From ceasing operations of its virtual and primary care service Amazon Care to a Federal Trade Commission investigation into its acquisition of One Medical, here are seven healthcare moves Amazon made in August, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review.
- On Aug. 24, Amazon said it plans to cease operations of its Amazon Care service after Dec. 31.
- Amazon's proposed $3.9 billion deal to acquire 1Life Healthcare, which operates One Medical's primary care clinics in 25 U.S. markets, is under investigation from the Federal Trade Commission. 1Life Healthcare said in a securities filing Sept. 2 that One Medical and Amazon had received a request for more information about the deal from the FTC.
- Amazon is looking to enter the digital pharmacy business in Japan. The tech giant would partner with small- and medium-sized pharmacies to deliver medications to patients starting next year.
- Employees of Amazon Care told The Washington Post that the company's abrupt closure of its in-person and virtual primary care services has caused confusion among employees on how to advise medical patients on their ongoing care.
- Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told The Wall Street Journal, "If there's one area that really needs to be reinvented, very obviously it's healthcare."
- Amazon Web Services posted a job opening for a healthcare payers and strategic industry global business development lead with a background in risk management and data management for its healthcare and life sciences industry team.
- On Sept. 8 Amazon submitted two Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filings that said the company would lay off 159 Amazon Care employees starting Dec. 1, as well as 236 employees from standalone company Care Medical. Care Medical clinicians were in charge of treating Amazon Care patients.