Let it never be said that Amazon isn’t persistent in its pursuit of relevance in the U.S. healthcare marketplace. What can be said is that the company has yet to hit on a concept that really works, despite years of trying. The latest effort is Amazon Clinic, which reflects a return to chasing success in the virtual space. (As we reported in August, the company plucked down $3.9 billion to buy One Medical and its 125 brick-and-mortar locations.) The new venture is available in 32 states, and does not employ any clinicians. Rather, it presents prospective patients with a list of providers based on the user’s self-described condition, which can include urinary tract infections, sinusitis allergies, skin conditions, and certain medication refills, among others. Amazon Clinic does not accept insurance, and the company says it has no control over prices, which are set by the providers. In describing the platform, Amazon notes that patients are free to use the drugstore of their choice, but promotes the fact that Amazon Pharmacy is able to fill prescriptions originating in Amazon Clinic visits.
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Amazon Is Taking Another Run at Drawing Patients with Urgent Care Presentations