HEALTHTECH SECURITY
Tivic Health | October 18, 2022
Tivic Health® Systems, Inc. a commercial-phase health technology company focused on bioelectronic medicine, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Reliefband product line for nausea treatment and all related assets from Reliefband Technologies, LLC.
Reliefband has been an innovator in wearable, FDA-cleared electronic therapeutics for treatment of nausea and vomiting. Reliefband has multiple products available both over-the-counter and by prescription.
“We are incredibly excited to add the full suite of Reliefband products to our commercial portfolio. The Reliefband team successfully pioneered a direct-to-consumer business model for medical products. This acquisition, when combined with our growing direct-to-consumer sales of ClearUP, will significantly accelerate Tivic’s revenue opportunities.”
Jennifer Ernst, CEO of Tivic Health
Recurring nausea impacts approximately 1 in 6 US adults. According to QY Research, nausea treatment is a $2.4B market in the US and $5.5B globally, growing at 6.5% CAGR.
Reliefband’s wrist-worn electronic nerve stimulators have been FDA-cleared for treatment of nausea associated with seven independent clinical indications, including nausea from motion sickness, pregnancy, migraines, anxiety, chemotherapy, various medications and hangovers.
The patented products are backed by 40 peer-reviewed clinical studies and have generated over 3500 Amazon reviews averaging 4+ stars.
Both Reliefband and ClearUP products offer consumers ways to manage health-related conditions without the issues and side effects often associated with medication use. Both are FDA-cleared, highly effective, fast-acting, convenient, and drug-free. Both currently are sold primarily online, and both have received CE Marks allowing international expansion.
In addition to the Reliefband direct-to-consumer branded products, Tivic will also acquire Reliefband’s Reletex-branded prescription nausea treatments. Reletex products are currently distributed by hospitals and medical professionals and are reimbursed under HCPCS code E0765 for certain conditions.
“We look forward to growing Tivic with the addition of clinically proven, revenue-producing bioelectronic products that have seen strong customer adoption and growth,” continued Ernst.
Consideration to be provided by Tivic consists of up to $33.5 million, of which up to $1.5 million can be paid, at the election of Tivic, in restricted common stock of Tivic. Consideration is subject to working capital adjustments, less Reliefband transaction expenses and any indebtedness of Reliefband at closing.
The transaction is expected to be consummated in the fourth quarter of 2022 or first quarter of 2023 after the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including but not limited to securing the financing necessary to pay the purchase price. Additional information on the transaction can be found in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Tivic with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Read More
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
Stellar Health | October 19, 2022
Stellar Health a healthcare technology company changing the way health insurers and providers activate value-based care arrangements, announced the expansion of their value-based care initiative with Highmark Inc. upon results of its initial program that improved quality and chronic condition management across Highmark's Medicare Advantage and Commercial lines of business.
Stellar announced the collaboration in 2021 to help Highmark accelerate new payment models and value-based care for independent practices in Pennsylvania. This initiative, called True Performance Lite, was an extension of Highmark's existing True Performance PCP Suite Program aimed at serving larger providers.
The True Performance Lite program used Stellar's unique incentive design that rewards providers and staff for completing granular VBC actions focused on quality improvement, management of chronic conditions, reduced ED and inpatient utilization, and affordability of care for Highmark members. The program saw strong results across VBC metrics compared to 2020:
The program also saw high engagement and satisfaction across providers involved in the True Performance Lite program.
"I wish all health plans had program, it's the easiest of all platforms by far," said Renee Guistwite, Office Manager from Guistwite Family Practice.
Cathy, an Office Manager from Dr. Dana E Bragg MD's office says "This app is really easy. Every part is user-friendly and it doesn't take much time now that we have a workflow going. We are really excited about Stellar!"
Stellar's web-based, cloud-native, point-of-care application leverages historical patient information to prompt primary care providers and their care teams of gaps and opportunities relating to patients' healthcare regimens for Highmark members. Stellar Health partners with health insurers to enable providers and their staff to engage in these value-based opportunities through the application with granular action recommendations, ensure success in closing gaps, and pairs each action with a financial incentive for the time it takes to complete it.
In 2022, Stellar and Highmark expanded the True Performance Lite program into Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware supporting over 60+ provider groups across multiple lines of business and are continuing to build on the overall momentum and results in 2023. The companies are continuing to innovate on new ways to engage the Highmark network and drive outsized results through several cost and utilization initiatives as they bring the model to new provider profiles.
"Our provider-centric model lends itself to the success we have seen with Highmark over the last year as they lead value-based care delivery in the Mid-Atlantic region. We look forward to expanding with multiple lines of business to allow providers who handle all types of coverage to meaningfully participate in VBC and help deliver better primary care for all patients."
Michael Meng, CEO of Stellar Health
About Stellar Health
Stellar Health is a healthcare technology company focused on enabling success across the value-based care continuum by bridging the incentive gap between providers and payors. The Stellar solution is the first point-of-care, cloud-based platform that helps primary care providers continually engage with their patients by providing them real-time information and tangible action-based incentives for improving quality of care. With Stellar, providers can achieve a range of VBC goals, like improving quality scores and optimizing the patient care journey through transitions of care and high-value referrals, all with the objective of improving patient health.
Read More
FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
Tebra | November 22, 2022
Tebra, a leader in practice growth technology and cloud-based clinical and financial software, announced that its Chief Technology Officer Kyle Ryan was named in the Healthcare Technology Report’s list of Top 25 Healthcare Technology CTOs of 2022. The annual list recognizes the most accomplished executives in healthcare technology who are leading teams in delivering cutting edge products that boost operations and improve efficiency for their customers.
The CTOs on this year’s list have a wide range of impressive backgrounds, but each is the driving force behind their company’s technology innovations, ensuring software functionality and effectiveness. Read the full report here.
“Kyle has been an integral part of the executive leadership team at Tebra and has built a strong partnership between product management and the technology team within the organization. He has vast knowledge about healthcare IT and how it applies to solving business problems and is keenly customer focused and is always taking time to understand customer needs at a deeper level. Kyle’s an outstanding ambassador for the company and prides himself on developing a healthy and high-performance culture.”
Dan Rodrigues, CEO of Tebra
Kyle is responsible for all areas of technology with a focus on the vision and strategy for Tebra’s suite of products and services. He believes that great products are created through a keen customer focus, groundbreaking ideas, precise engineering, and efficient execution.
“I am honored to be included in this list of prestigious technology leaders,” Kyle said. “This recognition also highlights the technology team’s passion for improving healthcare and the company’s mission of providing independent practices with digital tools and support to thrive in a new era of healthcare.”
About Tebra
In 2021, with a combined mission to unlock better healthcare, Kareo and PatientPop joined forces to form Tebra — the operating system for the connected practice of the future. With an all-in-one, purpose-built platform to drive practice success and modernize every step of the patient journey, Tebra provides digital tools and support to attract new patients, deliver modern care, get paid quickly, and operate efficiently.
Read More
HEALTHTECH SECURITY
Zócalo Health | October 12, 2022
Zócalo Health, a Latino-founded healthcare service designed for Latino patients, announced the launch of its primary care memberships for residents across California and Texas. Starting members can access same day virtual care visits and care navigation services via Zócalo’s website, introducing the Latino community to an improved and long overdue healthcare experience built on trust, relationships, and culture.
Zócalo Health, which premiered as an invite-only service to select members earlier this summer, was founded by Erik Cardenas and Mariza Hardin to strengthen the health and wellbeing of the Latino community by eliminating barriers to high-quality healthcare services. This multi-state launch demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to delivering affordable and accessible primary care that blends tradition with innovation and prioritizes trusting relationships between providers and patients.
Members will have access to a range of services and care options that would typically be addressed in primary care including: mental health conditions, preventative and lifestyle needs, chronic disease management, urgent care, and other more specific health conditions. The Zócalo primary care model includes the use of community health workers (CHWs) – or as they’re known in the Latino community, promotores de salud. Research shows CHWs are crucial to helping health systems achieve their full potential, since they work to connect patients to local resources and care. At Zócalo, promotores work individually with members to coordinate their care across a team of physicians, nurses, and mental health therapists, as well as connect members to needed resources across the community.
Clinicians and promotores are hired from the communities they serve and can provide culturally competent care in both English and Spanish. By building care teams that come from and look like the communities they serve, the team is better able to foster a primary care relationship with patients. Once care has been established with Zócalo Health, members have 24/7 access to chat with their promotor de salud to receive individual guidance on personal health goals and needs.
“Today, I am immensely proud to open up Zócalo Health’s services to the community. As a kid, I remember the long waits in the community health clinic to see a doctor who often did not speak Spanish. I had to act as a translator for my mom about my own care and help her navigate next steps. I felt guilty that my mom had to take time off from work for my appointment and pay for any prescriptions or additional care needed. For my family, no work meant no pay, so a doctor’s visit was a heavy burden on everyone,” said Zócalo Health CEO Erik Cardenas. “As the landscape for healthcare delivery has changed with technology, our community continues to get left behind. The one-size-fits-all model for healthcare doesn’t work for everyone. I owe it to my parents and my family to do better. Zócalo Health is focused on giving our people a community built around their healthcare needs.”
Despite the major cultural impact the Latino population has had on the U.S., and their increased spending power year after year, the U.S. healthcare system has been slow to adapt its services to the needs of this community’s unique health and cultural needs. Latinos still experience disproportionate barriers to healthcare access, particularly in primary care, where the average wait time to see a doctor is 24 days. This long delay, combined with fewer in-person appointments, high-deductible plans, and high out-of-pocket fees, results in many Latino patients avoiding treatment, using informal networks (family/friends), or waiting for hours in expensive emergency rooms to seek care. In addition to the existing disparities in healthcare access, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic impact have exacerbated health inequities for the Latino community, particularly when it comes to accessing high-quality primary care and preventative services.
“I’ve always been community-oriented and my role as a promotora gives me the opportunity to help other Latinos manage their health and navigate a system that unfortunately has not adapted to our needs. “I’m so excited to be able to guide my community through what can often be a stressful experience in order to deliver personalized care management from someone who understands our culture and needs. Our Zócalo Health team is ready to advocate for our members and ultimately impact our community’s health, one person at a time.”
Zócalo Health promotora Caroline Carbajal
Zócalo Health’s membership and payment options are designed to make access to primary care easy and affordable for Latinos. Services are offered through monthly memberships, with pricing starting at $40 per month or at a discounted rate of $420 a year when paid upfront.
Patients in California and Texas can now purchase a membership and schedule same-day virtual appointments by visiting zocalo.health. Zócalo Health plans to expand to other states in 2022 and beyond.
About Zócalo Health
Zócalo Health is a Latino-founded healthcare service designed for the Latino patient. Our primary care model blends tradition with innovation and prioritizes trusting relationships between care teams and patients. Each member of Zócalo Health is paired with a promotor de salud (community health worker) to establish a relationship to better understand members’ goals and connect them to a Zócalo Health physician. Our team of physicians, hired from the community, focus on prevention, primary care, behavioral health, and traditional practices that work together to support our members’ wellness. Operating in the states of California and Texas, Zócalo Health offers affordable and convenient care memberships that provide same-day access to culturally-aligned providers.
Read More