It’s been an exciting year in digital health. From the initial public offerings by Livongo, Health Catalyst, Change Healthcare, and Phreesia; Allscripts acquisition of ZappRx; and UnitedHealthcare’s acquisition of PatientsLikeMe, there has been much in the way of exits and activity. The MedCity INVEST Digital Health conference in Minneapolis September 17, in association with Medical Alley, will advance the conversation around innovation in digital health in a few different ways.
Business models
The rise of Apple and Google’s presence in healthcare and retailers such as CVS Health, Best Buy and Amazon, along with the push to make healthcare more patient-centric has broadened the spectrum beyond simply direct-to-consumer and business-to-business. Are people more willing to pay for healthcare services they want out of their own pocket? Don McDaniel, Canton & Co. CEO will moderate a panel discussion on the merits of different business models in the healthcare space. The discussion will include Jeff Fritz, CEO of Revel Health; Melissa Kjolsing, CEO and co-founder of Recovree; and Dr. Saurin Patel, CEO and founder of Vital Health Links.
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Reimbursement
Payers and what they are willing to cover can play a critical role in the success or failure of digital health companies. Payers have shown a willingness to collaborate with digital health companies. Adoption can be a slow journey fraught with twists and turns. Digital health companies will share their insights based on what they’ve learned from these experiences including Dr. Michael Abramoff, founder and CEO of IDx; Stephen Clark, U.S. commercial lead for Healthy.io; and Joseph Smith president and CEO of Reflexion Health. Marcus Schabacker, ECRI Institute CEO, will moderate.
Dealflow in 2019
A look at the investment activity in digital health will address questions such as whether a digital health bubble exists and if so, when will it pop. Panelists will share their perspectives on what some of the hot technologies. They include Aly Lovett, a partner with Radian Capital; Tom Shehab, a managing partner with Arboretum Ventures; and Blake Wu, NEA principal. Doug Lehrman, founder and CEO of Junction Health Partners, will moderate.
Artificial Intelligence in healthcare
The interest in automating labor-intensive tasks in healthcare, improving the ability to intervene earlier to avoid adverse event and the hope of reducing the cost of drug development have led to a wide interest in the potential of integrating artificial intelligence tools into healthcare. A panel will discuss opportunities and challenges posed by the data underpinning AI tools. Panelists include Mark Foley, a director of translational informatics at the Mayo Clinic; Matthew Versaggi, UnitedHealth Group’s senior director of AI and cognitive technology; and Kurt Waltenbaugh, Carrot Health CEO. Lemhi Ventures Managing Director Jodi Hubler will moderate.
Startups
MedCity is known for spotlighting healthcare entrepreneurs, including those seeking to improve chronic disease management, care coordination, clinical decision support. Among the startups pitching at INVEST Digital Health are Sonaris, which has developed AI-guided ultrasound designed to be used by non-skilled users in clinics for vital screening tests. Care Angel developed a virtual nurse assistant to engage, monitor and manage large, at-risk populations with complex and chronic conditions. Click this link for a list of the companies taking part. Check back for updates.
Photo: Natalie Mis, Getty Images
