Mastercard, Apple Target Health Care Product Offerings & More News

Mastercard Announces Health Cybersecurity Venture

Mastercard is the latest services giant to dive into the health care industry. At the 2019 HLTH Conference in Las Vegas, NV, the firm announced that it will be launching Mastercard Healthcare Solutions, a product suite of data security offerings aimed at payers and providers. In an effort to protect valuable health and financial information from data breaches, an issue that has severely crippled health systems in recent years, this collection of software products aims to integrate AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to help payers curb fraud and enable providers to use more effective billing strategies to improve revenue cycle management.

Baby Boomers Targeted by Big Tech and Startups

In anticipation of the silver tsunami, Silicon Valley’s key players are offering products and services that fit the needs of the largest consumers of health services: baby boomers. Companies like Apple and Eargo are tackling hearing loss, a condition that research has shown to be a major barrier to the adoption of tech in older populations. This past June, Apple announced a feature that would alert Apple Watch users if environmental noise or smart technology audio is too loud, and Eargo now integrates their hearing aids with a companion app to provide a comprehensive auditory and social network. Efforts such as these are aiming to close the digital divide between generations as well as targeting a sector that is in need of innovation.

Applications for GuideWell’s Caring for Caregivers Challenge Close Nov. 15 - Act Fast!

There is only one month left to apply to GuideWell’s Caring for Caregivers Challenge, a competition that seeks team-based approaches that have the potential to improve the quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients. GuideWell believes it “takes a village” to sustainably support family caregivers and that single point solutions are typically not broad enough to provide necessary relief. The challenge seeks comprehensive approaches that connect caregivers to resources, technologies, corporate benefits, and community networks to help them with their unique health/wellness needs. 

If you are an organization or non-profit with a novel approach that promotes healthy and happy lifestyles for caregivers and their families, apply today for the chance to win up to $100,000! https://guidewellinnovation.com/health-innovation-challenge/

New Studies Seek to Define Clinical Efficacy of Apple Watch

Preliminary results from the Apple Heart Study show the potential health benefits of wearables. Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine partnered with Apple to conduct a virtual observational study with more than 400,000 participants. The study used the Apple Watch’s irregular rhythm notification (IRN) system to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib). The results showed 0.5% of participants received irregular rhythm notifications. For those who were notified, 21% received and wore an ECG patch. Of those, Afib was confirmed 34% of the time. The positive predictive value of the overall study was 71%, however, this increased to 84% for the subgroup who also used an ECG patch. It should be noted that the study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. 

Johnson & Johnson’s HEARTLINE Study aims to build on the Apple Heart Study. Announced back in January, the virtual clinical trial will enroll 150,000 Americans 65 years and older to detect AFib and collect outcomes data. Participants will be randomized to either receive the Apple Watch 4 or no watch at all. Compared to the Apple Heart Study, one key technical design difference allows the HEARTLINE Study to draw a clearer connection between AFib observance and confirmation. Instead of waiting for an ECG patch to be mailed to the participant, the ECG app on the user’s Apple Watch 4 will be engaged once the “IRN software detects five out of six consecutive irregular rhythms each lasting one minute.” Both the IRN software and the ECG app are FDA cleared for AFib detection. Although the clinical efficacy of wearables is far from conclusive, the innovative use of virtual clinical trials will likely be commonplace in the future with the continued proliferation of consumer-driven health technologies. 

Aetna Collaborates with Apple to Bring “Attain” to Plan Members

Aetna is the latest health insurance provider to partner with Apple in hopes of capitalizing on the Apple Watch 4’s incredible health monitoring capabilities. The launch of its new app Attain, gives Aetna beneficiaries the ability to track and be rewarded for healthy behavior. Unlike existing wellness programs, such as United Healthcare’s, the value of Attain is its focus on personalizing each individual’s experience. Apple Watch users will be able to receive personalized health goals, recommendations, nudges, and rewards. Attain incorporates user-provided medical data and data collected by the Apple Watch to make each suggestion.

Aetna enrollees have the option of receiving an Apple Watch 3 directly from the insurance provider or paying out of pocket for the Apple Watch 4. Users can pay back the price of the device over 24 months by accomplishing fitness goals and receive other benefits  like corporate gift cards. While only 250,000 to 300,000 slots in the program are currently available, Aetna is planning on rolling it out to all of its 22.1M members.

Although Aetna’s collaboration with Apple allows the insurance provider to provide enrollees with personalized health recommendations, there is a concern among users about sharing private health information. In light of the various breaches in privacy by several tech giants over the past couple years, Apple has stated it will not access any data identifying an individual and Aetna has said it will not use the data to make coverage decisions. Nonetheless, this new initiative by Aetna marks the start to a widespread adoption of personalized medicine.

Your Next Apple Watch May Be Coming From Your Insurer.

After months of anticipation, Apple has released a software update enabling the echocardiogram feature on its Apple Watch Series 4. In addition to measuring the heart’s rhythm, the wearable includes a fall detection sensor that automatically notifies emergency services if a fall is detected. With the inclusion of such features, Apple seeks to partner with private Medicare plan providers to subsidize the cost of the watch for senior citizens. Apple hopes its health-focused tech can be used for preventative care. Apple CEO Tim Cook further touts Apple’s conviction to allow users to proactively manage their own health data, which he states will be Apple’s “most important contribution to mankind.”

While such claims reflect upon the industry’s optimistic mindset of healthtech advancement, it is important to note the security and privacy implications such tech will have on our society. Where will our health data be stored and how will consumers access their own information? Most importantly, how will insurance companies utilize this data? As we continue to accelerate the implementation of health tech into our lives, we should keep these questions in mind.