Episode #121
DigitalHealth InvestorTalk: The new patient journey in the age of AI with Sage Khanuja and Steven Wardell
Pharmaceutical manufacturers spend more than $40B annually on advertising and promotion, patient services, and Hubs. Only about 3% of Americans are even aware they offer resources like co-pay assistance and patient support programs. Little surprise then that between 20% to 30% of prescriptions are never filled. Emerging AI-powered advocates are now available 24/7 to patients and healthcare providers via the phone, SMS, and web, significantly reducing friction and streamlining the path to therapy. Imagine patient journeys orchestrated by personal concerges that can Answer any medication-related question Verify insurance benefits, both Rx and medical Find and schedule doctor appointments Track down prior authorizations Autonomously enroll patients in affordability programs That doesn't just translate into higher levels of engagement, but it also results in higher levels of medication compliance and suppports better condition management through longer-term adherence. And it's producing more informed patients -- another step toward healthcare consumerism. The patient journey is often frustrating to patients who have difficulties using benefits and staying on therapy. AI changes that. In this show we'll look at the new age promised by AI, when a patient concierge becomes smart and often free: Navigating the patient to the right benefits Getting the patient on the right therapy and keeping them adherent Solving the frictions of the healthcare system. And we’ll answer your questions. Sage Khanuja is a Seattle Inno Under 25 honoree as well as the co-founder and President of The RXAssistant (therxassistant.com). Prior to launching the company in 2024, he founded and sold Spira, a no-code telehealth solution, to Galileo. Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell . Follow on Eventbrite to hear about new events and live shows: StevenWardell.EventBrite.com . Subscribe to the podcast! Apple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digitalhealth-investortalk-show/id1739850633 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/42dV5Wnag97l2rtIDpxmlJ
