Between remote work, e-learning and the rise in popularity of telehealth visits, the Covid-19 pandemic undeniably fueled a permanent transition to video-first approaches to everyday life.
Telehealth accessibility in particular has helped people in underserved or rural communities who may have trouble reaching a doctor in person. And while increasing accessibility to visits is a plus for the healthcare industry, the affordability of prescription drugs is another hurdle for patients to overcome. Dr. B, a NYC-based telehealth company, is hoping to change that.
On Tuesday, Dr. B pulled in $8 million in funding to further develop its platform. Contributors to the round include Lerer Hippeau and Founders Fund.
Through the Dr. B platform, users can receive low-cost telehealth visits. Additional features include access to low- or no-cost prescription medications for eligible users.
Dr. B’s founder Cyrus Massoumi is a veteran in the healthtech sector. Massoumi previously founded Zocdoc, a platform built in 2007 that helps patients book appointments with local healthcare officials through an app.
“My greatest regret in founding Zocdoc is that we didn’t do enough to make healthcare more accessible to everyone,” Massoumi said in a statement. “I believe every provider has a role to play in making healthcare more equitable, which is why with Dr. B we are focused on removing as many barriers as possible so everyone can get the medicines they need at a price they can afford.”
Dr. B’s services are currently accessible in more than 30 states with plans to expand in the near future.
Patients on the Dr. B platform can also receive access to Covid-19 treatments like antiviral medications. In the future, Dr. B plans to offer visit-less prescriptions for heart health, dermatology and reproductive care.
