HMSA and Sharecare Launching Health Management Platform

Sharecare and Hawai‘i Medical Service Association (HMSA) have expanded their partnership to advance healthcare throughout the state, and HMSA is making a separate strategic investment in Sharecare.

Sharecare is a digital health company that consolidates health management in a single online platform. HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and the leading health provider in Hawai‘i.

“HMSA exists for one reason – to help everyone in Hawai‘i take control of their health and well-being. It’s the best way to improve the health of our state and keep quality healthcare affordable,” said Michael A. Gold, HMSA chief executive officer. “Sharecare is essential to helping us reach that goal because its mobile platform meets people no matter where they are on their health journey, and also plays a major role in our community health initiatives such as the Blue Zones Project and Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease.”

HMSA has selected Sharecare to enable its strategic vision and plan, Māhie 2020, to advance healthcare in Hawai‘i. The rollout of Sharecare to all Hawai‘i residents is expected next summer.

“As a doctor, I’m excited that the Sharecare digital platform supports the relationship between a patient and his or her physician by allowing them to connect outside of the doctor’s office,” said Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., HMSA senior vice president and chief medical officer. “At HMSA, we believe that by leveraging artificial intelligence through the power of the smartphone to support, inform and engage people in their own health, everyone in Hawai‘i will benefit.”

Hawai‘i ranked as the healthiest state in the nation according to the 2016 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index from Sharecare. However, residents still face major health problems like diabetes, obesity and heart disease and HMSA is working to address them. The provider recently added five Hawai‘i communities to the Blue Zones Project, a nationwide Sharecare initiative that aims to cultivate the health and wellbeing of local communities through scientifically proven approaches.

HMSA also provides members with access to Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, the only program proven to stop the progression of heart disease and reverse its effects. The program is covered by Medicare and insurers like HMSA. This tool as well as the Blue Zones Project resources will be available on the Sharecare platform.

To date, Sharecare has raised over $225 million in financing. In addition to HMSA, Sharecare’s strategic investors include hospitals and healthcare investment firms such as HCA (NYSE:HCA), Trinity Health and the Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund; media companies Discovery Communications, Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television; high growth tech investment firms such as Claritas Capital; Wellington Management; and Swiss Re, one the world’s largest reinsurance providers.