Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Eli Lilly and Co. on Thursday announced the expansion of its digital health care platform, LillyDirect, to include connections to in-person and telehealth care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Launched in early 2024, LillyDirect is a direct-to-consumer online pharmacy that offers resources and ships medications for a small group of chronic diseases that also includes diabetes, migraines, obesity and sleep apnea. It offers options for patients seeking medications covered by insurance or those who choose to self-pay.
The new services for Alzheimer’s patients will not include mail-order pharmacy services. Rather, the platform’s offerings will focus on education and facilitating connections to care providers, both in-person and telehealth.
The goal is to reduce wait times for patients seeking access to dementia specialists and/or neurologists and bridge physical distances for those in rural or medically under-served communities, the company said.
Wait times to see these specialists are expected to increase to nearly a year in 2025, the company said, and nearly 1 in 5 Medicare recipients drives more than 100 miles round-trip to see a specialist. As a result, patients sometimes go undiagnosed for two years or more after symptoms begin.
“We know that early diagnosis and care can make a big difference for people living with Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. David Hyman, Lilly’s chief medical officer, said in a written statement. “By expanding this platform, we hope to help patients identify and access additional independent specialty care capacity, which can coordinate with a patient’s existing care team.”
With the expansion, LillyDirect now offers doctor-locator tool Healthgrades; access to Synapticure, an independent neurodegenerative care platform; and educational resources via MoreThanNormalAging.com.
Synapticure offers access to a team of providers offering management options in all phases of Alzheimer’s care, from diagnosis to maintenance. In addition to telehealth services, Synapticure offers referrals to diagnostic tests and coordination of care services.
Patients who reach out to Synapticure will be connected with a care navigator within two days of their inquiry, according to Lilly, and will see a neurologist in about two weeks.
Lilly CEO David Ricks previously told IBJ the launch of LillyDirect was a response to the complexities of the U.S. health care system, where people often struggle to manage chronic health conditions. But the service has already expanded to Australia and the company has plans to launch in more markets this year.
Outside of the U.S., LillyDirect does not provide information about Lilly medications and instead focuses on education and resources to empower patients and their families.
More information regarding Alzheimer’s care resources and LillyDirect’s offerings can be found at lillydirect.lilly.com.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.