to convenient, affordable care in partnership with trusted providers.”
The Amazon Clinic news came hours after a report that Amazon is about to lay off roughly 10,000 employees. The cuts reportedly will affect employees in Amazon’s retail division, human resources and team working on Alexa and Amazon’s devices.