Amazon is buying primary care tech provider One Medical for $3.9B – TechCrunch
TechCrunchOct 19, 2022
The Facts
Amazon on Thurs. announced a $3.9B deal to acquire One Medical, a membership-based service offering virtual and in-person visits, in its newest healthcare endeavor after buying online pharmacy PillPack in 2018.
One Medical gained traction during the pandemic when it was near impossible to make a physical visit to the doctor, offering patients a membership fee of $199 a year for 24/7 virtual access to providers.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This is an exciting opportunity for Amazon to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and even enjoyable for patients, providers, and payers.
Establishment-critical narrative
This will only expand Amazon's control over people's private information. If regulators don't block the purchase, Amazon will be able to track and exploit people ever more intrusively.
