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Digital health startup Ovatient, which was formed in 2022 through a partnership between Cleveland-based MetroHealth System and South Carolina-based MUSC Health, has launched a new virtual care platform aimed at MetroHealth patients.

Building its applications into Epic and MyChart, Ovatient offers virtual urgent care, same-day primary care and scheduled primary care through a national provider team. Its suite of patient-centered options extends MetroHealth's care footprint, officials said.

Ovatient and MetroHealth said they plan to serve more than 12,000 patients in the first year of their partnership. MetroHealth's pharmacy and Ovatient also provide same-day prescription delivery services.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT

Ovatient's virtual primary and urgent care services are billed through MetroHealth and are covered by insurance or can be paid with a number of cash options. Through the partnership, patients in Ohio can get care at home, at work or in other remote settings.

The technology integrates with MetroHealth's systems, including Epic and MyChart, as well as its Customer Care Center, enabling providers to access nearly real-time data. Patients can go from virtual to in-person appointments.

Later this year, through its partnership with MUSC Health, Ovatient will expand its virtual care services into South Carolina.

Also in 2024, the company will launch a digital health platform, available exclusively through Ovatient's health system partners, that will include an improved consumer experience, access to more virtual specialty providers, and advanced consumer insights and clinical decision support.

THE LARGER TREND

Not all companies have found success offering virtual care. Just last month Walmart announced it was closing Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care, saying the business model was not profitable nor sustainable.听

Walmart said the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs created a lack of profitability.听

Walgreens recently started offering virtual care, but that offering is direct-to-consumer and insurance is not accepted for those visits, though the company said it plans to accept insurance for virtual visits in the future.

Insurance can be used to cover the cost of prescriptions. Consumers can get their prescriptions filled at Walgreens pharmacies or with Walgreens Same Day Prescription Delivery.
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Jeff Lagasse听is听editor of Healthcare Finance听News.
Email:听jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance听News is a听开心鬼传媒听Media publication.