Wheel, a vendor of telehealth services and staffing, announced its plans to integrate with health transparency tool GoodRx. The new partnership means that providers at organizations using Wheel’s virtual care platform can offer their patients a GoodRx coupon for their medications at their preferred pharmacy.

GoodRx is focused on showing patients the lowest prices on their medications. It does this through its API process. 

"We're excited to partner with GoodRx and make it easier and less expensive for people to follow their treatment plans," Wheel CEO and founder Michelle Davey said in a statement.

"Our goal is to provide companies with all the tools they need to build a great virtual care service for their patients. This partnership is another example of how we're driving down the cost of care and improving health outcomes at scale."

WHY IT MATTERS 

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 81% of the public says the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable. Families with lower incomes had the most difficulty affording medications. 

The poll found that 35% of survey respondents in households making under $40,000 per year reported having difficulties affording their prescriptions.

This partnership is pitched as a way to help folks find medications at a lower cost. 

“By partnering with Wheel, GoodRx prices will be integrated into the platform so patients will be able to access lower prices on their medications at the pharmacy of their choosing,” GoodRx cofounder and co-CEO Doug Hirsch said in a statement. 

THE LARGER TREND 

GoodRx got its start in 2011 as a tool that lets patients compare prescription medication costs and discounts. The company has since expanded to include its own virtual care platform, called GoodRx Care, after purchasing telehealth company HeyDoctor. 

In 2020, the company filed to go public on Nasdaq. Since then it has announced the acquisition of health education video producer HealthiNation and RxSaver, a startup that gives users discounts on prescription medicines. 

Founded in 2018, Wheel is focused on the workforce infrastructure for virtual care. 

In May, the Austin-based company landed $50 million in Series B funding, which brought its total funding to $66 million.