Issue 039
Welcome back to E&O Wednesdays, the enrollment-focused digital health newsletter from Exits & Outcomes — for paying subscribers only. This every-other-Wednesday issue digs into digital health companies that sell to self-insured employers as well as others that rely on enrollment-based distribution for their digital health programs.
E&O Wednesdays: Employers
Just two quick things on this slow summer week: Here’s what’s going on in employer-distributed digital health…
- Vida Health landed Advance Auto Parts as a new client for its suite of condition management and health coaching programs. AAP has worked with Teladoc’s Livongo for diabetes and hypertension management benefits in the past, and it appears that the company is still working with them too.
- RVO Health is the official name of the joint venture between Optum and Red Ventures that E&O first flagged on June 1st in Issue 036. About a week ago, Axios reported more of the details following a report from Moody’s a few days prior. What RVO’s description from its recently created Linkedin page tells me is that this is in part an attempt by Optum to better monetize some of its employer-facing assets via a DTC channel: “RVO Health is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive consumer healthcare platform that meets people where they are in their personal journeys and connects them with both the information and the care they need. RVO Health is a joint venture of Red Ventures and UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Health. Together we’re focused on delivering on our vision of a stronger and healthier world. RVO Health is comprised of Healthline Media (Healthline, Medical News Today, Psych Central, Greatist and Bezzy), Healthgrades, FindCare and PlateJoy; Optum Perks, Optum Store and the virtual coaching platforms Real Appeal, Wellness Coaching, and QuitForLife. RVO Health has the largest consumer health and wellness audience online. Every month, we help nearly 100 million people take steps on their daily journey to lifelong well-being.”
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Big employer digital benefits stacks: Target and Chipotle
Digital health companies love to boast how many Fortune 500 customers they have. This recurring feature of E&O Wednesdays digs into a couple of Fortune 500s’ (or similarly-sized employers’) digital health stacks. So far, in past Wednesdays issues, I’ve written about the digital health benefits stacks of dozens of big companies — click any of their names below to read that previously published Wednesdays newsletter over at the E&O site:
- Walmart,
- Activision Blizzard,
- JP Morgan Chase,
- The Home Depot,
- Boeing,
- 3M,
- Chevron,
- BorgWarner,
- Bank of America,
- UnitedHealth Group,
- Costco,
- eBay,
- McKesson,
- Ford,
- Dell,
- AT&T,
- Disney,
- Novartis,
- Red Bull,
- VMware,
- T-Mobile/Sprint,
- Adobe,
- Phillips 66,
- Cox Enterprises,
- Wells Fargo,
- PayPal,
- Facebook,
- Sony Pictures,
- General Mills,
- General Electric,
- Comcast
- News Corp
- Vanguard
- Nokia
- HII
- Fidelity
- AbbVie
- Dow Inc.
- and R.R. Donnelley & Sons.
This week I dug into two big companies’ digital health benefits: retail store giant Target and fast food burrito chain Chipotle. First up: Here’s a rundown of Chipotle’s digital health benefits, which the company claims are “unburritable”:
Aduro for mental health:
Like many big companies during the pandemic, in May 2021 Chipotle announced it was changing up its approach to mental health benefits to add more virtual care options. Chipotle tapped Aduro to offer its management employees a mental health platform named Strive:
“Strive provides 1:1 coaching and support to help Chipotle employees set well-being goals that are tailored to their unique needs. The platform gamifies each employee’s wellness experience with the opportunity to win gift cards, save money on health insurance, and more. With technology at the core of the experience, Strive will continue to evolve over time and help meet individuals where they are in their unique journey. The new virtual space will be available for Restaurant Managers, Field Leaders, and Restaurant Support Center employees starting in June 2021.”
Health Advocate for care navigation:
“Chipotle offers an advocacy service (at no cost) to answer all benefit, healthcare and pharmacy questions for any healthcare plan (through Chipotle or otherwise). These experts can assist with researching cost and care options, scheduling appointments, negotiating bills, understanding treatment and much more. Let the experts take the hassle out of healthcare. This benefit is free to you and your dependents, regardless of what insurance you and they have.”
98point6 for text-based virtual visits:
“There are many options that you can take advantage of when considering telemedicine services. One of them is 98point6. This service can save time and money when the need to see a doctor arises. This on-demand text-based service provides access to U.S. board-certified physicians, specially trained to treat and diagnose medical conditions via a mobile connection. Their doctors can assist with medical questions, order prescriptions, and laboratory tests, help manage chronic conditions, discuss medications, determine type of care and more. This service is available at no cost to employees enrolled in the Anthem Hourly PPO, EPO or Kaiser plans. Employees enrolled in the Anthem CDHP plan will pay a $5 fee. If you are not enrolled in a Chipotle medical plan, you can sign up directly with 98point6 for an annual fee.”
Active & Fit for workout videos on demand:
“Chipotle partners with Active & Fit to offer more than 1,500 digital workout videos so you can work on the go. You can also receive unlimited one-on-one lifestyle coaching in areas such as fitness, nutrition and sleep.”
That’s it from Chipotle’s stack. As far as I can tell, the only benefit above that is not for the “crew” level restaurant workers is the Aduro/Strive platform. Each of the others is available to both groups.
OK, moving on to Target. Here’s how the retail giant’s stack breaks down:
CirrusMD for text-based virtual visits: Like Chipotle, Target offers employees a text-based virtual visit option instead of a video-based one.
“You and your medically enrolled dependents can virtually connect with a real doctor from CirrusMD without an appointment, and at no or low cost. You can text, share images or videos about any general medical conditions or health concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Included Health is Target’s care navigator and second opinions service:
“You and your family members can use Included Health, a free service, when you would like to have an existing diagnosis or treatment reviewed by a leading medical expert for guidance or a second opinion. You can also discuss your health concerns with a doctor live, and for free.”
Target’s other navigator is UnitedHealthcare’s Bullseye Health Spot advocate team: This is a new one to me. I haven’t heard of a UHC’s advocate team service offering with that name before. More:
“The Bullseye Health Spot advocate team of nurses and health & benefit specialists are standing by to answer any healthcare question you have—from benefits coverage, questions on claim and billing, or help managing a condition—as part of your health plan benefits.”
Team Member Life Resources is Target’s EAP:
“You and your family members can get free confidential counseling, support and information through TMLR 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Five free counseling sessions, per issue, per year, are available. TMLR also provides resources for a wide variety of topics including, substance abuse, child and eldercare, legal concerns, financial stress and work/life balance.”
Hinge Health for virtual physical therapy:
“You and your eligible family members get free access to Hinge Health, a virtual physical therapy provider, for help with remote back, muscle, and joint care. Treatment can be done anywhere, at any time, all at no cost to you.”
Livongo for diabetes management: Target works with telephone-based condition management company Accordant for most of its disease management needs, but it also works with Livongo on diabetes:
“If you have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the Livongo disease management program offers free supplies, tools and personalized support to help you manage your condition.”
Big Health’s Sleepio for digital sleep improvement:
“Test your sleep and discover how you can improve it for free. Take a quick sleep test and get some tips on how to improve sleep. You’ll receive your Sleep Score right away and a tip you can try tonight to get better sleep. If you need more sleep help, you’ll be able to continue your personalized sleep improvement program. This program is available at no cost to you or your spouse/domestic partner if enrolled in a Target medical plan.”
Big Health’s Daylight to reduce worry and anxiety:
“Daylight is a highly personalized mobile app designed to expertly guide you through worry and anxiety. Daylight listens and talks to you, understands your challenges and goals, and guides you through learning and practicing proven strategies to reduce worry and anxiety in your life. This program is available at no cost to you or your spouse/domestic partner if enrolled in a Target medical plan.”
UnitedHealth’s Real Appeal for online weight management:
“Real Appeal is an online weight management program that’s available to you at no additional cost if you enroll in a Target medical plan. Real Appeal offers a fun and tailored approach, including group and individual behavioral counseling sessions to help you meet your weight management goals and build positive, sustainable lifestyle changes.”
Phew — OK, that’s a wrap on Chipotle’s and Target’s mostly different benefits stacks. Which big employers should I dig into next?
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