9am Health

9amHealth is a virtual care provider focused on cardiometabolic conditions, including diabetes, prediabetes, obesity and weight management, hypertension and high cholesterol. Members complete a whole-health evaluation and receive a personalized care plan that can include prescription medications (including GLP-1s) delivered to the home, at-home lab tests, connected devices, nutrition and exercise guidance, and ongoing access to specialists. The care team includes board-certified obesity medicine specialists, endocrinologists, family medicine physicians, clinical pharmacists, registered dietitians and behavioral health experts, with the chief medical officer role held by endocrinologist Dr. Avantika Waring.

The company describes its model as an end-to-end virtual cardiometabolic clinic that combines virtual visits with asynchronous chat, allowing members to refill prescriptions, order lab tests and message clinicians. Communication modes include secure messaging and phone in addition to video, which the company positions as important for members with shift-work schedules, rural locations, mobility limitations and for Medicare recipients. Apps are available on iOS and Android.

9amHealth was founded in 2021 by the founding team behind mySugr, a digital diabetes management application acquired by Roche in 2017. Co-founders and co-CEOs Frank Westermann and Anton Kittelberger both live with diabetes; Paul Geevarghese is co-founder and COO. Investors include 7wire Ventures, Human Capital, Founders Fund and Define Ventures.

Founding story

Co-founder and co-CEO Anton Kittelberger has lived with diabetes his entire life and long kept the condition private; he described the company's impetus as making care more convenient and accessible for people who find it hard to attend appointments, complete lab work and maintain medication routines, including people with disabilities. He and co-founder Frank Westermann, who also lives with diabetes, previously built mySugr.

Business model

9amHealth sells a subscription-based virtual care service directly to consumers and contracts with organizations such as employers, health plans and pharmacy benefit managers, which offer the program as a health benefit. Its offering bundles clinician access, prescription medication delivery and at-home lab testing into one service.

Individuals can subscribe directly at $69 per month; the company also generates revenue through B2B arrangements with employers, health plans and PBM partners that make the program available to their members, positioned around reduced prescription and medical claim costs.

Traction

The company reports 28% enrollment rates across clients, ROI of up to 4x and up to $284 in monthly gross savings per member per month for employer customers, along with clinical outcomes including 2.8% A1c reduction, 18.8 mmHg systolic blood pressure reduction and 95.61% medication adherence over 6-12 months. Website-reported outcomes over 12 months include 17.6% weight reduction with GLP-1s, 9.3% without GLP-1s, 2.8% A1c reduction among members with A1c above 9%, and a 19.8 mmHg blood pressure reduction among members with hypertension.

Latest developments

In October 2023 the company announced a partnership with transparent PBM SmithRx to power Connect Care: Cardiometabolic, a virtual, PBM-integrated program combining medication, coaching and at-home labs for conditions including obesity, diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, with additional Connect Care modules planned for 2024 and beyond. Executives also discussed expanding telemedicine services to Medicare recipients.