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Banner|Aetna's New Virtual Primary Care Solution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 16, 2019

Banner|Aetna Selects 98point6 as Virtual Primary Care Solution

Strategic collaboration provides unprecedented convenience and engaging member experience

PHOENIX – Banner|Aetna, the Arizona health plan owned by Banner Health and Aetna, today announced a collaboration with 98point6, an on-demand, text-based primary care service that delivers personalized consultation, diagnosis and treatment to patients across the country. 98point6 combines board-certified physicians with innovative AI technology that delivers on Banner|Aetna’s mission to enhance the member experience and make it convenient and affordable for members to access high quality primary care anytime, anywhere.

Through Banner|Aetna’s collaboration with 98point6, members will have unlimited, 24/7 access to virtual primary care. This service will enable the delivery of care from consultation and assessment, to ordering of labs and prescriptions as necessary, to providing treatment directly via the 98point6 app, without requiring members to visit a physician in person.

“With 98point6, we are pioneering a new approach to primary care that will further differentiate Banner|Aetna in the market,” said Tom Grote, CEO of Banner|Aetna. “We are committed to delivering convenience and affordability to our members, and our new virtual primary care offering accomplishes both. Our members will now be able to connect with board-certified physicians on their mobile device when and where they need it, increasing access to quality primary care.”

Banner|Aetna’s customized version of 98point6 provides a platform to create a smoother in-network referral process that will ensure members get referred to the specialized care they need, when appropriate. With this virtual primary care solution, Banner|Aetna aims to increase primary care utilization among those not actively or appropriately engaged in their health care—which could ultimately lead to less time away from the job and better overall health. 98point6 empowers patients with simple-to-use, 24/7 access to care, delivering on Banner|Aetna’s vision of a simpler health care system.

“Banner|Aetna and 98point6 share a passion for making health care more accessible by providing efficient and effective patient care at the most affordable price,” said Robbie Cape, CEO and Co-founder of 98point6. “We are proud to bring our on-demand service to potentially more than 300,000 Banner|Aetna members.”

Banner|Aetna plans to begin deployment of 98point6 to its members in July 2019.

About BannerIAetna

BannerIAetna is a health care company focusing on bettering member outcomes at a lower cost, all while improving the overall member experience for employers and consumers in Arizona. The collaboration combines Banner Health’s high quality, local providers and delivery systems with Aetna’s health-plan experience, care management and health-information technology. Banner|Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company and Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc. For more information about BannerIAetna, visit https://www.banneraetna.com/.

About 98point6

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Seattle, 98point6 is pioneering a new approach to primary care. By pairing deep technology with board-certified physicians, our vision is to make primary care more accessible and affordable—leading to better health and reducing the cost of care. We meet consumers where they are by offering private, text-based diagnosis and treatment via a mobile app. For employers, 98point6 increases primary care utilization among those not actively or appropriately engaged in their health—enabling earlier medical intervention and improving employee productivity. For more information about 98point6, visit www.98point6.com.

Transforming health care, together

Banner|Aetna aims to offer access to more efficient and effective member care at a more affordable cost. We join the right medical professionals with the right technology, so members benefit from quality, personalized health care designed to help them reach their health ambitions.

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What's New

Health benefits and health insurance plans are offered, underwritten, and/or administered by Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company and/or Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc. (Banner|Aetna). Banner|Aetna is an affiliate of Banner Health and of Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Aetna and Banner Health provide certain management services to Banner|Aetna. Aetna, CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic, LLC (which either operates or provides certain management support services to MinuteClinic-branded walk-in clinics) are part of the CVS Health® family of companies.

On-Demand Virtual Care with 98point6 by Transcarent

Banner|Aetna offers access to 98point6 by Transcarent, a virtual care solution that enables members to connect to care anytime, anywhere via secure in-app messaging.

Treatment is provided by a U.S.-based care team, including board-certified doctors, who can diagnose and treat over 1,000 conditions, outline care options, prescribe* medication, and order labs or imaging when appropriate—all through the convenience of a mobile app.

Key Features:

  • Audio, video, and Spanish translation support available as needed
  • Access to care plans and lab results directly within the app
  • Referrals to in-network resources and specialists
  • Care is available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
  • 24/7/365 access with an average wait time of under 2 minutes—no appointment required.

Available to enrolled Banner|Aetna members and covered dependents age 1+* in an eligible plan.

Cost: Low-to-no-cost per visit*, depending on plan details.

*FOR ENROLLED MEMBERS AND COVERED DEPENDENTS AGE 1+: 98point6 by Transcarent is available to members age 1-17 when an adult parent or guardian is also enrolled in the plan. Access to 98point6 by Transcarent is not included in all plans.

*FOR LOW-TO-NO-COST WITH 98POINT6 BY TRANSCARENT: Members enrolled in a health savings account (HSA) or qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP) must pay the applicable cost-share for virtual care visit until their deductible is met, after which services will be provided at no cost-share. All other health plan members pay $0 per virtual care visit regardless of whether their deductible has been met. Please refer to your plan documents for your applicable cost-share amounts.

*FOR 98POINT6 BY TRANSCARENT PRESCRIBING: 98point6 by Transcarent providers do not prescribe controlled substances (such as opioids), lifestyle medications (such as Viagra and Propecia) or weight loss medications (Wegovy or Ozempic). 98point6 by Transcarent and Transcarent Clinic clinicians are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Banner|Aetna or plans administered by Banner|Aetna, and does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. Transcarent Clinic providers will not prescribe DEA-controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs that may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. Clinicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services

This material is for information only. An application must be completed to obtain coverage. Rates and benefits vary by location. Providers are independent contractors and are not agents of Banner|Aetna. Provider participation may change without notice.

Health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations.