Higi Joins Modivcare Platform to Accelerate Clinical Connectivity and SDoH Impact

Empowering Healthcare Access through Digital Engagement and Integrated Solutions

CHICAGO, IL – May 11, 2023 – Higi, a digital health engagement company, is excited to announce that it has joined Modivcare Inc., a healthcare services company providing a suite of supportive care for public and private payors and their 34 million members. Higi's suite of consumer health engagement and digital communication tools will be integrated with Modivcare's suite of supportive care solutions, enhancing clinical connectivity and collectively accelerating the impact on the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

Higi will enable Modivcare to gain a more holistic view of member health needs and proactively support care access and delivery. Higi's unique combination of physical and digital engagement channels provides a national network of consumer-centered care resources. Jeff Bennett, CEO of Higi, shared his enthusiasm for joining Modivcare: "Our commitment at Higi is to expand access and connect consumers with resources to improve the health and wellbeing of the individuals who live, work, and shop in the communities we serve. Higi is pleased to join Modivcare’s mission and complement its suite of services with Higi’s technology."

"The addition of Higi is an important enabler for our One Modivcare vision," said L. Heath Sampson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Modivcare. "Their approach will amplify our supportive care platform, as well as enable the growth of our value-based solutions and member communication modalities."

Higi will continue to operate its established business under Modivcare’s ownership and implement its digital capabilities within Modivcare's suite of supportive care services. The strategic transaction was completed on March 29, 2023; financial details were not disclosed.

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About Higi

Higi addresses the lack of access to care by providing a digital-first strategy to assess consumers' ongoing health risks, deliver risk-appropriate care management solutions, and navigate consumers to interventions offered by stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem at scale. Higi meets consumers where they are via its omnichannel national network of 6,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use, community-based Smart Health Stations, web, mobile, email, and text tools, home-based biometric devices, and a nationally based clinical care team, offering a unique combination of consumer-centered, self-care, and virtual care resources. As the centralized, trusted access point to care, Higi serves as the hub for curating health resources provided and sponsored by Retail, Health Systems, Health Plans, and Employers, enabling consumers to choose with whom and when they share data to support coordinated care delivery.

About Modivcare

Modivcare is a healthcare services company that offers a platform of integrated supportive care solutions for public and private payors, addressing the social determinants of health through non-emergency transportation, personal care, and remote patient monitoring.

Contact

Ariana Bennett

Vice President, Marketing

media@higi.com

Higi Partners with New Enterprise Ventures to Support Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Organizations in Efforts to Advance Health Equities

The partnership will work to match Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences organizations to innovative solutions that serve diverse and underserved populations, providing a new access point to engage in care

Chicago, IL – April 20, 2023, 2023– Higi, an organization built to solve for lack of access to care, has partnered with New Enterprise Ventures, a consulting firm and strategic leader with expertise in pharmaceutical and life sciences, as a new channel to match these organizations with the awareness, education, recruitment, and engagement tools they need to successfully address the care needs of underserved and diverse populations, at scale.

Following the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDAs) 2022 updated guidance on increasing diversity in clinical trials, it became an imperative for pharmaceutical and life sciences organizations to recruit and engage diverse populations despite challenges to doing so. The guidance is focused on ensuring that trials represent the diversity of the patient populations that will ultimately use the treatments discovered and advanced. Ensuring appropriate participation can help ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs for all patient populations, improve the medical community’s understanding of disease prevention and treatment, and can support health equity by enabling access to lifesaving therapies the patient might not otherwise receive.[1] while the mandate is clear, creating awareness, encouraging sign-up and engaging diverse patient populations has proven difficult to achieve.

“We are excited to be working with Higi in an effort to remove the barriers associated with early diagnosis of disease and access to care including clinical research as a care option (CRAACO)” stated Chris Cresswell, New Enterprise Ventures CEO.  “We believe Higi can serve to optimize and strengthen the Diverse Strategy Action Plans (required by the Draft FDA Guidance and the Depict Act), while providing comprehensive access to clinical trials for patients with chronic & acute diseases in historically underrepresented populations.   According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is a need to increase racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials.  Twenty percent of drugs have a variation in responses across ethnic groups, yet 75 percent of clinical trial participants are white, while only 11 percent are Hispanic and fewer than 10 percent are Black and Asian.”

Higi enables access through digital channels and a physical footprint designed to meet consumers where they are to screen for health risks and navigate to appropriate interventions, including clinical trials.

 “Achieving diversity in clinical trials is a requirement to advancing health equity” says Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “The Higi platform is a key ingredient when it comes to reaching new audiences for clinical trial recruitment and can help consumers understand the options available to them based on their health risks and needs and navigate them to opportunities to engage in care they might not otherwise be aware of or have access to. Our partnership with New Enterprise Ventures will be transformative, as we work together to deliver a new channel that can support improved health and healthcare for all.” 

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About Higi

Higi solves for lack of access to care by providing a digital first strategy to assess consumers’ ongoing health risks, deliver risk appropriate care management solutions, and navigate consumers to interventions offered by stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem at scale.  We meet consumers where they are via our omnichannel national network of 6,000 FDA cleared free to use, community based Smart Health Stations, web, mobile, email and text tools, home-based biometric devices, and a nationally based clinical care team, that together delivers a unique combination of consumer centered, self-care and virtual care resources.  As the centralized, trusted access point to care, Higi serves as the hub for curating health resources provided and sponsored by Higi, Retail, Health Systems, Health Plans and Employers, where consumers can choose with whom and when they share data to support coordinated care delivery. 

 About New Enterprise Ventures

New Enterprise Ventures is a consulting firm specializing in delivering transformative strategy and business development to accelerate our client’s penetration in the US healthcare market. We are uniquely positioned to guide early-stage companies and industry leaders to make better-informed business decisions that require both technical insight and unsurpassed access to cutting-edge technologies and economic buyers. www.newenterpriseventures.com

[1] https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/life-sciences/lack-of-diversity-clinical-trials.html

Verizon and Higi to extend community healthcare access and services

Collaboration will combine Higi’s virtual and digital chronic care services with Verizon’s nationwide 5G connectivity, managed services and BlueJeans Telehealth platform  

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Today, Verizon and Higi, a consumer health engagement company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Babylon (NYSE: BBLN) that enables care delivery via an omnichannel platform inclusive of a connected network of Smart Health Stations, self-service digital and mobile tools and clinician-led home monitoring programs, announced their plans to provide digital health solutions and services that will extend care access for communities and help support preventative health, drive literacy, and identify high risk consumers eligible to be managed via home-based monitoring.

The collaboration will prioritize solution delivery in service of community healthcare stakeholders seeking to scale digital and virtual care delivery offerings. Through a combination of Higi’s home monitoring services and integrating the HIPAA-ready BlueJeans Telehealth virtual care platform with the Higi Smart Health Station, historically underserved populations, such as those living in rural communities and seniors with limited access to transportation, will have greater access to care—powered by the Verizon 4G LTE and 5G Ultra Wideband networks.

“The Higi platform provides digital touch points that will further extend Verizon’s assets across and above the network in service of better healthcare delivery” said Iris Meijer, SVP of Business Marketing and Revenue Operations, Verizon Business. “Together, we’re powering connectivity in places that matter to the community, by providing home-based access through cellular-enabled devices and video care delivery enabled by Verizon’s integrated telehealth tools. This comprehensive suite of health services will allow us to meet the needs of our customers both where they are and across their priority focus areas.”

 By bundling these core services, Verizon and Higi will help to improve the  digital and virtual care experience through home-based virtual care delivery and health equity service delivery. The combined solutions would also help to augment near-site, on-site and retail clinic after-hours or supplement in locations that do not have the volume to support a health clinic. Planned joint service offerings include:

●      A reimagined virtual care clinic that pairs the Higi Smart Health Station blueprint with BlueJeans Telehealth for a digitally delivered primary care experience available within a trusted community setting. Services include self-guided body measurement and health survey collection, as well as the ability to interface virtually with a provider

●      Comprehensive chronic condition management from home, backed by the Verizon network for reliable connectivity, provides patients with a dedicated care manager and health devices to monitor health progress

●      Health Equity Services for underserved and vulnerable populations, including comprehensive remote monitoring for chronic conditions and digital engagement services to help determine eligibility and support enrollment for government and community benefits

Through the Higi platform, consumers can enroll in self-guided care plans, powered by the American Heart Association®, allowing participants to identify their own personal health goals and receive clinically based guidance and support to achieve them. Additionally, the platform educates consumers and enables personal risk identification for common chronic conditions, including hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, in partnership with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and heart attack and stroke in partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Through its 50-state clinical network, Higi delivers clinician-led remote patient monitoring services for polychronic patients, pairing home monitoring technology with clinician care managers as part of a holistic approach to addressing conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma and COPD.

“Our partnership with Verizon supercharges our platform touch points in the community and home to meet the needs of healthcare consumers and stakeholders alike” says Jeff Bennett, CEO of Higi. “The addition of our station into a trusted community setting, powered by Verizon connectivity, provides access to primary care resources on behalf of partners seeking scaled solutions to improve health literacy, capture health and social data, and effectively deliver care. Ensuring broadband access delivers on the promise of telehealth, reduces the burden on the consumers and improves the ability of providers and health plans to proactively care for their populations, understand their unique risks and offer the support needed to address the challenges associated with chronic disease management.”

Higi and Verizon will participate in the panel “The Evolution of Care Anywhere - Transformative 'phygital care' use cases” on November 15 at 12:00 PM PT at the 2022 HLTH conference in Las Vegas (November 13-17, 2022). Attendees can also demo the virtual care clinic that pairs Higi’s Next Generation Smart Health Station with BlueJeans Telehealth at the Verizon booth #2217.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology and communications services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $133.6 billion in 2021. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control. 

About Higi

Higi solves for lack of access to care by providing an omnichannel digital first platform alongside a physical presence to assess individuals’ ongoing health risks, deliver risk appropriate care management solutions, and navigate individuals to interventions offered by healthcare stakeholders at scale. We meet consumers where they are via our omnichannel national network of 7,000 FDA cleared, free to use, community based Smart Health Stations, web, mobile, email and text tools, home-based biometric devices, and a nationally based clinical care team, that together delivers a unique combination of consumer centered, self-care and virtual care resources.  As the centralized, trusted access point to care, Higi serves as the hub for curating health resources provided and sponsored by Higi, Retail, Health Systems, Health Plans and Employers, where consumers can choose with whom and when they share data to support coordinated care delivery. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 400 million biometric tests.

Collaboration between Higi and ELLKAY gives MSU Health Care providers a complete view of patients’ history

Thanks to ELLKAY integration, patient data moves seamlessly between Higi and MSU Health Care’s patient charts, giving providers insights needed to manage care of patients with chronic conditions

Chicago, IL –November 14, 2022 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Babylon (NYSE: BBLN), and ELLKAY, a leader in healthcare interoperability, announce their latest integration with MSU Health Care’s Electronic Health Record, Athena. The integration through ELLKAY allows for physiological data collected through Higi’s Care Everyday remote monitoring devices, as well as patient insights captured by Care Everyday providers, to be added directly to the patient’s chart in Athena, providing a complete, longitudinal view of the patients’ history readily available for use by the MSU Health Care team. 

Program-generated draft claims and associated documents are added directly into Athena’s workflow as well, compliantly supporting billing workflows.  This streamlined data flow is easily accessed by providers and staff participating in the care of MSU Health Care patients.

In July of 2021, Higi and ELLKAY announced their partnership to facilitate integration between Higi and its healthcare organization customers. The latest launch with MSU Health Care represents an important milestone for the partnership, with the integration directly enabling the academic medical center to bill for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services delivered through Higi Care Everyday. With seamless data movement powered by ELLKAY, providers are empowered with better visibility into their patient’s wellbeing; patients receive excellent care beyond the four walls of the system, extending MSU Health Care’s impact; and requirements are satisfied to meet billing standards, enabling the medical center to effectively submit claims for RPM care management.

"The next phase of our Care Everyday partnership with Higi centers around data integration into Athena," said Nathan Fitton, DO, Chief Medical Information Officer at MSU Health Care. "Allowing our providers to have direct access to remote patient data improves patient outcomes. We have already seen the benefit of Higi Care Everyday programs with improved blood pressure control and patient compliance with care plans, as well as overall satisfaction. With this partnership between Higi and ELLKAY, the process becomes simpler and more effective for our teams.  Our providers get to see their patient’s most important health insights directly in Athena, and with this data at their fingertips, are able to proactively intervene, thus providing better care in the most appropriate and economical care setting. Program offerings like this keep us at the forefront of modern medicine delivery."

“There’s incredible value in the health data we collect across our platform. Our partnership with ELLKAY, and the interoperability they enable, allows us to make that data actionable for our healthcare customers,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “At MSU Health Care, the power of the data our Care Everyday devices and care managers collect serves multiple purposes. It’s part of the care transformation MSU Health Care is undertaking across Michigan and allows their providers to see and act on their patient’s data in near real-time. It’s also part of a model that supports the business of healthcare delivery by allowing the system to capture additional revenue associated with long-term patient care.” 

Healthcare organizations like MSU Health Care partner with Higi to better understand the risks and needs of their patients, capture the data they need to intervene earlier, and meet consumers and patients where they are in the community to effectively provide the care they need. Higi Care Everyday, launched as a joint venture with Assure Health in 2020, is a clinical-first remote monitoring solution that extends care on behalf of health systems like MSU Health Care, while maintaining their world-class delivery standards. Those same organizations partner with ELLKAY to handle their back-end interoperability, allowing them to keep their resources focused on their business of improving patient care. The combination of the two empowers healthcare organizations to provide coordinated patient care through interoperability, providing actionable data to providers, transformed to the specifications needed for care. 

“Interoperability is more than just standards,” shared Gurpreet Singh, Vice President of Interoperability Solutions, ELLKAY. “It is about enabling efficiencies in healthcare settings in order to get the right data to the right people at the right time for the right reasons. We are honored to be a part of this project with Higi, bringing these efficiencies to MSU Health Care.” 

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our clinical partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of nearly 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification, and drive digital navigation and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support.

About ELLKAY

ELLKAY is a recognized healthcare connectivity leader, providing solutions and services nationwide for over 20 years. ELLKAY empowers hospitals and health systems, diagnostic laboratories, healthcare IT vendors, payers, and other healthcare organizations with cutting-edge technologies and solutions. With over 58,000 practices connected, ELLKAY’s system capability arsenal has grown to over 750+ EHR/PM systems across 1,100+ versions. Healthcare organizations choose ELLKAY for an experienced data aggregation and connectivity partner who handles the complex back-end interoperability solutions, allowing HIT vendors to get to market with speed, at scale, while keeping their internal resources focused on their core business.

About MSU Health Care

MSU Health Care is the fully integrated academic health center of Michigan State University, representing more than 600 faculty and affiliate providers. Our commitment to safe, high-quality patient care is realized through our comprehensive services for people of any age, education of the next generation of health care providers and medical research. MSU Health Care providers treat ongoing primary care as well as some of the rarest forms of cancer and neurological conditions along with advanced surgical, pharmaceutical, rehabilitation, therapy and imaging services. With more than 100 affiliates located next door and as far as Ludington, Saginaw, Detroit, and Marquette, MSU Health Care is building hope and healing for Michigan. Our clinical efforts support future advancements through academic and research initiatives at Michigan State University. https://healthcare.msu.edu/

In Wake of Tragedy, American College of Cardiology, Foodsmart, Higi, the Buffalo Healthy Corner Store Initiative Launch Buffalove Caring Hearts Initiative

New initiative reaches Buffalo, New York, communities through cardiovascular health and food security support

WASHINGTON (July 6, 2022) — The American College of Cardiology has joined forces with Foodsmart, Higi and the Healthy Corner Store to launch the Buffalove Caring Hearts Initiative. The program will provide sustainable, ongoing support and infrastructure for cardiovascular health and food access/security in the communities directly affected by the tragic events that occurred at Tops Friendly Markets on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, New York.  

“Community tragedies like the mass shooting in Buffalo have a direct impact on heart health. The ACC is mission-driven to improve heart health, both globally and locally,” said Eric Stecker, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Science and Quality Committee. “With the Buffalove Caring Hearts Initiative, our goal is to provide ongoing support that empowers, connect, and provides convenience to the community for years to come by supplying resources for food security, nutrition, meal planning, in-store health screening services and patient risk assessments —all of which have a direct impact on heart health.”

Tragedies that affect entire communities have been shown to increase the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes within the community. The Buffalove Caring Hearts Initiative will support the Buffalo community in avoiding adverse outcomes while addressing factors that existed before the event took place. Buffalo was selected for this initiative due to its history of health equity issues and its successful Healthy Corner Store Initiative. These efforts were accelerated after the recent tragedy on Buffalo’s East Side.

“The Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HCSI) continues to offer a multi-level community approach providing access to fresh produce and healthier options, and we are excited to partner in this initiative which will expand our efforts., said Sheila A. Bass, Healthy Corner Store Initiative Coordinator. “The Buffalove Care Initiative will support yet another level of mindful community health with access to health screenings right at your local participating HCSI store.  The HCSI community will have the necessary resources and tools right at their fingertips to engage in actions steps and to increase awareness of their heart health and much more.”

Through the program, Higi’s Smart Health Stations deployed at the Healthy Corner Stores will allow members of the community to monitor their health numbers like blood pressure and weight, understand risk factors for conditions like heart attack and stroke and gain access to information on heart health from CardioSmart, ACC’s patient engagement program. The platform’s survey capabilities, physiological screening tools and other patient engagement mechanisms will allow Higi to provide education and personalized recommendations to resources available in the community.

“We are deeply saddened by the events that took place at Tops Friendly Market on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “While we cannot begin to imagine the pain being felt by this community, we are honored to be able provide access to screen for prevalent and pervasive health conditions and to deliver education and actionable programs that can help community members address their risk factors and better manage their ongoing care. 

Foodsmart—an all-in-one app-based grocery platform to make eating well simple—helped catalyze the coalition with the leadership of Foodsmart CEO and Buffalo native, Dr. Jason Langheier, leveraging his passion and his platform to serve the community. 

Foodsmart will put healthy food within reach by making the road to good health easier through registered dietitian coaching, recipe and cost-effective grocery shopping support and tailored meal planning tools. Communities in ZIP codes 14208 and 14209 will receive free grocery delivery, automated meal planning and grocery lists, and convenient, budget-friendly recipes  

“Food is medicine and critical to our lives, yet the act of feeding ourselves and our families can be stressful, complicated and expensive, but it shouldn't be,” said Dr. Jason Langheier, CEO of Foodsmart and Buffalo native. “At Foodsmart, we believe that eating well should be within reach for all, not some.  That food should be accessible and affordable. And that we have a role to play in addressing the nutrition insecurity that plagues too many, and that has a direct impact on our health and susceptibility to illness. We are committed to serving Buffalo and the Buffalove coalition.”

As part of its mission to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health, the ACC is working with the Healthy Corner Store Initiative to address health care disparities through community-based partnerships. In addition to Buffalo, the initiative will expand to additional communities across the United States.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 56,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org. 

Babylon’s integration with Higi accelerates momentum with its AI technology now available to thousands of Americans to support proactive self care

Palo Alto, CA and Chicago, IL – Babylon (NYSE: BBLN) today announced the integration of its AI-powered Symptom Checker technology into Higi’s mobile application, opening a new channel for proactive self-care health engagement for Higi’s thousands of U.S. app users. The integration follows Babylon’s recent acquisition of Higi, a consumer health engagement company whose platform and consumer reach is enabling Babylon to extend its highly scalable technology platform and digital-first healthcare solutions to Higi platform users.

The integration brings Babylon’s Symptom Checker, which allows consumers to better understand the symptoms they are experiencing through an interactive, AI-powered chat interface, directly into the Higi mobile app. By helping to narrow down the potential causes of their symptoms, users can learn possible next steps from a trusted health resource. Higi platform users now benefit from this enhancement to the free Higi App, which additionally provides a means to track and trend their personal body measurement information, receive health tips, browse and join Higi and partner health engagement programs and easily log in to a Higi Station session.

“The integration with Higi is the first opportunity for established platform users to begin to experience Babylon technology” says Ali Parsa, CEO and Founder at Babylon. “Pairing the Symptom Checker, which focuses more on providing information for the immediate health needs of consumers, with Higi’s longer term view into a patient’s health through risk testing and longitudinal biometric tracking, is a first step toward adding additional tools to the consumer’s toolkit that empower them to address their health needs proactively and holistically.”

“There is a wealth of knowledge we can provide to consumers when it comes to their health,” shared Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “The Symptom Checker is an incredible resource for our users, helps them begin to see the benefit Babylon technology will add to our platform, and creates new opportunities for Higi to better service our partners with value-add solutions that enhance the consumer experience and connect consumers back to the care they may need.”

This integration also serves as a model for current and future Babylon partners who can bring Babylon’s technology assets into their own native platforms, providing additional value to their patients and members. 

About Babylon

Babylon is one of the world’s fastest growing digital healthcare companies whose mission is to make high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for every person on Earth.

Babylon is re-engineering how people engage with their care at every step of the healthcare continuum. By flipping the model from reactive sick care to proactive healthcare through the devices people already own, it offers millions of people globally ongoing, always-on care. Babylon has already shown that in environments as diverse as the developed UK or developing Rwanda, urban New York or rural Missouri, for people of all ages, it is possible to achieve its mission by leveraging its highly scalable, digital-first platform combined with high quality, virtual clinical operations to provide integrated, personalized healthcare. 

Founded in 2013, Babylon’s technology and clinical services is supporting a global patient network across 15 countries, and is capable of operating in 16 languages. And through a combination of its value-based care model, Babylon 360, and its work in primary care through NHS GP at Hand, Babylon managed over 440k lives globally from the start of 2022. In 2021 alone, Babylon helped a patient every 6 seconds, with approximately 5.2 million consultations and AI interactions. Importantly, this was achieved with a 93% user retention rate and 4 or 5 star ratings from more than 95% of our users.

Babylon is already working with governments, health providers, employers and insurers across the globe in order to provide them with a new infrastructure that any partner can use to deliver high-quality healthcare with lower costs and better outcomes. For more information, please visit www.babylonhealth.com.

About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of thousands of FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. Higi is a wholly owned subsidiary of Babylon.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, information concerning Babylon’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, debt levels, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of Babylon’s management’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors include, but are not limited to our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the DayToDay and other acquisitions, which may be affected by, among other things, our ability to integrate operations, resources and systems, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain management and key employees; our future financial and operating results; the growth of our business and organization; our failure to compete successfully; our dependence on our relationships with physician-owned entities to hold contracts and provide healthcare services; our ability to maintain and expand a network of qualified providers; our ability to attract new customers and expand member enrollment with existing clinical services and Babylon 360 customers; our ability to retain existing customers and existing customers’ willingness to license additional applications and services from us; a significant portion of our revenue comes from a limited number of customers; a portion of our revenue is subject to the achievement of performance metrics and healthcare cost savings and may not be representative of revenue for future periods; the significant risks associated with estimating the amount of revenue that we recognize under our value-based care agreements with health plans; the impact of COVID-19 or any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in the United States or worldwide on our business; and the other risks and uncertainties identified in Babylon’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 9, 2021, as amended by any filings on Form F-1/A, and in other documents filed or to be filed by Babylon with the SEC and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Babylon cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, Babylon does not undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

New Health Guide program delivers comprehensive blood pressure control opportunities

Higi’s Health Guide, powered by American Heart Association® CarePlan technology, enhances the Higi platform and empowers consumers to work toward better health, employing self-selected health topics to advance health literacy and encourage healthier habit formation

 Chicago, IL – February 15, 2022 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Babylon (NYSE: BBLN), that joined the American Heart Association’s Center for Health Technology & Innovation Innovators’ Network in November of 2020, today announced the launch of its Health Guide program, a solution focused on providing personalized, actionable opportunities for improving blood pressure. The Health Guide program is an enhancement of the existing Higi platform and is delivered via Higi’s nationwide network of nearly 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, as well as home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Health Guide program provides easy-to-use access to best-in-class science from the American Heart Association via the Association’s CarePlans. CarePlans provide participants with information based on self-selected health topics, providing actionable guidance designed to help them better manage their blood pressure.

The Health Guide program aims to help participants who may lack the time, knowledge, or resources to address their risk factors better understand and manage hypertension and empowers them to take action to work toward improved health. This newest program is part of Higi’s ongoing work to meet consumers where they are in their healthcare journeys, and deliver affordable, quality healthcare that’s accessible to all. According to data collected by Higi in an earlier iteration of the program, nearly 60% of participants had blood pressure readings in the hypertensive range, yet only 28% had received a hypertension diagnosis from a healthcare professional and only 39% self-identified as actively working to better manage their blood pressure.[1]

 “With over 64%[2] of last year’s blood pressure screenings on our platform indicating hypertension risk, it was incumbent upon us to provide additional support and guidance to the millions of people using our platform” said Jeff Bennett, Higi CEO. “Over the past few years, we’ve focused on enhancing our platform capabilities to enable consumers to gain a better understanding of their personal health risks and providing educational tools to empower them to address risk factors. On behalf of our platform users, as well as our retail healthcare, health plan, health system and community partners who care for them, we were determined to develop a scalable solution that goes beyond identification to focus on digital chronic condition management allowing the consumer to monitor, understand, and work toward improving their health. For those healthcare and community partners, this new tool can provide a cost-effective and accessible means to monitor lower risk populations as well as identify indicators of risk and effectively triage into higher touch solutions, which we can facilitate through our clinical network.”

Healthcare organizations seeking community-based solutions to scale access to remote monitoring can leverage the tool to deliver science-based, trusted health guidance and as a detection framework to identify consumers at risk and triage them to appropriate care resources.

“Every person deserves the opportunity for a full and healthy life. The American Heart Association’s science-based CarePlans leverage best-in-class science from the Association, with the aim of improving health education and health engagement,” said Eric Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research at University of Texas Southwestern and chair of the Health Tech Advisory Group for the Center. “Our work with Higi is a good example of how the Association’s Center for Health Technology & Innovation is helping companies to develop new digital health solutions to engage patients and inform clinicians.”

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our clinical partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of nearly 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification, and drive digital navigation and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support.

[1] 37,229 participants, March 2021-December 2021

[2] 64% of 11,278,861 total blood pressure tests, 2021

Babylon Acquires Higi to Extend its Digital-First Healthcare Platform to Millions of People in the U.S.

PALO ALTO, CA -- Babylon (NYSE: BBLN) today announced the closing on December 31, 2021 of its acquisition of Higi SH Holdings Inc. (“Higi”)  -- a consumer health engagement company​. Combining Babylon’s highly-scalable technology platform with Higi’s remote monitoring capabilities -- via its Smart Health Stations conveniently located within 5 miles of 73% of the U.S. population, at-home connected devices, and 50-state clinical network -- will help Babylon in its mission of reengineering every touch point in the healthcare continuum. The combined company will provide a more holistic, end-to-end solution to meet the needs of payers, providers and retailers on the front lines of care delivery.

As remote patient monitoring continues to grow in necessity over the course of the pandemic, this acquisition will allow Babylon to extend its highly scalable technology platform and digital-first healthcare solutions to millions of existing Higi customers, some of whom live in areas where access to healthcare has been previously out of reach. This will be an especially valuable integration for consumers managing chronic conditions in rural communities. With over half (51%) of U.S. adults living with a chronic condition, having accessible health monitoring tools is vital. In 2021 alone, the Higi network hosted 11 million sessions where consumers engaged with their various remote monitoring platforms to check in with or better understand their health.

“Our mission is to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable for every person, irrespective of the lottery of the geographic location, economic status or social hierarchy in which they find themselves, ” said Dr. Ali Parsa, CEO of Babylon. “ Our partnership with Higi will help us extend the range and reach of our services across the United States. We have known Higi’s executives, Board and investors for a long time and share common values with them. I am humbled that they will now all become shareholders of Babylon and part of our joint mission to reengineer a better model of care for all. ”

“Our commitment has always  been to make it easy and convenient for everyone to be their healthiest,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO of Higi. “Higi has partnered with healthcare leaders across retailers, health plans, providers and NGOs to meet consumers where they are in their healthcare journey and provide equitable access to insights and navigation to products and services to improve their health.  As one company, we will deliver so much more, and alongside Babylon, we are excited to continue our work to bring affordable, accessible healthcare to all.”

“Higi’s self-service, digital engagement platform will extend the reach and impact of Babylon’s virtual care platform, meeting people where they are, and increasing access to care for hard-to-reach populations,” said Glen Tullman, CEO of Transcarent and Managing Partner, 7wireVentures. “In addition, Babylon’s innovative value and risk sharing models fit well with market leaders and innovators, including Transcarent, because they believe that, with the appropriate use of technology, data science, and good old-fashioned clinical care, you can impact the member satisfaction and quality of care, while, at the same time, reducing costs. This is the formula everyone has been searching for and the combination of Higi and Babylon bring us all one step closer.

 “As a strategic investor through Flare and member of the Higi board, I’ve enjoyed a front row seat to the evolution of the company, “ said Michael Greeley, co-founder and General Partner at Flare Capital Partners. “Higi’s community-based health engagement platform that meets people where they live, work and shop is a natural extension of Babylon’s digital-first care delivery ecosystem that combined, will connect people to care where, when and how they want it, keeping consumers away from more expensive care settings and prioritizing retail healthcare resources as a new entry point to care.”

This acquisition follows Babylon’s initial strategic investment in Higi in early 2020, which led the company’s Series B funding round.

About Babylon

Babylon is one of the world’s fastest growing digital healthcare companies whose mission is to make high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for every person on Earth.

Babylon is re-engineering how people engage with their care at every step of the healthcare continuum. By flipping the model from reactive sick care to proactive healthcare through the devices people already own, it offers 24 million people globally ongoing, always-on care. Babylon has already shown that in environments as diverse as the developed UK or developing Rwanda, urban New York or rural Missouri, for people of all ages, it is possible to achieve its mission by leveraging its highly scalable, digital-first platform combined with high quality, virtual clinical operations to provide integrated, personalized healthcare.

Founded in 2013, Babylon’s technology and clinical services is supporting a global patient network across 15 countries, with 15 languages available. And through a combination of its value-based care model, Babylon 360, and its work in primary care through NHS GP at Hand, Babylon will manage c. 350k capitated budget lives globally by 2022. In the first half of 2021 alone, Babylon helped a patient every 5 seconds, with approximately 1.7 million AI interactions and 1.3 million consultations. Importantly, this was achieved with more than a 95% user retention rate and 5 star rating from circa 90% of our users.

Babylon is already working with governments, health providers and insurers across the globe in order to provide them with a new infrastructure that partners can use to deliver high-quality healthcare with lower costs and better outcomes. For more information, please visit www.babylonhealth.com.

About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of nearly 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, information concerning Babylon’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, debt levels, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of Babylon’s management’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors include, but are not limited to our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Higi and other acquisitions, which may be affected by, among other things, our ability to integrate operations, resources and systems, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain management and key employees; our future financial and operating results; the growth of our business and organization; our failure to compete successfully; our dependence on our relationships with physician-owned entities to hold contracts and provide healthcare services; our ability to maintain and expand a network of qualified providers; our ability to attract new customers and expand member enrollment with existing clinical services and Babylon 360 customers; our ability to retain existing customers and existing customers’ willingness to license additional applications and services from us; a significant portion of our revenue comes from a limited number of customers; a portion of our revenue is subject to the achievement of performance metrics and healthcare cost savings and may not be representative of revenue for future periods; the significant risks associated with estimating the amount of revenue that we recognize under our value-based care agreements with health plans; the impact of COVID-19 or any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in the United States or worldwide on our business; and the other risks and uncertainties identified in Babylon’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 9, 2021, as amended by any filings on Form F-1/A, and in other documents filed or to be filed by Babylon with the SEC and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Babylon cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, Babylon does not undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

LifeBridge Health to Connect Consumers and Patients to Care through Higi

The health system will leverage the Higi platform and network to build community ties, understand community health needs and provide smart digital connections to care 

Chicago/Baltimore – August 19, 2021 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company that partners with leading retail and healthcare organizations, today announced its expanded health system partnership and program launch with LifeBridge Health. The organizations are partnering to support community health initiatives in the Baltimore, Maryland area.

LifeBridge Health will leverage Higi’s existing Smart Health Station network in the Baltimore area, with stations accessible to consumers through established partnerships with retail locations. Starting August 1, 68 Higi Smart Health Stations in the Baltimore area now feature the LifeBridge Health brand and provide content developed in partnership between Higi and LifeBridge Health.

The partnership provides relevant health information, on topics ranging from prevention and wellness to high blood pressure and heart health, to people in locations that are convenient to them, such as the grocery or drug store where they may already be using the Higi Station to understand their health risks.  LifeBridge Health saw the opportunity to help community members effectively identify and address areas of concern by offering them a seamless experience to get the care they need through LifeBridge Health.

“Throughout the pandemic, many people have put off preventive care. However, we now see renewed interest in people wanting information about their general health and wellbeing. Growing our partnership with Higi allows us to effectively meet consumers through their retail and digital touchpoints and start the conversation about where they want to be in their healthcare journey,” says Pothik Chatterjee, LifeBridge Health assistant vice president of innovation and operations support.

“Since the start of our partnership with LifeBridge Health, we’ve seen amazing community impact, including a lifesaving intervention for a woman on the cusp of a healthcare crisis,” says Higi CEO, Jeff Bennett, referring to LifeBridge Health’s Higi station at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Owings Mills. Within weeks of its installation in 2019, a JCC patron using Higi discovered she had dangerously elevated high blood pressure and was able to get treatment before it took a toll on her health.

Bennett adds, “And as our partnership with LifeBridge Health continues to grow, our Smart Health Stations and digital tools will enable the health system to build stronger connections with community members to understand their health at the individual level and better provide them with access to the right care at the right time from a LifeBridge or partner provider.”

For consumers who choose to connect with LifeBridge Health at a Higi Station, data collected at the station, including health survey responses, will inform digital communications that will allow LifeBridge Health to message and educate those consumers to take appropriate action to maintain or improve their health. This could include scheduling a primary care visit or identifying a community health resource the consumer can access.

Chatterjee concludes, “The Higi partnership is just another example of LifeBridge Health meeting our mission to find innovative ways to connect with people through channels that are convenient and relevant to them, while providing trusted information that may help them to maintain or improve their health.”

For more information, visit lifebridgehealth.org/higi

ABOUT HIGI

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests. 

ABOUT LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH

LifeBridge Health is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in Maryland. LifeBridge Health includes Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Grace Medical Center and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org

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Higi and Happify Health Partner to Create an AI-Driven Patient-Engagement Ecosystem that Makes Value-Based Healthcare Accessible Worldwide

Chicago, IL – August 10, 2021 – Today, Higi and Happify Health announced plans to build a connected patient ecosystem that uses Happify Health’s AI and digital therapeutics to deliver personalized care through Higi’s omni-channel distribution network. This partnership combines the power of Higi’s consumer health engagement platform, which reaches leading retail and healthcare organizations through a connected network of Smart Health Stations, with Happify Health’s digital platform, which combines digital therapeutics and AI-driven care delivery solutions, to improve mental health, physical health & well-being.

Together, Happify Health and Higi will leverage their respective platforms to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem that makes Happify Health’s portfolio of digital therapeutics accessible through Higi’s proprietary network of 10,000 Smart Health Stations in retail drug and grocery stores across the country.

Every stakeholder in healthcare that wants to create seamless customer journeys to care for unique patient populations, including those disproportionately affected by chronic disease, can benefit from this partnership.

Happify Health’s ability to proactively capture non-episodic health data, and use artificial intelligence to deliver digital therapeutics, equitably, through Higi’s retail distribution network represents a new and unique way to engage underserved communities with a personalized healthcare experience that improve people’s health.

“For Happify Health, Higi’s massive retail network allows us to reach a new and diverse population of people and engage them in a digital healthcare journey,” said Tomer Ben-Kiki, Happify Health’s Chief Executive Officer.  “This powerful combination of in-person and digital healthcare creates an ecosystem for care delivery that we can, in turn, package and deliver for employers, health plans, pharmaceutical companies, and life sciences companies. Essentially, any organization looking to deliver better health outcomes for people can benefit from this partnership. We’re also thrilled to point out that Higi’s platform is built on Microsoft Azure, which makes it possible for us to deliver a seamless, secure platform experience for our customers who rely on Azure as a key component to their technology backend.”

Happify Health is a digital health platform that uses AI and clinically-validated digital therapeutics to deliver sustained patient engagement around behavioral and physical health. The behavioral health data that Happify Health collects is interoperable with other platforms and can be leveraged to deliver personalized care journeys across pharma, life science, provider, payer, and employer group ecosystems.

“Nearly half (44%) of the participants in our Heart Guide program, which offers free, self-guided care plans powered by American Heart Association science, told us they’ve felt down, depressed or hopeless several or more days in the past 2 weeks. Simultaneously, they’re managing their physical health and working toward achieving goals like reducing blood pressure, learning healthy eating habits, and taking their medications as prescribed,” says Jeff Bennett, CEO of Higi. “Imagine the additional burden of taking on a potentially daunting personal health goal without the appropriate behavioral health support. For too many Americans, this is a reality. Our partnership with Happify unlocks an impactful new engagement channel for platform users.”

As the partnership develops, the two plan to co-invest to further build upon their omni-channel platform, relying on Azure’s cloud services and security baseline for services provided.

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests.

About Happify Health

Happify Health is a global software-enabled healthcare platform. We design and deploy software to help improve mental health, physical health and well-being. We are creating a future where better health outcomes can be powered by technology—leading to more personalized care that can improve the everyday lives of more people.  The Happify Health platform offers a full spectrum of science-backed Digital Therapy and Care Journey solutions for customers and individual end-users; including Wellness, AI-based Coaching, Community, as well as Combination and Prescription Digital Therapeutics.

Our patient solutions are disseminated through unified products and services we deploy for the healthcare ecosystem; including enterprises, health plans, health systems, pharma and medical device manufacturers. Our global platform is available in 10 languages, supports more than 10 chronic conditions, and covers more than 20 million lives. For more information, visit www.happifyhealth.com.

Live Chair Health partners with Higi to enhance screenings efforts and augment their ability to connect members of the Black community with health resources and care

Higi’s Stations and technology enhance Live Chair Health’s existing efforts to change the trajectory of chronic disease in African American communities through identification and early intervention

Chicago, IL – May 11, 2021 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company partnering with leading retail and healthcare organizations to provide access to care via an omnichannel platform that includes a connected network of Smart Health Stations, today announced their partnership with Live Chair Health. The technology platform, whose booking service for barbershops evolved into a game changing healthcare company on a mission to foster life-saving conversations about cardiovascular health is adding Higi to their suite of tools to enable barbers to empower their customers to understand and take action to improve their health. 

For the two organizations, each working in their own ways to address health inequities, the partnership was a natural fit. Live Chair Health brings their established network of barbers, true influencers in their community with the ability to drive real change for a population who express high levels of distrust with traditional healthcare system, which tends to lead to poorer health[1]. Higi provides the technology to amplify their work, automating blood pressure screenings and education while adding additional risk assessments and care programs, increasing health engagement overall and further identifying opportunities for preventive care.  

The statistics are well known, yet spotlight inequities in healthcare access and delivery that haven’t been adequately addressed. According to the CDC, African Americans 45-64 are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than their white counterparts.[2] This prevalence means this population is at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and in fact, Black Americans 18-49 are twice as likely to die from heart diseases than whites[1].

“The conversations we’ve helped start between hair professionals and clients through Live Chair Health are vital to the change we need to see in the health outcomes of Black Americans” says Andrew Suggs, founder and CEO at Live Chair Health. “Our partnership with Higi gives us the ability to offer additional support to our barbers, empowering them to do even more for their clients. Not only does the Higi Station ease the burden of providing a clinical service, but it offers built in educational tools and sets us up to create value for regional healthcare partners who can affect real, lasting change in consumer routines and lifestyles, alongside Higi and Live Chair Health.”

Customers of the Pikasso Kutz Salon in Windsor Mills, MD are the first to benefit from this new partnership. Through Higi, customers can screen for hypertension risk, as well as risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Both Live Chair Health and Higi provide access to education and information about hypertension and other chronic disease, and through Live Chair Health’s on-station program, customers can access medical providers that are sensitive the unique health disparities found in minority populations. The two organizations will continue to work together to identify partnerships that enable healthcare organizations to foster relationships with communities of color and provide the resources and support needed to improve outcomes and increase access to preventive care. 

“Our mission at Higi is straightforward - to meet people where they are to make healthcare more accessible” shares Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “To us, this means finding the places in the community where consumers feel comfortable and confident. Often, and importantly, that is a retailer, where trust is established and where care often takes place. Our partnership with Live Chair embodies our mission by identifying a new meeting place – the barbershop - that enables communities of color to comfortably and confidently engage in conversation about their personal health and access the right resources to take action.”

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests. 

About Live Chair Health 

Live Chair Health builds networks of clinical and non-clinical resources as well as in-person and digital services to address minority health disparities. Combining high-touch encouragement from trusted hair professionals (barbers/stylists) and high-tech digital solutions, Live Chair Health is able to leverage the influence of hair care professionals to initiate client discussions about chronic health issues that disproportionately affect minority communities. Once onboarded to the Live Chair Health program, clients are encouraged through rewards and incentives given for healthy habits that can ultimately result in long-term positive health outcomes.

[1] https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/2021/jan/medical-mistrust-among-black-americans

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aahealth/index.html

Higi partners with Mental Health America to increase community awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection of mental health conditions

In recognition of mental health month, the two organizations are partnering to amplify awareness initiatives around the importance of regular screening and prioritization of mental health alongside physical health

Chicago, IL – May 4, 2021 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company partnering with leading retail and healthcare organizations to provide access to care via a connected network of Smart Health Stations, today announced their partnership with Mental Health America (MHA). MHA is the leading community-based non-profit, dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. All of MHA’s efforts are guided by their #B4Stage4 philosophy which promotes prevention and early intervention of mental health conditions, with the aim of intervention before crisis. The philosophy closely aligns with Higi’s, and together the two are mutually amplifying the need for early and ongoing engagement with overall health, emphasizing the importance of both physical and mental health – and the link between the two – to overall health and wellbeing.

Since its inception, Higi has focused on empowering consumers to better understand and take action to address key health indicators, focusing primarily on risk factors associated with chronic conditions, including hypertension, heart disease and type two diabetes. According to the CDC, for people living with a chronic health condition, the risk for mental health conditions can increase, and inversely, mental health conditions can increase the prevalence of many physical health conditions.[1] While causation may not be clear, what is clear is that people who suffer from a chronic disease are also more likely to suffer from depression.[2] The prevalence of these risk factors in the US population, and particularly among consumers screening with Higi, highlights the clear need for action, with over 60% of sessions indicating chronic condition risk. With programs and partnerships in place to drive prevention and early detection of physical health conditions, Higi is working toward offering a similar set of resources to proactively address mental health, alongside MHA. 

“When we think about cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, we don’t wait years to treat them. We begin with prevention when people are in the first stage of disease. We identify risk factors like high blood pressure or high blood sugar, and we try immediately to address them,” said Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO of Mental Health America, “This is how we must approach mental health conditions. When people first begin to experience symptoms, we need to act. One way to do that is to empower people to advocate for their own mental health by providing educational tools. Our partnership with Higi gives us an additional platform to distribute those tools and engage the community.”

“Alongside many important topics that impact our wellbeing, the Covid-19 pandemic has reignited the conversation around mental distress and our shared awareness of the importance prioritizing of mental health,” says Jeff Bennett, CEO of Higi. “Our position as a health access point in the community, and established cohort of consumers living with chronic condition risk factors, emphasizes the importance of our responsibility to them, and helps to amplify the work of MHA. We are excited to have the conversation about mental health with our consumers and to continue to build awareness and drive action alongside MHA.”

Mental Health America’s philosophy and educational content will be featured across the Higi platform for the entire month of May to help support Mental Health Month and connect consumers to MHA’s “Tools 2 Thrive.” The two organizations are committed to continuing to promote awareness and early identification of mental health conditions. They are also committed to connecting communities to screening tools and other resources.

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests. 

About Mental Health America

Mental Health America (MHA) is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. MHA’s work is driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them; with recovery as the goal. Learn more at MHAnational.org.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

[2] Chapman DP, Perry GS, Strine TW. The vital link between chronic disease and depressive disorders. Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2005; 2(1). http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0066.htm. Accessed September 20, 2012.

MSU Health Care Announces Partnership with Higi to Address Health Access Challenges Across the State

The academic medical center will leverage Higi’s network and technology to empower Michigan residents to get the care they need, with a focus on early intervention and preventive care delivery  

Chicago, IL and East Lansing, MI – April 13, 2021 – Higi and MSU Health Care today announced their collaboration to create greater health equity in Michigan by helping residents learn about their health and connect to community health services and ongoing care, available through MSU Health Care. Higi is a consumer health engagement company partnering with leading healthcare organizations to provide access to care via a connected network of Smart Health Stations and complementary digital tools. MSU Health Care is a leading education, research and health care institution working to improve the health of communities across Michigan.

The partnership is representative of a broader MSU Health Care-led strategy to improve healthcare access state-wide and builds on existing initiatives to outreach underserved and in-need communities, now including over 250, free-to-use Higi Smart Health Stations. Life expectancy across the state of Michigan is a full year less than the national average, according to data provided by the state,[1] and in 2019, Michigan ranked only 32nd in overall health. Contributors include higher rates of smoking and heart disease deaths than the national average,[2] both of which connote chronic disease, which Higi helps identify and address. The relationship with Higi also includes a minority investment stake in the company, highlighting MSU Health Care’s strong commitment to long term community benefit.

“Higi’s network provides us with a clear picture of health indicators across our state, highlighting the very real challenge we are working so hard to solve,” says Seth Ciabotti, CEO at MSU Health Care. “Higi’s network, which facilitated over 1 million tests in our state in 2019, gives us a new opportunity to reach out to the community, reintroduce them to the MSU Health Care brand and get them a little more comfortable with the ways in which we can help them achieve better health – starting by establishing a strong primary care relationship where we can address chronic condition risks and get them on a path to a healthier lifestyle.”

In Michigan, 65% of blood pressure tests on Higi Stations indicate hypertension, and nearly 40% of diabetes risk tests indicate high risk. These numbers highlight a national trend underscored by rising healthcare costs and declining outcomes across the US. MSU Health Care is committed to changing this story in their state.

“This partnership will be transformative in terms of how consumers in Michigan access and engage with their health,” said Higi CEO, Jeff Bennett. “MSU Health Care saw the numbers and recognized they had a responsibility to act. Their commitment to the community, paired with the access Higi enables, will help more people get the care they need, when and how they need it.”

Higi Stations enable consumers to measure, track and act on their health, including measuring and tracking blood pressure, pulse, weight, BMI, risk for the development of type 2 diabetes and risk for heart attack and stroke. Stations also provide education and digital health content, enabling consumers to connect to the care that matters to them, now including MSU Health Care. Higi Smart Health Stations can be found in leading pharmacy, supercenter chain and grocery stores across the state, including Rite Aid. 

In the coming months, MSU will launch branding, education and digital health navigation and engagement programs across Higi’s network in Michigan, enabling consumers to easily connect with care resources provided by MSU Health Care.

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests. 

About MSU Health Care

MSU Health Care is the fully-integrated academic medical center of Michigan State University, representing more than 600 faculty and affiliate providers. Our commitment to safe, high-quality patient care is realized through our comprehensive services for people of any age, education of the next generation of health care providers and medical research. MSU Health Care provides nearly 400,000 inpatient and outpatient visits annually. MSU Health Care providers can be found in more than 100 locations, in nearly every county of the State of Michigan delivering primary and specialty care, pharmacy, laboratory, imaging and physical therapy services in our owned or affiliate locations. Our providers treat patients at McLaren Greater Lansing, Sparrow and Spectrum hospitals as well as more than a dozen additional large health care systems throughout the state.​ Our position to create partnerships with like-minded organizations to transform health care has led to an imaging service agreement throughout the state, surgical center partnership, and a collaboration with Google on IVR and Chat technologies.

[1] http://www.mdch.state.mi.us/pha/osr/deaths/lifeUSMI.asp

[2] https://www.bridgemi.com/special-report/michigan-has-great-access-health-care-health-outcomes-are-another-story

Contact

Ariana Bennett | media@higi.com | (312) 504-0024

Melissa Jegla | jeglamel@msu.edu | (517) 599-4795

Consumers can now learn their risk for heart attack and stroke with a new test powered by the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) CardioSmart initiative at Higi Smart Health Stations

The collaboration between Higi and the ACC, which began with distribution of the ACC’s heart health education across Higi’s platform, has advanced to include a free and convenient station-based risk test 

Chicago, IL – March 23, 2021 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company partnering with leading retail and healthcare organizations to provide access to care via a connected network of Smart Health Stations, today announced the launch of a new self-service health risk test, developed in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) through its CardioSmart initiative. The two organizations are collaborating under a shared objective to combat the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Together they aim to arm consumers and clinicians with evidence-based, risk-guided intervention strategies for the prevention of heart attack and stroke.  

“Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer globally and impacts every community in the United States, but it is often preventable,” said Martha Gulati, MD, FACC, editor-in-chief of CardioSmart.org.  “It’s critical that people understand what puts them at risk for heart disease and what immediate preventative measures they can take. Through this collaboration with Higi we’re able to reach patients in their daily lives and educate them with personalized, guideline-recommended information that will help them reduce their risk of heart disease.”

The Heart Health Risk Test addresses a leading health concern of Higi users, who have relied on Higi’s stations to measure and track blood pressure and weight, both key indicators of heart health, since the company’s launch in 2012. This new risk test follows Higi’s launch in November 2019 of a type 2 diabetes risk test, developed in partnership with the American Diabetes Association, which has been completed over 350,000 times to date, with over 140,000 high risk readings. Additionally, cardiovascular disease and diabetes as well as the risk factors associated with their development, such as obesity and hypertension, are leading factors that increase the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Rush University System for Health (Rush), a leader in achieving hypertension control, will be among the first health system to collaborate with Higi and the ACC on this station-initiated risk test. When a consumer completes the risk test at a Higi Smart Health Station in Chicago, he or she will have the opportunity to connect directly with Rush for more information and to seek care. Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman, a practicing cardiologist and leader at Rush and governor-elect of the ACC Illinois Chapter shares “this heart health risk test is a great opportunity for patients to learn how to take charge of their health. High blood pressure affects more than 1 in 3 adults in the US. It can lead to strokes, heart failure and heart attack, but can be prevented and treated. For patients who don’t know where to begin, Higi is an easy place to start and gives us, as providers, the information we need to have the right conversations to manage high blood pressure and other risk factors associated with heart attack and stroke.”

The assessment builds on the ACC’s ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus algorithm, which estimates a patient’s 10-year initial atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk to better inform shared-decision making between the patient and clinician in determining health interventions. The assessment pairs station-based body measurements with health survey responses to determine a consumer’s risk score and range. Personalized digital communications empower test participants to take action to address their specific risk factors identified through the test with the support of local resources and includes educational information from the ACC’s CardioSmart initiative. For test participants who fall in higher risk ranges, guidance could include a recommendation to seek care by consulting with a primary care physician or a cardiologist and to complete a cholesterol screening. This risk assessment is non-diagnostic, as only a clinician can provide a diagnosis; rather it provides participants with a gauge on their level of risk.

Year after year, 65% or more of blood pressure tests performed on Higi Stations show results in the hypertensive range, one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This new resource will enable consumers to be more aware of their risk and to understand the linkage between their high blood pressure, lifestyle choices, and risk for a heart attack or stroke at unmatched scale.

With a quick visit to a Higi Health Station, adults between the ages of 20 and 79* can sit down, select the Heart Health Risk Test, take their blood pressure and weight and answer a few simple lifestyle questions to become better informed about their 10-year risk (or lifetime risk) of a heart attack or stroke. Those in the Chicago area can choose to connect directly with a Rush physician for clinical guidance and care.

“We are thrilled to add to our suite of assessments in service of our users and to extend our collaboration with the ACC” says Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “In February of 2020, we saw 1.2 million people participate in the heart health survey our two organizations launched across our station network. This new risk test is a logical evolution of our collaboration - not only will this new risk test empower consumers to proactively address risk factors associated with their heart health, it will connect consumers to the providers who can deliver the care needed to reduce the prevalence of heart attack and stroke in our country.”

Consumers can complete The Heart Health Risk Test nearly anywhere Higi Stations are available.

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Our partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. The Higi platform addresses the needs of healthcare consumers across the care continuum through education designed to improve health literacy, disease specific assessments to inform risk stratification and drive digital navigation, and connected care offerings to avoid unscheduled care and improve outcomes. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests. 

About the American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.

*Consumers younger than 20 and older than 79 are ineligible to receive a risk score but can complete the risk test and opt-in to receive educational resources. 

Higi Smart Health Station tech to integrate American Heart Association science

Higi joins the American Heart Association’s Innovators’ Network at Center for Health Technology & Innovation

Chicago, IL - November 10, 2020 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company, will join the American Heart Association’s Center for Health Technology & Innovation’s (the Center) Innovators’ Network. The Center is focused on building and fostering health technology relationships to develop innovative and scalable solutions. Innovators’ Network members have access to the Association’s guidelines, recommendations and best-in-class science as they develop digital healthcare technologies.

Higi joins the Innovators’ Network at the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to building longer, healthier lives. In the Innovators’ Network, Higi brings a nation-wide consumer health access platform that enables consumers to self-screen, track and take action to improve their health numbers and condition risk. Higi will use its Smart Health Station network and consumer engagement platform to deliver a seamless experience for consumers working to better manage their blood pressure by incorporating the Center’s science-based health management plans, called CarePlans, into their platform. 

“We are thrilled to expand our work with the American Heart Association and anticipate an immediate benefit to our users upon launch,” says Higi CEO, Jeff Bennett. “This new health engagement enabled through CarePlans expands upon our shared educational and awareness efforts and brings a new channel for health access to consumers across the country, especially for those at high risk.”

Last year, there were over 35 million sessions completed on the Higi platform, with nearly two out of every three indicating risk for a chronic condition and over 630,000 sessions indicating a risk of hypertensive crisis.  

“The Center aims to expand use of the Association’s science-based CarePlans, so it’s incredibly encouraging to see Higi leveraging best-in-class science from the American Heart Association with the aim of improving health education and health engagement,” said Patrick Wayte, senior vice president of the American Heart Association’s Center for Health Technology & Innovation.

This endeavor aims to enhance the consumer services Higi offers and drive wider adoption of the Center’s CarePlans and health content aimed at educating users, increasing usage, and, ultimately, improving health outcomes.

Higi’s Smart Health Stations are available at retail, pharmacy and community locations across the country, and offer free self-service screening for body measurements and chronic health conditions. Consumers use the Higi platform to complete nearly one million tests each week to better understand their health numbers, learn about common health conditions and connect to care resources from trusted health sources, like the American Heart Association. 

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About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. Our platform drives engagement through out-of-the-box assessments, cohort-driven programs and configurable, partner-branded health surveys that identify health risks and needs and inform our digital referral engine to match and connect consumers with the appropriate partner programs. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support through personalized healthcare journeys. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ariana Bennett | media@higi.com

Higi stands with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and its members in their public health campaign urging all Americans to complete their flu vaccination

The campaign, with its emphasis on fighting health disparities, highlights the role of pharmacy as a community-based resource with the ability to deliver preventative care in every community

Chicago, IL – October 21, 2020 – Higi, a consumer health engagement company with a network of Smart Health Stations located primarily at retail and pharmacy, today announces its support of NACDS, its member companies, and their public health campaign urging all Americans to complete their flu vaccination this year. The message carries additional weight as healthcare organizations across the country anticipate the dual threat of both flu and Covid-19 and emphasizes the importance of retail pharmacy as a healthcare partner and delivery mechanism for the flu vaccination.

Pharmacists are among the nation’s most accessible healthcare professionals, with 90% of Americans living within 5 miles of a community pharmacy[1]. As a partner to many NACDS member companies, Higi recognizes the unique position of retail pharmacists to provide access to the flu vaccine to populations that typically lack access through other channels. In support of this message, Higi is leveraging its messaging platform to help create awareness of the importance of the vaccine and to encourage all Higi users to talk to their pharmacist about getting a flu shot. In addition, Higi has launched a Vaccination Guide across its network of retail-based Smart Health Stations, offering all consumers the ability to better understand which vaccines they and their families may need and be eligible for, including a strong call to action for the flu shot and the ability to learn more about a Covid-19 vaccination and the status of its availability to the general public through retail pharmacies, once approved by the FDA. 

“We are excited to welcome Higi’s collaboration to drive awareness and action in support of our flu vaccination awareness campaign,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “Their relationships with retail pharmacy and their customers make Higi a strong collaborator to help us amplify this important call to action. We appreciate the ways that Higi is helping to communicate this important public health message – their efforts will be particularly critical as we seek to reach underserved communities and provide education and access to flu vaccinations as well as safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations when they are available.” 

Messaging from NACDS, which encourages customers to talk to their pharmacist about a flu vaccine, will display across more than 8,000 Higi Stations. Additionally, Higi will amplify this messaging across its email and social platforms, reaching an additional cohort of engaged users with a strong call to action.

“We strongly support the NACDS and their urgent call for all eligible Americans to complete their flu vaccination,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “As we prepare for the impact of both flu and Covid-19 this fall and winter, we recognize that retail pharmacy partners will play an essential role in the fight to keep our healthcare systems functioning, and we are honored to be able to lend our platform in support of this important message.”

The complete Flu Vaccination Toolkit from NACDS is available at https://www.nacds.org/toolkit/ 

About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data through a free nationwide network of over 10,000 FDA-cleared self-screening smart health stations located in pharmacy retailers and other community points of trust.  Enhanced by over 80 different third-party integrations (i.e. apps, devices, monitors, EHRs and more), higi’s smart health stations connect across the existing healthcare ecosystem, bridging station activity with digital tools to interact with consumers on the go and extend engagement, making it easier for consumers to remain active in their health.  Healthcare stakeholders use higi as a new access point to better reach, connect with and activate targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize; motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care or within the expanding care ecosystem activated by higi connectivity.  To date, more than 68 million people have used a higi station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.

About NACDS

NACDS represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate nearly 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS' 80 chain member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ nearly 3 million individuals, including 155,000 pharmacists. They fill over 3 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability. NACDS members also include more than 900 supplier partners and over 70 international members representing 21 countries. Please visit NACDS.org.

[1] https://www.nacds.org/ceo/2020/0320/PharmacistAsFrontline.pdf

OptimizeRx Enters Retail Pharmacies, Supporting Adherence by Bringing Prescription Savings Directly to Patients via Higi Smart Health Stations

Healthcare Consumers Will Gain Access to Financial Assistance and Treatment Support Programs from OptimizeRx at Point-of-Dispense

ROCHESTER, Mich., Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OptimizeRx Corp. (Nasdaq: OPRX), a leading provider of digital health solutions for life science companies, providers and patients, has partnered with Higi, a consumer healthcare technology and engagement company, giving healthcare consumers direct access to savings and life sciences patient engagement programs. The partnership introduces the OptimizeRx digital health platform directly to healthcare consumers for the first time.

Higi users at 10,000 retail and pharmacy locations in major chains nationwide will gain first-hand access to patient assistance from life sciences organizations through OptimizeRx’s platform, supporting adherence through both cost reduction measures and educational content. Messaging highlighting savings and support resources available through OptimizeRx will be displayed throughout the Higi Station experience, both at the station itself and via email to Higi’s engaged digital userbase. 

The OptimizeRx platform delivers offers for savings on nearly all prescribed medications, as well as life-sciences-sponsored treatment support programs – two particularly pertinent needs for consumers, as recent reports indicate record loss of employer-sponsored health insurance due to the on-going COVID-19 economic impact.

Higi’s free-to-use FDA-cleared Smart Health Stations and companion mobile app are designed to empower individuals to take charge of their health through regular screening, simple tracking, and delivery of curated health content from Higi and their partners. Stations are located within leading food, drug, and club stores to provide convenient access to consumers when managing their health is top-of-mind.

“Our users want help being proactive about their health,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO of Higi. “As more people postpone non-essential medical appointments due to COVID, our stations are becoming increasingly critical to their ability to track and monitor key health indicators and access the health resources that are available to them during this time. The OptimizeRx platform adds a new, powerful tool that can help our users start and stay on prescribed therapies to help them improve their health.”

Miriam Paramore, president of OptimizeRx, commented: “Our mission has always been about making healthcare more accessible to more patients by improving affordability and supporting adherence to prescribed treatment plans. Working with Higi allows us to put more control directly into the hands of patients and raises awareness of the support available to them outside the care setting.

“The partnership between Higi and OptimizeRx represents a great initial step for our strategy to reach patients directly. We see this expanded reach of our platform building a meaningful revenue opportunity for us as well as our point-of-dispense partners over time, as we continue to grow beyond our point-of-care reach.”

The new offering is free-of-charge to patients, while providing a new point-of-engagement for OptimizeRx digital health platform clients. Higi Smart Station users complete more than 3.7 million body measurement tests per month on average, which presents significant ‘foot traffic’ for OptimizeRx platform clients. To date, more than 62 million people have used a Higi Station to perform over 372 million biometric tests. 

About Higi
Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. Our platform drives engagement through out-of-the-box assessments, cohort-driven programs and configurable, partner-branded health surveys that identify health risks and needs and inform our digital referral engine to match and connect consumers with the appropriate partner programs. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support through personalized healthcare journeys. To date, more than 62 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests.

About OptimizeRx
OptimizeRx Corporation (NASDAQ: OPRX) is a digital health company that facilitates communication at point-of-care among all stakeholders in healthcare. Primarily focused on life science and payer clients, its suite of digital and mobile SaaS-based solutions enables affordability, patient adherence and care management. OptimizeRx’s network reaches more than 60% of U.S. ambulatory providers, delivering therapeutic support on specialty medications and patient financial assistance directly within a provider’s workflow through leading electronic health platforms. OptimizeRx’s fully integrated platform supports the real-time exchange of information, improving provider knowledge and patient engagement, and ultimately leading to healthier outcomes.

For more information, follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn or visit www.optimizerx.com. 

Important Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the definition of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such as in section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements should not be used to make an investment decision. The words 'estimate,' 'possible' and 'seeking' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date the statement was made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted, or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition and other material risks. 

OptimizeRx Contact 
Doug Baker, CFO
Tel (248) 651-6568 (x807)
dbaker@optimizerx.com 

Media Relations Contact 
Maira Alejandra, Media Relations Manager
Tel (754) 245-7070
malejandra@optimizerx.com

Investor Relations Contact 
Ron Both, CMA 
Tel (949) 432-7557 

Babylon invests in Higi to extend access to affordable, quality healthcare in every neighborhood across North America

• Babylon has made a strategic investment in consumer health engagement company Higi, leading its Series B funding

  1. With a shared focus on democratizing access and affordability in healthcare, Higi and Babylon will work together to bring the information, resources and services people need to stay healthy – including remote monitoring and virtual care – to all populations across North America

  2. Babylon and Higi’s combined services will enable more people to access healthcare during their daily routines and activities – such as visiting the grocery or drug store – complementing and increasing the effectiveness of healthcare services offered in pharmacies

  3. Babylon’s investment will support the expansion and enhancement of Higi’s station network and further development of its digital capabilities, assessments and programs

  CHICAGO, IL — May 27,  2020 – With the importance of accessible health information and affordable healthcare becoming more palpable by the day, Babylon, the globally-leading technology company aimed at putting digital-first care into the hands of every person on Earth, announces its investment in consumer health engagement company Higi. This investment will deepen the effectiveness and expand the reach of care offered through Higi’s Smart Health Stations and digital programming.

  Higi – through its 10,000+ FDA-cleared self-service Smart Health Stations – provides access points that can help people learn about health conditions, assess their risks, and receive personalized recommendations for local care resources and services. Conveniently located within 5 miles of 73% of the US population and free to use, the Higi Smart Health Station experience is complemented by a suite of digital programming focused on awareness, prevention, and condition management. Higi stations are located at trusted grocery, drug store, mass merchant and community centers throughout North America. They have been used by 62 million people to date, often providing one of the only accessible, nearby healthcare resources available to communities.

  By offering a bundled care solution that combines Babylon’s symptom checking and remote digital health tools with Higi’s consumer reach and assessment capabilities, the companies will together be able to offer a more end-to-end solution to meet the needs of payers, providers and retailers on the front lines of care delivery.

  Dr Ali Parsa, CEO & Founder, Babylon, said:

  “We love Higi’s mission of making the steps toward health more accessible, affordable and convenient for all, and we are proud to back their brilliant management team to deliver on this mission by meeting people inside the communities where they live. Higi’s Smart Health Stations are already located in thousands of towns across North America, and by integrating Babylon’s digital first healthcare services into Higi’s station experience, we can make the healthcare services that people need that much more accessible and affordable across North America.”

  “Whether it be for chronic conditions, which already place a heavy burden on patients and the healthcare system, to the everyday support of a person’s health and wellbeing, Babylon and Higi’s offerings place greater emphasis on prevention and tackling issues earlier, helping millions of people proactively tend to their health and connect them to the information and medical support they need.”

  Jeff Bennett.  CEO, Higi said:

  “With Babylon as one of our investors and strategic partners, we are beautifully positioned to drive real change in the delivery of primary care across the U.S.”

  “Our commitment is to provide consumers, anywhere they might be in, with smart medical tools like unique diagnostics to support their health and wellbeing. Our partnership with Babylon broadens our clinical capabilities and ability to support consumers with acute medical problems or those with chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, thereby allowing us to better meet the needs of payors, retailers and health systems. The U.S. healthcare system has many virtues, but it is simply too expensive and hard for consumers to access care. Together, we will get patients to the right care, faster and far less expensively.”

  Babylon’s lead investment in Higi’s Series B is supported by additional funding from Higi’s Series A investors 7Wire Ventures, Flare Capital Partners, Jumpstart Capital, Rush University System for Health and William Wrigley Jr.

  With a 50-state network, Babylon aims to reach everyone, everywhere with digital care services to help people lead healthy lives – from educational health content and symptom checking tools, to options to book video appointments with providers. Babylon is already providing access to healthcare services through its app to members of certain health plans in Missouri, New York and California.

  The urgency for digital-first, end-to-end healthcare – from accurate information about a health issue to actual diagnosis and remote care – is greater than ever before. Together, Babylon and Higi will be able to provide higher value services and will continue to develop innovative ways to fill this critical gap in public health.

  ***ENDS***  

  Notes to Editor

  About Babylon

  Babylon is a globally-leading technology company with the ambitious mission to put an accessible and affordable health service in the hands of every person on Earth.

  We combine technology and medical expertise to bring doctors and people closer together, with digital health tools designed to empower people with knowledge about their health. Through a range of digital health services – such as an AI-backed app and video doctor appointments – we provide around-the-clock access to affordable, holistic healthcare services and information. We work with governments, health providers and insurers across the globe, and healthcare facilities from small local practices to large hospitals.

  With a $2B valuation, Babylon has over 4 million registered patients and has completed nearly 2 million consultations globally. We have teamed up with 170 impactful worldwide partners — including Mount Sinai Health Partners, the NHS, Telus Health, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of Rwanda —  to fulfill our vision of accessible and affordable healthcare, for all. For more information, visit https://www.babylonhealth.com/us.

  About Higi

  Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data by bridging physical and digital touch points of the healthcare ecosystem. In service of health systems, health plans, retailers and consumer healthcare brands, Higi’s omni-channel platform meets consumers in their communities, at home and on the go. Partners connect with the consumers they care for through our nationwide network of 10,000 FDA-cleared, free-to-use self-screening Smart Health Stations, home health devices, digital and mobile tools. Our platform drives engagement through out-of-the-box assessments, cohort-driven programs and configurable, partner-branded health surveys that identify health risks and needs and inform our digital referral engine to match and connect consumers with the appropriate partner programs. With the ability to move this data into healthcare’s workflows, Higi delivers digital health engagement at scale, creating actionable connections to the healthcare organizations that provide care and support through personalized healthcare journeys. To date, more than 61 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 372 million biometric tests.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.

  For all media inquiries, please contact Adam Davison or Kayleigh Winslow at press@babylonhealth.com or Ariana Bennett at media@higi.com.

Higi leverages its smart health station network and engaged user base to support COVID-19 prevention efforts with new educational programs and a free, web-based digital symptom checker

Chicago, IL – April 1, 2020 – Higi is a consumer healthcare technology company making it easier for people to understand and act on their health data through guided journeys. To broaden awareness and prevention efforts around the COVID-19 outbreak, Higi is leveraging its network of 10,000 free-to-use, FDA-cleared, self-screening Smart Health Stations and digital programming to broadcast prevention tips and risk factors from the CDC and on behalf of its clients, like Rush University Medical Center.

Additionally, Higi is launching a new partnership with a leading remote health services provider, Babylon Health, to offer its users a free to use, self-service, online digital symptom checker along with access to clinical guidance on when to seek testing and potential treatment. With this tool, consumers will be able to better understand their risk of contracting COVID-19 and to get in touch with a clinical resource at Babylon, as appropriate. Furthermore, members of key health plan partners of Babylon will also have access to live coaching and telemedicine services.

“We are thankful to be able to continue to educate and support the public during this stressful time. We are hopeful that for those who are concerned about their health, our partnership with Babylon will offer the information needed to assuage their fears and take appropriate action.” Says Jeff Bennett, CEO at Higi. “During such uncertainty, we rely on digital innovation to move our healthcare system forward. Our partnership with Babylon gives our users more ways to proactively manage their health and wellbeing.”

“Covid-19 represents one of the biggest threats to public health for nearly a century and by partnering with Higi to share this vital resource across their vast user base and multiple engagement channels, we are able to increase accessible healthcare allowing us to support more people through this crisis. Through use of our digital tools, we will be able to assist those who are sick to get access to medical advice and information with our symptom checker and telemedicine appointments, and can help those without immediate clinical needs to manage their care and avoid unnecessary in-person appointments, also reducing the overall strain on front line services.” says Jory Tremblay, Managing Director of US Growth at Babylon.

The Higi platform offers education on the health topics consumers care about, including heart health, brain health and diabetes, with users opting in to engage with this content over 16 million times in the last year. Higi will used this established channel to continue engagement around the Coronavirus, offering on-station and digital resources to those who have opted in.

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ABOUT HIGI

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data through a free nationwide network of over 10,000 FDA-cleared self-screening Smart Health Stations located in pharmacy retailers and other community points of trust.  With the ability to bring healthcare data into clinical workflows, Higi’s Smart Health Stations connect across the existing healthcare ecosystem, bridging station activity with digital tools to interact with consumers on the go and extend engagement, making it easier for consumers to remain active in their health.  Healthcare stakeholders use Higi as a new access point to better reach, connect with and activate targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize; motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care or within the expanding care ecosystem activated by Higi connectivity.  To date, more than 58 million people have used a Higi Station to conduct over 371 million biometric tests.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.

ABOUT BABYLON

Babylon’s mission is to put an accessible and affordable healthcare service in the hands of every person on earth. Using a combination of AI technology and medical expertise to deliver digital health tools in multiple languages and localized for multiple countries, the aim is to bring doctors and people closer together. Babylon gives people round-the-clock access to affordable – often free – holistic healthcare services, like digital health tools and video doctor appointments. The organisation now serves more than 4.3 million members worldwide and has partnered with government health authorities, leading insurers and businesses, to provide top quality care for patients. Partners include over 160 organisations worldwide including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rwandan Government, the NHS in the UK, TELUS Health In Canada and Prudential across South East Asia. The aim is to inspire change. And it’s all in the name of good health.

Papa Partners with Higi to Support Health Screenings and Ongoing Support for Senior Citizens via Accessible Healthcare Technology

Miami, FL: Papa Inc., a leading provider for seniors and caregivers nationwide announced today its newest partnership with Higi, a healthcare technology company that operates a nationwide network of Smart Health Stations. Papa Members can now visit Higi’s 10,000 stations, publicly available at grocery, pharmacy, and other community locations with assistance in transportation and technology usage from a Papa Pal. At Higi’s stations, Papa Members can routinely check their vitals and screen for health status and preventive care needs, and better understand the impact their lifestyle choices and habits can have on their health.  Papa Members who have mobility problems, can no longer drive, have limited transportation options, live in rural areas, or lack companionship will benefit from Papa and Higi’s partnership. Furthermore, Papa’s Medicare Advantage Clients will benefit from having more information on the issues and health needs of their members.

“Our partnership with Higi creates an innovative way for seniors to understand their health needs and gain access to support for their long-term wellbeing,” said Papa’s Founder and CEO Andrew Parker. “We see a considerable potential partnering with Higi and providing preventive care options for seniors by incorporating Higi’s vast, national network of retail-based Smart Stations.”

Chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease account for seven out of ten deaths in the United States; these diseases are often preventable or manageable through early detection. Currently 45% of the U.S. population is living with at least one chronic disease, which can be crippling to someone’s quality of life if left undiagnosed or untreated.1

“We believe that partnering with Papa will give older adults the opportunity to learn more about their health, and in doing so, more reasons to use the benefits provided by their health plans,” said Higi CEO Jeff Bennett. “By including a Higi Station visit when Papa Pals bring their senior companions to the grocery store or pharmacy, we’re adding to the long-term benefits of companionship and transportation offered by Papa by creating an opportunity to capture a broader picture health.”

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Sources:

https://www.fightchronicdisease.org/sites/default/files/docs/GrowingCrisisofChronicDiseaseintheUSfactsheet_81009.pdf 

About Papa

Papa is a Miami startup that has Grandkids On-Demand who provide assistance and companionship to senior citizens throughout Florida, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Illinois, and Kansas. Papa launched their service in January of 2018. For more information, visit www.joinpapa.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/join_papa | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinpapa/

About Higi

Higi is a consumer health engagement company making it easier for all people to measure, track and act on their health data through a free nationwide network of over 10,000 FDA-cleared self-screening Smart Health Stations located in pharmacy retailers and other community points of trust.  Enhanced by over 80 different third-party integrations (i.e. apps, devices, monitors, EHRs and more), Higi’s Smart Health Stations connect across the existing healthcare ecosystem, bridging station activity with digital tools to interact with consumers on the go and extend engagement, making it easier for consumers to remain active in their health.  Healthcare stakeholders use Higi as a new access point to better reach, connect with and activate targeted populations; collect biometric and other health determinant data to stratify and prioritize; motivate consumers to take specific actions at a point of care or within the expanding care ecosystem activated by Higi connectivity.  To date, more than 58 million people have used a Higi station to conduct over 335 million biometric tests.  For more information, visit us at www.higi.com.

Papa Contact: 

Alfredo Vaasmonde | 1 (800) 348-7951 | info@joinpapa.com

Higi Contact:

Ariana Bennett | media@higi.com