Cigna’s MDLive Deal Arrives in Telehealth’s Big Moment

March 5

Health insurers have begun to consolidate their position in the telehealth market, as indicated by a recent move by Cigna Corp. to acquire MDLive Inc. Meanwhile, lawmakers are beginning to consider the future of telehealth regulation and payment, which could include a new Medicare reimbursement scheme and a new national licensing regime for practitioners.

Cigna’s Evernorth health services arm announced on Feb. 26 that it had reached an agreement with MDLive to acquire the virtual care provider, which offers video visits for medical care, dermatology, psychology and psychiatry, according to MDLive’s website. While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, private equity news outlet and business intelligence firm PitchBook said on March 1 that MDLive “was valued at $1 billion.” Cigna and MDLive have an existing relationship: MDLive has been available in-network as a primary care option to all members of Cigna’s commercial members since January 2020.

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Health Plan Weekly

Peter Johnson

Peter has worked as a journalist since 2011 and has covered health care since 2020. At AIS Health, Peter covers trends in finance, business and policy that affect the health insurance and pharma sectors. For Health Plan Weekly, he covers all aspects of the U.S. health insurance sector, including employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid managed care, Medicare Advantage and the Affordable Care Act individual marketplaces. In Radar on Drug Benefits, Peter covers the operations of (and conflicts between) pharmacy benefit managers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, with a particular focus on pricing dynamics and market access. Before joining AIS Health, Peter covered transportation, public safety and local government for various outlets in Seattle, his hometown and current place of residence. He graduated with a B.A. from Colby College.

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