After a successful launch in five states, Walgreens recently announced it is collaborating with MDLIVE to expand its mobile app to offer MDLIVE's telehealth services to users in 20 additional states. According to a statement issued by the company, the expansion means an updated telehealth experience within the Walgreens app and better functionality and integration with MDLIVE.
The move is significant since telehealth continues to be a fast-growing market, expected to reach $43.3 billion by 2019, according to Healthcare Dive.
As part of the expansion, patients in the following states will now have access to MDLIVE telehealth services through the Walgreens mobile app: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
The platform was launched in December 2014 through the Walgreens mobile app in California and Michigan. In June, the company announced expansion to Colorado, Illinois and Washington. The mobile app provides real-time, always-on access to MDLIVE's network of U.S. board-certified doctors.
The updated app also means it is no longer necessary to install and launch the MDLIVE app separately to continue the session.
The states in red will now have access to MDLIVE telehealth services through the Walgreens mobile app.
"Walgreens provides convenient and connected services for our customers, and we are thrilled to be advancing our digital experience to provide patients with more choices when it comes to accessing care," said Adam Pellegrini, Walgreens divisional vice president of digital health in a prepared statement.
"We have seen that telehealth solutions play an important role in helping to improve patient outcomes, and we will continue to work to evolve our offerings to ensure our patients can choose what’s most convenient for them whether that’s live doctor consultations, digitally chatting with a pharmacist or visiting a Healthcare Clinic."
Walgreens also announced the launch of the Walgreens Connect app, which allows Walgreens Balance Rewards members who own a Well at Walgreens connected premium brand blood glucose meter or blood pressure wrist monitor to earn points for taking daily measurements. The data is captured and transmitted to the cloud, and Walgreens rewards 20 points per day for taking a blood pressure measurement and 20 points per day for blood glucose measurements. The app is now available in iTunes and Google Play stores.
Walgreens is the nation's largest drugstore chain. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
