Amazon Clinic Launched In All US States
Amazon has opened access to its Amazon Clinic virtual hospital to residents of all 50 US states, AP reported on Tuesday.
The agency explains the launch of the service throughout the United States as Amazon’s intention to strengthen its position in the medical services market.
The virtual hospital is open 24 hours a day, users can compare prices and response time to a patient’s request.
Amazon does not provide telemedicine services per se, but instead promotes Amazon Clinic as a platform for connecting its telemedicine partners with patients. Current partners include Curai Health, Hello Alpha, SteadyMD and Wheel.
Shares of Teladoc, a provider of virtual doctor visits, fell more than 6% on news from Amazon.
Users in all 50 states and Washington DC can now access Amazon Clinic via video consultation. Due to regulatory issues, Amazon Clinic’s message-based chat is only available in 34 states so far.
You can’t apply to Amazon Clinic for health insurance. Amazon Clinic Chat Consultation averages $35 and Video Consultation $75. In comparison, a visit to a doctor in a conventional medical facility without insurance can cost more than $100.
