With more than 221 primary care offices in more than 20 markets, retail giant Amazon is one of the biggest contenders in the race to acquire physicians.
In February 2023, Amazon finalized its $3.9 billion acquisition of virtual and in-person primary care company One Medical, giving the company access to more than 200 brick-and-mortar physicians offices and roughly 815,000 One Medical members.
One Medical has since formed collaborations with several hospitals. In 2023, Amazon inked deals with Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health's Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.
The deals allow specialists from both health systems to deliver care to Amazon's primary care patients. One Medical provides concierge primary care, with longer appointments and no wait times, as well as 24/7 virtual care for a yearly membership of $199.
Under the Hackensack deal, the health system became One Medical's specialty referral partner in New Jersey, and the partnership will establish numerous locations in the area in the coming years. Under the CommonSpirit deal, Virginia Mason will be One Medical's specialty referral partner for its eight primary care clinics in the Seattle area.
Some of those health systems told Becker's in September the partnership improves access to primary care in their markets.
"This partnership with One Medical is a prime example of Mass General Brigham's commitment to working with world-class partners that complement our strengths," said Lynn Stofer, president of Mass General Brigham Community Physicians, part of the Somerville, Mass.-based health system. "One Medical offers a broad primary care network with tight connections to our entire team of Mass General Brigham specialists, providing outstanding services for our patients and increasing access to care at a time when demand continues to outpace supply."
"Our partnership with One Medical continues, offering patients another option for primary care and improved access to our vast network of specialists," a spokesperson for Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care, One Medical's partner for its eight clinics in the Chicago area, told Becker's.
In August, Amazon also launched Amazon Clinic, its virtual care platform, across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The service offers care for 30 common health conditions, such as urinary tract infection, pink eye and erectile dysfunction.