Included Health buys Firefly as part of expansion into virtual primary care coordination
Telemedicine navigation platform Included Health is expanding its portfolio with the acquisition of virtual primary care provider Firefly Health, which also operates its own associated health plan. While a definitive agreement for the acquisition has been signed, financial terms were not disclosed in an announcement.
The companies boasted about the impressive success metrics associated with Firefly’s telehealth-based primary care model, including a 90% member satisfaction rate and a 15% total cost-of-care savings for employers utilizing its service.
In merging, the companies said they are looking to create a “health plan alternative” that provides members with a new, less-expensive way to manage chronic diseases and connect patients with preventive care, without the need to pay for an in-person office visit.
The idea is to build upon the idea of an alternative health plan design, where remote care is leveraged to improve affordability where possible without sacrificing quality. The companies believe telehealth is a good fit for primary care because many of its services, including checkups, care coordination and specialist recommendations, lend themselves to virtual visits.
“We’ve spent years shoulder to shoulder with employers and their members, and we’ve heard the same frustration again and again—the system isn’t built around what people actually need,” Owen Tripp, co-founder and CEO of Included Health, said in a statement. “That’s why Included Health and Firefly share the core belief that investing in primary care and navigating people to quality is what actually lowers unnecessary costs—not narrowing networks or shifting costs to members.”
“We’ve seen firsthand what works, and Firefly’s proven results in total cost of care and member experience align and complement our core offerings. Together, we’re giving employers a single, connected benefits experience that integrates plan design and administration, comprehensive care, and full system support to reduce friction, improve employee health, and lower costs.”
Firefly was founded by two doctors in 2017 and currently serves some 20,000 patients nationwide. Included Health works with more than 300 health plans and has tens of millions of clients that use its telemedicine care coordination services.
The buyout to unite the two companies is expected to close later this year, pending customary regulatory approval.
Employers moving to virtual care models
According to Tripp, nearly 41% of employers are considering “alternative plan design,” meaning models that promote virtual care, extending beyond the traditional urgent care prescription associated with the technology.
“The challenge has never been about interest in alternative models—it’s been finding a partner with the clinical credibility, the proven results, and the end-to-end model to make it work. We’re not asking employers to take a bet on a new approach,” Tripp said.
“We’re offering them a path that’s already working,” he added.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.