Health

Talkspace gets Q2 revenue bump: We examine why it makes sense for the online mental health provider to prioritize its B2B business.

Pharmacy customers want personalized digital interactions: JD Power’s US Pharmacy Study shows brick-and-mortar pharmacies still have an edge with customers. Online pharmacies need to boost digital personalization.

Digital health startups to watch: We spotlight RPM company VitalConnect and primary care provider Herself Health on the back of fresh funding.

Amazon brings generative AI to patient medical records: Its new HealthScribe tool looks impressive on the surface—but it’s got a lot of ground to make up in the clinical documentation market.

Healthcare bankruptcies are on the rise: 2023 could end with more Chapter 11 filings than in the previous two years combined. And big companies are failing just as fast as small ones.

The US physician population is growing: Fresh data shows more new doctors are entering the workforce, and more of them are women. But burnout and impending shortages still persist. Here are the latest stats.

Cost-related healthcare issues are most important to US consumers: Patients are worried about increased out-of-pocket spending. What’s driving the trend, and how can companies address it?

TikTok clamps down on obesity drug endorsements: We assess the muddled healthcare influencer landscape and examine why marketers must act cautiously when promoting weight loss drugs to younger consumers.

Geisinger Health Plan chooses “alternative” PBM Navitus: The move comes after Geisinger joined Risant Health, an emerging value-based care platform. Is it a sign of things to come for pharmacy benefits managers?

Medicare coverage isn’t free: KFF analysis shows that Medicare households spend far more on healthcare services and have smaller household budgets than non-Medicare households. But cost is a problem for all US households.

Healthcare companies address social isolation in older adults: We examine a new player in this space and explore why loneliness is a worthwhile—yet risky—opportunity for startups.

Free healthcare as a customer loyalty perk: GNC just launched GNC Health, offering its top-tier Pro Access members telehealth and prescription services. We think it could succeed as a loyalty play with its customer base.

Digital health startups to watch: We spotlight senior-focused tech platform CarePredict and addiction-focused DTx company Affect Therapeutics on the back of fresh funding.

Amazon Pharmacy loses jobs: The company let go ~80 pharmacy employees in a cost-cutting move. Prime members don’t seem to be using their Rx savings benefits.

US patients say Big Tech isn’t trustworthy with medical info: But if tech companies can demonstrate value with their healthcare products and services, consumers’ lack of trust may not matter.

Is it AI or is it your doctor? A recent study showed ChatGPT’s responses to patient questions were hardly distinguishable from actual physicians’ responses. But people still don’t trust it for medical advice.

What patients fear the most about hospitals: “Profits over patients” is a running narrative that hospitals must flip. Addressing patients’ sky-high medical bills is a good first step.

Trends in US time spent with media: Our latest report, US Time Spent with Media Forecast 2023, shows where consumers are shifting their media attention in 2023 and where they’ll be watching in 2025. Here’s what healthcare marketers need to know.

Generative AI is not ready for primetime in healthcare: The enthusiasm around AI’s ability to revolutionize healthcare is cooling off, but it’s not likely to hit the trough of disillusionment. Here’s why.

Consumers don’t know what they don’t know about HIPAA: US adults think the law protects their data, no matter where they share it. That ignorance can hurt digital health marketers who don’t tell users how their data is used.