Wheel, a virtual care staffing and services vendor, announced it has partnered with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, mental health platform Talkspace and diagnostic services company Health Gorilla. 

Thanks to the collaborations, Wheel will deliver mental health services, affordable home delivery prescription drug pricing offerings, and lab and diagnostics through its integrated virtual care ecosystem. 

All three companies will be available to Wheel customers on the platform this year. 

"The addition of Talkspace, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company and Health Gorilla to the Wheel ecosystem is not just about expanding our capabilities; it's about fortifying our commitment to providing patients with unparalleled choice, accessibility, and affordability in their healthcare journey," Wheel CEO and cofounder Michelle Davey told MobiHealthNews via email. 

"These partnerships represent a step toward breaking down barriers to care, ensuring that patients can access high-quality services seamlessly, conveniently and at a lower cost. And for virtual care providers, our platform's integrated ecosystem partners equip them with a robust tool kit to deliver comprehensive, patient-centric care at scale."

THE LARGER TREND

Last year, Wheel laid off 28% of its workforce or 56 employees less than a year after letting go of 17% of its staff. 

In 2022, the company scored $150 million in a Series C funding round. In 2021 it had gained $50 million in a Series B round.

Other telehealth platforms include self-pay marketplace Sesame Care, California-based Healthtap, Teledoc Health, and tech-enabled women’s health-focused company Maven Clinic.