Google parent company in talks to acquire Fitbit

Alphabet, parent company of Google, is reportedly in talks to acquire wearables company Fitbit and has already made an offer, Reuters reported Monday.

No acquisition price was disclosed and it is unclear if a deal will be finalized. Fitbit has been one maker of wearables that has become deeply integrated into the healthcare space, with partnerships from major players such as Humana.

Shares of Fitbit soared after the news was released. Alphabet’s play into the wearables market could be seen as a competitive edge toward Apple, which has its own wearable watches increasingly being used for medical purposes.

See the full story below:

Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”