Nurx Expands to Iowa, Leveraging Telemedicine to Provide Affordable and Convenient Healthcare
SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nurx, the all-in-one healthcare company focused on expanding access to sensitive healthcare needs is now available in Iowa. The telemedicine company offers online access to medical providers and seamless home delivery of medications and testing kits, starting with birth control, HIV prevention medication, and home cervical cancer screening.
Nurx leverages telemedicine to reach those who face significant barriers to healthcare. After sharing their health history through an interactive interview that resembles an in-person exam, a state-licensed medical provider consults with each Nurx patient to determine whether they are appropriate for medication or home testing. The company accepts health insurance for those who have it and offers affordable pricing for those who don't. Medication and home testing kits are delivered straight to patient's homes in discreet packaging, taking away the need to wait in line at the pharmacy or make time for a doctor's appointment.
Nurx offers over 50 birth control brands - including the pill, patch, ring, and shot - many of which are affordable and cost-effective for those with and without insurance. In Iowa, more than 170,000 women* live in areas designated as "contraception deserts" where they lack reasonable access to health clinics that offer the full range of contraception methods. Accordingly, 46,000 women in Iowa live in counties without access to a single health center.
"We were encouraged to see that Iowa legislators are considering allowing women to obtain birth control directly from a pharmacist," said Nurx CEO Varsha Rao. "However, with so many women in Iowa struggling to find a nearby healthcare clinic, we believe that we're best suited to addressing the access issue by offering the most convenient and affordable solution with online consultations and home delivery."
Nurx also recently removed a critical barrier to cervical cancer screening by offering a Home HPV Screening test**, which allows women to conveniently and affordably check their risk for cervical cancer from the comfort of their own home. While cervical cancer rates have decreased in Iowa since the pap smear test was first introduced, the state has seen a slight increase in diagnoses in recent years.
Committed to giving people full control of their sexual health, Nurx also offers PrEP, a daily pill that is up to 99 percent effective at ensuring HIV-negative people stay HIV-negative. While Iowa does not have an especially high HIV infection rate compared to other states, more than 100 Iowans*** have been diagnosed with HIV nearly every year over the last decade. Nurx is the only company that allows patients to consult with a provider to determine if PrEP is right for them, complete the necessary lab work with its PrEP Home Test Kit, receive and fill the prescription, and have PrEP delivered straight to their door - all without needing to visit a physical health center.
"For many people, walking into a clinic to take an HIV test can feel overwhelming, shameful, or even embarrassing," Rao said. "By bringing these services to the convenience and privacy of your own home, we're aiming to ease barriers, remove stigma, and help more people get the care they need."
Nurx offers a seamless, all-in-one experience for its patients by integrating an owned-and-operated pharmacy, a network of partner physicians, and a telehealth app. Nurx is now available in 25 states and the District of Columbia, encompassing nearly 80 percent of the U.S. population. The full list includes Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and now Iowa. The company operates according to state and federal standards, including HIPAA.
About Nurx
Nurx is an all-in-one healthcare company that offers easy online access to medical providers and seamless home delivery of sensitive healthcare needs, including medications and testing kits. We believe everyone should have the freedom to live well and be in charge of their healthcare decisions, regardless of their circumstances. From diagnosis to delivery, we make every part of getting healthy and staying healthy, better.
Sources
*Power to Decide
**University of Iowa College of Public Health
***Iowa Department of Public Health
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SOURCE Nurx
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