Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Medicare has been covering a wide range of telehealth services, which have eased access to care for millions of older adults and people with disabilities. Telehealth services have been available through a wide range of providers. Now, Amazon is launching Amazon Clinic in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to treat basic medical needs through health messages and video visits 24 hours a day every day.
It was nine months ago that Amazon came out with its virtual medical clinic. Back then, Amazon’s clinic addressed 35 common ailments, such as pink eye, acid reflux, birth control, hair loss, skin conditions and urinary tract infections. It now offers video consults and operates throughout the US.
Wheel, which has a panel of board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners across the US, is partnering with Amazon to offer the video visits. Amazon Clinic will work with a host of telehealth companies to provide virtual consults. To help people choose among providers, Amazon will provide information on wait times and costs with different telehealth providers. Appointments are not needed.
In February, Amazon bought One Medical, a company that delivers primary care and owns 188 medical clinics in 29 markets. One Medical has 815,000 members. Amazon also now owns PillPack a prescription drug pharmacy, providing drugs through mail order.
It’s not yet clear whether Medicare will cover telehealth services through Amazon Clinic and, if so, whether Amazon Clinic will accept Medicare coverage for its Medicare patients.
Right now, Amazon Clinic is not taking insurance. It is a cash pay business. But, unlike most medical visits, patients will know the cost in advance of their visit.
Questions and concerns about Amazon Clinic remain, including patient health data privacy. Of course, if you have a primary care doctor and are able to schedule an appointment, it’s generally best to visit in person and have Medicare or other health insurance cover the visit.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Amazon will now sell prescription drugs
- Private sector can’t fix health care; we need government
- Six reasons you need a primary care doctor in this age of specialization
- Four questions to ask yourself about your primary care doctor
- Coronavirus: Older adults take full advantage of Medicare telehealth benefit
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