Grand Rounds Health and Doctor On Demand, following their recent merger, announced today they have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Included Health, a health concierge platform for the LGBTQ+ community. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal will add Included Health’s LGBTQ+ care navigation services – which include assistance for finding physical and behavioral healthcare, navigating benefits, receiving gender-affirming care and more – to Grand Rounds and Doctor On Demand’s virtual care platform.

"The past year has been a time of cultural awakening across the U.S., with employers, healthcare providers, and others stepping up to create more inclusive environments. But for many in the LGBTQ+ community, there is still much progress to be made," Colin Quinn, cofounder and CEO of Included Health, said in a statement.

"We are proud to join forces with Grand Rounds Health and Doctor On Demand to deliver on our shared vision of improving healthcare equity for underserved communities. Our combined team of care providers and care navigators mirrors the diverse population of our members, and together we can make affirmative, culturally competent healthcare a reality."

The two companies’ merger was announced in March. It joined Grand Rounds' clinical navigation and patient advocacy tools with Doctor On Demand's telehealth offering. The combined entity focuses on primary care, specialty care, chronic care management and behavioral health.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Members of the LGBTQ+ community often face challenges accessing healthcare because of factors such as stigma, discrimination, violence, rejection by families and communities, inequalities in the workplace and health insurance sectors, and even outright denial of care due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

These barriers to care can lead to delayed or deferred care. They're associated with health disparities, including higher rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse and suicide, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

This M&A hopes to expand access to care and improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals.

"Our job is to make the healthcare system work for everyone, including those who've had to survive for far too long outside it," Owen Tripp, CEO of the combined Grand Rounds Health and Doctor On Demand, said in a statement.

"LGBTQ+ people face serious discrimination in healthcare settings, and are 2-3 times more likely than others to avoid care. This needs to change. So we are extremely proud to go into business, and innovate, with Included Health. Rightly, employers and health plans are asking for a navigation and virtual care partner who offers integrated personalized care to all their members. We will provide it."

THE LARGER TREND

Over recent years, a number of digital health companies have emerged to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this year, Plume landed $14 million in Series A funding for its platform that helps members of the transgender community find health services.

Folx Health, a digital health provider that offers a range of healthcare product plans for the LGBTQ+ community, recently raised $25 million.

Personal health information platform Backpack Health added a service in 2019 specifically designed to help transgender and non-binary people manage their health data.