Teladoc Health named preferred virtual care provider for NBPA

The National Basketball Players Association has named Teladoc Health its preferred virtual primary care provider in a new multi-year agreement. The partnership gives current and retired NBA players, along with their families, preferred access to Teladoc’s virtual care services.

According to the announcement, the services available through the partnership include 24/7 urgent care, primary care, mental health support, nutrition, dermatology, expert medical services and health screenings. The deal is intended to provide care that can follow players and their families as they move through travel, relocation and other demands tied to professional basketball.

Ethan Berke, M.D., Teladoc Health’s chief medical officer and senior vice president of integrated care, said in a statement that the partnership is focused on providing an integrated care experience that can follow players and their families wherever life takes them. He said the needs of professional athletes reflect a broader reality in healthcare, where people are not living, working and receiving care in only one place. Berke added that care needs to be connected, coordinated and available where people are, and said virtual care can help make healthcare more accessible, continuous and personalized.

The arrangement also includes VirtualCheckup, Teladoc Health’s clinician-led preventive offering. The company said VirtualCheckup combines blood work and key health measures with health history reviews, depression and anxiety screenings, risk assessments and personalized guidance. The announcement did not provide additional details about how the program will be used by NBPA members or whether it will be available to all eligible family members in the same way as the other services.

Matteo Zuretti, NBPA chief player experience officer, said in a statement that the partnership is meant to ensure players and their families have uninterrupted, high-quality medical support no matter where the game takes them. He said Teladoc’s focus on continuity of care and access to services makes it a strong fit for the union.

The two organizations plan to host a preventive health screening for NBPA members during Summer League in Las Vegas, according to the July 8 announcement. The NBPA currently has about 450 members.

Brian Serfass, Teladoc Health chief marketing officer of U.S. Group Health, said in a statement that healthcare should fit seamlessly into people’s lives, including the lives of professional athletes and their families. He noted that sports families often face demanding schedules, frequent travel, relocations and extended time away from home, and said they need care that is flexible, reliable and available. Serfass said Teladoc is proud to partner with the NBPA to help players and their families connect to consistent, personalized care, calling the agreement a step in the company’s ongoing effort to meet people where they are and make care more connected and convenient.

Teladoc said more than 100 million people have access to its services, and that the company works with more than 100 U.S. health plans. The NBPA deal adds another use case for the company’s virtual care offerings, which are being positioned for people whose schedules or locations can make traditional care harder to access.

The partnership comes as Teladoc continues to expand its reach through other arrangements. In late May, the company announced a partnership with Walmart to offer services through the retailer’s Better Care Services platform. Under that arrangement, Walmart customers can access Teladoc’s virtual clinic practice for a cash-pay price of $89 per visit. Teladoc has also recently announced a partnership with Instacart to offer cardiometabolic programs directly within the grocery app.

The NBPA agreement was announced July 8. The story did not report financial terms, the length of the multi-year arrangement, or any further details about how members will enroll in or access the services. It also did not say whether the preferred provider designation is exclusive.