Amazon's Virtual Care Clinic Expands Nationwide

Amazon's virtual care clinic has launched in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., providing access to telehealth-based care for 30 common conditions.

The technology giant launched Amazon Clinic as a messaging-based platform in 32 states last November. The platform provides access to an online marketplace of telehealth provider groups, where healthcare consumers can compare response times and prices before selecting a provider. The groups include companies like Wheel and SteadyMD.

Healthcare consumers can receive treatment for 30 conditions, including urinary tract infections, pink eye, and erectile dysfunction. The company plans to make treatments for more conditions available in the near future.

"As a doctor, I've seen firsthand that patients want to be healthy but lack the time, tools, or resources to effectively manage their care," wrote Nworah Ayogu, MD, chief medical officer and general manager, Amazon Clinic, in a post on the company's website. "Amazon provides multiple health services to provide the choice, convenience, and continuity of care customers need when it comes to their health."

Amazon Clinic now offers message-based consultations in 34 states and supports video visits nationwide. Healthcare consumers can access the clinic on Amazon's website or through the app without an appointment or insurance. During a message-based visit or video call, a clinician from the selected telehealth provider group will offer a recommended treatment plan that may include a prescription. Patients can use Amazon Pharmacy to fill the prescription.

Today's announcement comes slightly over a month after reports that Amazon paused the 50-state expansion. At the end of June, Politico reported that the company decided to delay promotional activity regarding the expansion after receiving a letter from lawmakers detailing concerns over data privacy practices.

The letter from Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy noted that Amazon Clinic patients must complete a "HIPAA authorization" form to use the virtual care service, giving Amazon complete access to their protected health information. The form also indicates that the "information 'may be re-disclosed,' after which it will 'no longer be protected by HIPAA,'" the letter stated.

In a statement shared with mHealthIntelligence, an Amazon spokesperson said the company will respond to the senators and highlight that "Amazon Clinic has stringent customer privacy policies, and complies with HIPAA and all other applicable laws and regulations."

The privacy page on the company's website states that Amazon Clinic will use health information to ease the healthcare experience.

"We send it to your healthcare providers and pharmacies when you're being treated, and we save it so you won't have to fill out the same forms over and over again — even if your healthcare provider were to leave Amazon Clinic," it states.

Any saved data is protected "through the use of strong, HIPAA-compliant encryption methods." Further, the company notes that healthcare consumers using Amazon Clinic can revoke HIPAA authorization, preventing Amazon from saving their health information.

Concerns surrounding telehealth companies' data privacy and security practices have been growing. In February, a group of senators sent letters to Cerebral, Monument, and WorkIt Health, requesting that the companies answer important questions about how they leverage user data. They also asked the companies to provide a list of all third-party platforms to which they have sent user information within the last three years.