SEATTLE — Amazon has acquired health care startup Health Navigator LLC to help bolster its recently launched primary care program for employees, called Amazon Care, which combines telemedicine checkups, at-home or in-office doctor’s visits and prescription deliveries.
Chicago-based Health Navigator operates a platform that helps health care providers serve patients remotely with telemedicine services. The company was founded by Dr. David Thompson, who helped establish the Schmitt-Thompson protocols, a set of guidelines used to triage patients over the telephone.
The acquisition is Amazon’s second in the health care arena, after last year’s purchase of online pharmacy PillPack.
Amazon employees will be offered new health insurance plans in 2020 from Haven Health, a joint venture among Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway. As reported by Bloomberg News, the new plans will feature wellness incentives and won’t have any deductibles.
