Cardiogram, a digital health startup that makes smartwatch app to detect health conditions like diabetes and atrial fibrillation (Afib), has cut a deal with upstart insurer Oscar Health. The deal makes Oscar Health members eligible for Cardiogram’s wearable-based monitoring for atrial fibrillation and diabetes, without paying out-of-pocket.
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“You will be monitored for signs of diabetes and atrial fibrillation, and if it turns out you are at a high risk for one of these conditions you will be offered a confirmatory test, so a blood test or an ECG,” Brandon Ballinger, cofounder of Cardiogram, told MobiHealthNews. “And if that confirms you have that condition, then you will be referred to an in network for physician for Oscar.”
The new partnership comes after a 2018 study, done in collaboration with UC San Francisco, showed Cardiogram can detect diabetes in patients with 85 percent accuracy.
In order to take advantage of the benefit, an Oscar member would need to have their own Apple Watch, Garmin or Android wearable which can be linked to the Cardiogram app for passive health monitoring.
If Cardiogram’s technology highlights a potential issue of Afib or diabetes, patients will be given free access to what the company calls a “gold standard” diagnostic test to confirm the results.
“So it is not just an algorithm or technology — it is a full clinical workflow that guides Oscar members to treatment and better health,” Ballinger said.
The program is designed not only for people with health conditions, but also for healthy people. The technology lets users monitor their resting heart rate, sleep and stress, according to Ballinger. Additionally, a feature added in January allows, members already managing a health condition to share their data with a doctor.
“For chronic conditions like diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and sleep apnea, anywhere between 20–80% of cases are undiagnosed. These are people with serious, worsening medical conditions who are at a dramatically higher risk of acute complications, yet are not receiving appropriate care,” said Cardiogram in its blog.
Related Wearable Tech Can Safely Detect Atrial Fibrillation, Says Apple Heart Study
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