Here are 18 recent news updates on health IT companies:
1. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies like 23andMe agreed to a new set of guidelines that govern how they obtain customers' consent to share their DNA with other companies and researchers.
2. Amazon reported $52.9 billion in net sales for the second quarter of 2018.
3. AC Wellness, Apple's concierge health and wellness clinics for its Bay Area employees, recently hired more than 40 people.
4. Apple released its earnings results for the third quarter of 2018, reporting $53.3 billion in revenue driven by iPhone sales.
5. Athenahealth posted $323.3 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2018.
6. Cerner is building two office towers for its Innovations Campus in Kansas City, Mo., and expects to complete construction in 2020.
7. The Defense Department said it extended the contract value for its Cerner EHR overhaul by $1.1 billion to accommodate EHR standardization across the Coast Guard and the Veterans Affairs Department.
8. Walgreens launcheda digital platform and marketplace July 26 to connect online consumers with 17 providers operating at various Walgreens retail locations, including DermatologistOnCalland MDLive.
9. Anthem partnered with doc.ai, an artificial intelligence platform, to explore ways to use the technology to predict when patients will experience allergies.
10. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Google a patent for in-ear health monitoring technology — a continuation of the tech giant's recent moves into the healthcare space.
11. Google Cloud and management consulting firm Accenture teamed up on a new venture to help healthcare, consumer packaged goods and retail companies implement services from Google Cloud.
12. Google Cloud launched an artificial intelligence and analytics program targeted toward nonprofits, dubbed the "Data Solutions for Change" program.
13. Shortly after reports emerged detailing numerous shortcomings with IBM's Watson for Oncology platform, the company is reportedly modifying the artificial intelligence-powered software.
14. MDLive, a telehealth company based in Sunrise, Fla., recently closed a $50 million financing round with participation from Cigna and Health Care Service Corp.
15. Microsoft is likely building a new wearable to help its users measure their blood pressure, according to a recent patent application.
16. Microsoft selected telehealth startup Numbers4Health as one of the winners of its third annual Airband Grant Fund.
17. Amsterdam-based Royal Philips released its earnings results for the second quarter, reporting €4.3 billion (an estimated $5 billion) in sales.
18. Teladoc plans to change its corporate name to Teladoc Health on Aug. 10.