Insurers remain active in the e-Health M&A market to diversify their holdings and to build up their communication networks among payors, providers and members. Aetna (NYSE: AET) recently acquired iTriage for an undisclosed price. Based in Lakewood, California, iTriage manufactures a smart phone app that helps people find information about medical issues and doctors, and directs them to nearby facilities in an emergency. This acquisition gives AET an additional channel through which to disseminate health and wellness information. It might be used, for example, in medication compliance by alerting patients to take prescription medicine at certain times. iTriage may be used on iPhones and Androids.
Humana (NYSE: HUM) recently acquired Anvita Health, but disclosed no price. Based in San Diego, Anvita is a health care analytics company whose Anvita Insight engine analyzes health data from more sources than other analysis engines, and is highly scalable. Humana has been partnering with Anvita since 2010. The acquisition of Anvita and its analysis engine will help HUM to better coordinate messaging of information to members, provider and service associates.
Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: NUAN), a provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers, recently closed on its acquisition of Vlingo. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Vlingo is a virtual assistant that turns users’ words into action by combining voice-to-text technology, natural language processing and Vlingo’s Intent Engine to understand the user’s intent and take the appropriate action. In effect, this acquisition gives NUAN control over a competitor with which it had legal skirmishes in the past. Their combined resources will allow them to bring language processing and semantic processing to bear on the health care industry by expanding voice-command technology. No purchase price has been revealed yet.
Quality Systems (NASDAQ: QSII) bought Atlanta-based ViaTrack Systems. ViaTrack is a developer and provider of information technologies that enhance electronic data interchange (EDI) offerings to the health care industry. The two companies have a prior relationship: ViaTrack has supplied EDI services to QSII’s NextGen Healthcare subsidiary in the past. The acquisition accordingly strengthens and expands the buyer’s portfolio of inpatient solutions.
Spectrum Equity Investors and Trident Capital, two private equity funds, are acquiring a majority stake in HealthMEDX. Based in Ozark, Missouri, HealthMEDX is a provider of long-term and post-acute care technology. Its SaaS platform provides senior care providers with an integrated, patient-centric solution that extends and integrates the full continuum of care. Its Vision Platform is currently used in 3,000 locations. This investment will allow HealthMEDX to grow its business more rapidly by tapping into its private equity sponsors’ financial and managerial resources. Future growth may come by rolling out new products or acquisition…Want to read more? Click here for a free trial to The Health Care M&A Monthly and download the current issue today
