On top of in-unit laundry and central air, landlord and CEO of Philadelphia-based Shift Capital is now offering his tenants telehealth services, according to The Why.
"The concept of landlords providing wraparound services for tenants, in particular, low-income tenants, is a no-brainer," Brian Murray, CEO of Shift Capital, told The Why.
Mr. Murray operates around 100 affordable housing units in the Philadelphia area. Those renters will now be able to enroll to receive telehealth service for $10 a month. Mr. Murray partnered with Washington D.C. startup Health+ to roll out the services.
For $10 a month, Mr. Murray says that the services could help renters meet their healthcare needs while also maintain their jobs.
"Ideally, this really helps the mother who has the minimum-wage hourly job, and allows her an opportunity to not have to take the day off from work to take [her kids] to the doctor," Mr. Murray told The Why. "It doesn't take dollars off her table, she doesn't lose money off her paycheck. That could start a downward spiral."
Health+ delivers its services through a combination of a discount prescription drug card from Clever RX and Teladoc Health.
However, landlords should be cautious when thinking about offering telehealth services, according to James Plumb, MD, co-director of the Philadelphia-based Jefferson Center for Urban Health, as some of the services could create unintended consequences if no primary care physicians are involved.