Amazon Clinic expands to all 50 states

Amazon continued its path forward into the world of healthcare Tuesday with the announcement the company has expanded its Amazon Clinic service into all 50 states and Washington, D.C. 

The virtual healthcare marketplace was launched by the e-commerce giant in November, giving customers access to clinicians and message-based consultations, according to a blog post from Dr. Nworah Ayogu, chief medical officer and general manager at Amazon Clinic.  

Customers can get information and other services on more than 30 common health issues, such as pink eye, urinary tract infections and erectile dysfunction, Ayogu wrote.  

The message-based consultations are available in 34 states, but the company’s video service can be accessed nationwide through the Amazon website and mobile app.  

“At Amazon, we want to make it dramatically easier for people to get and stay healthy, and we’re doing that by helping customers get the care and medications they need in the way that is most convenient for them,” Ayogu wrote. “As a doctor, I’ve seen firsthand that patients want to be healthy but lack the time, tools or resources to effectively manage their care. Amazon provides multiple health services to provide the choice, convenience and continuity of care customers need when it comes to their health.” 

Amazon Clinic also enables customers to see how much the consultation will cost them before they begin. They can also compare prices from a variety of telehealth providers with the service, Ayogu said. 

The service is available to those with or without insurance, and an appointment is not required. Clinicians can assist via a video call or message portal and recommend treatment and prescriptions as needed.  

“By creating a healthcare experience that is transparent and simple, we hope to make healthcare more accessible for all,” Ayogu wrote. “We’re excited to bring Amazon Clinic to even more customers, and we’re working hard to make even more conditions available for treatment in the coming months.” 

It’s only the latest step for Amazon, which has made substantial moves into pharmacy and healthcare in recent years. The company purchased primary care provider One Medical for $3.9 billion in July 2022, and shut down its Amazon Care telehealth service in December.  

Amazon’s first foray into healthcare came in the form of Amazon Care in 2019, which was tested on select Amazon employees and then expanded to include non-Amazon employees. The company shuttered the service last August, and earlier this year, during a call with investors, CEO Andy Jassy said the company “didn’t have the right business model” to continue with Amazon Care. 

Amazon launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020 and has tweaked the program over the course of 2023, including introducing RxPass, which gives Amazon Prime members the opportunity to buy common prescription drugs for a flat fee, and “Coupons on Amazon Pharmacy,” which gives discounts on prescriptions purchased through Amazon Pharmacy.