NEW YORK– Dr. B launches the first telehealth company that makes healthcare services available regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The company is initially focused on expanding access to everyday prescriptions through its new “Visitless Prescription” service. Dr. B patients can conveniently access a low-cost, online doctor consultation and then send resulting prescriptions to any pharmacy—all without leaving home. For patients who qualify based on income, Dr. B is also offering a no-cost option, which is completely unique in a telehealth landscape where most companies actually charge patients more for online services.
Dr. B’s telehealth service is launching first with Paxlovid and molnupiravir (Lagevrio) — the two at-home oral Covid-19 antivirals authorized for use by the FDA — to provide the most convenient way to treat Covid amid a surge in cases across the United States. Dr. B is also planning to soon offer Visitless Prescriptions for a wide range of everyday medications, from heart health to dermatology and reproductive care.
“My greatest regret in founding Zocdoc is that we didn’t do enough to make healthcare more accessible to everyone,” said Cyrus Massoumi, Founder and CEO of Dr. B. “I believe every provider has a role to play in making healthcare more equitable, which is why with Dr. B we are focused on removing as many barriers as possible so everyone can get the medicines they need at a price they can afford.”
“The pandemic exacerbated the inequities of our healthcare system,” said Dr. Monique Smith, a medical advisor to Dr. B and Emergency Physician and Founding Executive Director at Health DesignED at Emory University. “For example, studies have found Covid-19 antivirals have been less frequently dispensed in communities of color and in poorer, more crowded neighborhoods. Dr. B is leading the charge to make at-home antivirals more accessible than ever before, which is sorely needed as new variants continue to emerge, causing caseloads to remain high.”
Patients using Dr. B skip the waiting room and instead complete an online health assessment. A board-certified physician then reviews the patient’s medical record and provides the patient with a prescription, if appropriate. Dr. B patients can have the prescription filled at the pharmacy of their choice.
The company raised $8 million for the new telehealth platform, including from Lerer Hippeau, Founders Fund and other investors that support Dr. B’s mission to make healthcare more equitable. “Dr. B’s mission to make healthcare more equitable and affordable, starting with Covid antivirals, will be critical to progressing the pandemic into an endemic state,” said Ben Lerer, Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau.
By starting with Covid antivirals, the company is building on its efforts to help people access Covid vaccines. After launching at the height of the Covid-19 crisis, Dr. B offered vaccines to over one million people across 37 states in partnership with 700+ healthcare providers. Now, Dr. B is helping solve an urgent challenge that has limited access to at-home Covid treatments. While these antivirals have been approved since late last year, accessing treatments within the critical 5-day period following a positive test is still impossible for many due to logistical and cost challenges. For example, in-person doctor’s appointments take time to schedule and other online options charge significant price markups. With Dr. B, patients get the medicines they need without having to wait for appointments or pay high prices.
The new prescription service is currently available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, with additional states being added soon.
