Amazon One Medical: A Modern Primary Healthcare Provider
Amazon One Medical is a primary care health service provided by Amazon with in-person care and online resources, including a mobile app. Founded by 1Life Healthcare, Inc. in 2007, it was acquired by Amazon in February 2023 and incorporated into the company's Prime membership offerings. One Medical focuses on building real relationships with patients and using technology to simplify every aspect of getting care.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Trade name | One Medical |
| Company type | Subsidiary of Amazon, Inc. |
| Founded | 2007 in San Francisco, California |
| Key People | Trent Green (CEO) |
| Revenue (2022) | US$1.05 billion |
| Number of employees | 3,698 (2022) |
History and Growth
One Medical was founded by Tom Lee in 2007. The company grew from a single San Francisco clinic to more than 72 locations across the United States, including 29 clinics in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. 1Life Healthcare, Inc. serves as an administrative and managerial services company for physician-owned professional corporations. In 2017, Amir Rubin succeeded Tom Lee as CEO of One Medical. In 2018, The Carlyle Group invested $350 million in the company. One Medical was also backed by Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. On January 31, 2020, One Medical began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange. In September 2021, One Medical acquired Iora Health.
Acquisition by Amazon
In July 2022, it was announced that Amazon, Inc. agreed to acquire One Medical for about $3.9 billion in an all-cash deal. Prior to the announcement, pharmacy chain CVS Health had also bid for the company. Amazon formally acquired One Medical on February 22, 2023. In November 2023, Amazon began offering discounted One Medical memberships to Amazon Prime customers. In 2024, Amazon's then-other healthcare offering Amazon Clinic was integrated with One Medical to become its pay-per-visit services.
Antitrust Scrutiny and Reaction
Following news of the acquisition, several commentators and public advocacy groups expressed concern that the deal would harm patient privacy. In September 2022, a SEC filing by 1Life Healthcare revealed that the FTC had begun a probe into the deal. On February 21, 2023, the FTC ultimately declined to challenge the deal with an antitrust lawsuit before the acquisition was completed. The FTC clarified that it is still investigating the merger and may still choose to challenge the acquisition.
Healthcare Services and Philosophy
The term primary care refers to the kind of medical care you need first — before you get sick, before you need to see a specialist, before you need to go to a hospital. From preventive medicine to holistic integrative care, the service leverages medical research and feedback to keep patients healthy. One Medical provides exceptional primary care for kids and adults of all ages, including seniors on Medicare.
- Everyday care: Diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of illnesses to avoid unnecessary ER visits.
- Annual Exams: Physicals guided by app-based questions regarding mental health, diet, exercise, and sexual health.
- Mental Health: A suite of services called Mindset by One Medical helps with depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
- Women’s Health: Providers are equipped to handle birth control, cancer screenings, menopause, and gynecological problems.
- Pediatric Care: Care designed to fit family schedules with 24/7 Video Chat with providers.
One Medical also ensures improved coordination of specialty care through affiliations with health systems such as Mount Sinai Health System and MedStar Health. Locations like the Park Slope office in Brooklyn and the Pike & Rose office in North Bethesda offer same/next-day appointments and focus on meeting physical and mental health goals.
Vaccine Distribution Controversy
During the early stages of vaccine distribution, One Medical was accused of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to ineligible patients in several states. This resulted in a Congressional investigation. The investigation concluded that One Medical sought to use its access to COVID vaccines for financial gain, by pushing those looking for vaccines towards its own paid memberships, and that it provided early access vaccines to those with insider connections at the company.