Amazon has added nutrition therapy platform Berry Street to its Health Benefits Connector, the companies announced on Tuesday.
The Health Benefits Connector helps match Amazon customers to digital health solutions covered by employers. When customers search for products related to nutrition on Amazon, the company will promote Berry Street’s services. Amazon can also verify whether the customer’s insurance plan covers the digital health program using details like their last name, date of birth, employer name and insurance carrier.
“Health Benefits Connector is built to help customers find, understand and use care that’s already covered by their employer or insurer,” said John Singerling, head of strategic growth and network development for Amazon Health Services, in a statement. “Berry Street brings deep clinical expertise across a wide range of conditions that can be supported by nutrition therapy and we’re excited to help connect more customers to that care.”
With Berry Street, patients can access a network of 1,500 registered dietitians, who can offer nutrition therapy for weight loss, diabetes, prediabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and maternal health. Patients meet with their dietitians virtually, and can also text their dietitian between visits.
In addition, Berry Street allows patients to track meals with an AI scanner, and they can connect data from wearables and labs. The company soon plans to offer labs and GLP-1 prescriptions as well.
This partnership comes as about 40% of U.S. adults struggle with obesity. Despite nearly two-thirds of Americans being eligible for insurance-covered nutrition care, very few actually use it, according to Noah Kotlove, Berry Street’s founder and CEO.
“By joining Health Benefits Connector, more people will have access to Berry Street’s personalized, evidence-based approach that empowers patients to adopt sustainable dietary habits, leading to better outcomes and lasting health improvements,” Kotlove told MedCity News. “Amazon reaches millions of patients, which helps close the discovery gap to world-class nutrition therapy by uncovering benefits patients already have.”
Ultimately, Berry Street aims to ensure nutrition therapy is “in everybody’s pocket,” and joining the Health Benefits Connector gets the company closer to that goal, Kotlove added.
Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector has grown rapidly over the last couple of years and provides access to several other digital health solutions, including another nutrition company, Fay. In addition, it connects people with Talkspace and Rula for mental health, Omada and Teladoc for diabetes care, Hinge Health for musculoskeletal care, Progyny for pregnancy support and Dreem Health for sleep care.
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