Dive Brief:
- Walgreens has announced plans to expand its telehealth platform, MDLIVE, to a total of 25 states by the end of this year. Users can also now access the platform via the Walgreens website on desktop and tablet in addition to mobile.
- Adam Pellegrini, Walgreens' divisional vice president of digital health, said in a press statement that this is part of the company's efforts to "advance our telehealth strategy and expand our digital footprint."
- Private insurers in 24 states and the District of Columbia are required to pay for telehealth services, and more than half of U.S. hospitals has used some type of telemedicine platform, according to the American Telehealth Association.
Dive Insight:
No surprises here. Although regulatory barriers still stymie telemedicine in some states (cough, Texas, cough), coverage and providers continue to creep—and leap—forward. UnitedHealthcare announced last month that it will roll out the widest telemedicine coverage in the U.S., according to a company release. It will begin by providing access to nearly 1 million customers in self-funded plans in May, and will extend coverage to up to 20 million customers in fully-insured plans by Jan. 1, 2016. (The three networks the insurer will use are Doctor On Demand, Optum's NowClinic and American Well's Amwell—the last of whom is currently suing Teladoc for copying its platform.)
Want to read more? You may enjoy this story aboutTeladoc's antitrust suit against the Texas Medical Board.