American Well's telehealth service now available to Anthem members with Galaxy phones

Anthem plan members who own a Samsung Galaxy device are now able to use American Well's LiveHealth Online telehealth service through the Samsung Health app, the companies announced today.

LiveHealth Online facilitates video consultations with US-based, board certified providers who can diagnose users' non-emergency medical conditions and submit a prescription if necessary. The service is available 24-7 through Samsung's app within the "Ask An Expert" feature, which was first launched alongside the rebranded health app last year to directly connect users to care providers. Through the app, users are also able to connect with specialists in various medical subspecialties such as nutrition or dermatology.

"Samsung Health provides a 'one-stop-shop' mobile platform for consumers to track their health, share data with friends and family, investigate symptoms, and communicate with healthcare professionals," Dr. David Rhew, chief medical officer and VP of global healthcare for Samsung, told MobiHealthNews in an email statement. "Through our partnership with Anthem and American Well, Samsung Health users can now directly access LiveHealth Online telemedicine services. For Anthem members, virtual care visits through the Samsung Health platform will be covered under their plan. This is an exciting partnership that enables consumers to gain immediate access to a healthcare provider on their personal mobile device."

Anthem members with an updated version of the Samsung Health app will be asked to enroll in the feature through their Samsung account, and then prompted to select their specific health plan to view which services are covered. The app also includes a number of other wellness and health tracking tools focused on food consumption, fitness, and lifestyle.

"The new offering connects a world class consumer engagement platform with an incredibly thoughtful, trusted and comprehensive clinical service," Dr. Ido Schoenberg, chairman and CEO at American Well, said in a statement. "It is designed to create a streamlined patient experience without compromising on care quality, choice, affordability, and convenience."

Samsung and American Well's collaboration dates back to early 2017, when the companies announced an effort to bring the telehealth company's services to consumer electronic devices. A few months later, American Well's payer-focused Exchange service was fully integrated within the electronics company's newly rebranded digital health app.

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Email the writer: dave.muoio@himssmedia.com