a16z Bio + Health

40% of acute care visits for Medicaid beneficiaries are avoidable due to gaps in access to timely care — this is 3x the rate seen in patients with Medicare or commercial insurance coverage. As federal budget cuts loom, the need for innovative, cost-effective care models that generate real savings for our healthcare system while keeping patients healthier has never been more urgent. Recently, Waymark cofounders Rajaie Batniji MD DPhil, Sanjay Basu, and Afia Asamoah joined a16z general partner, Vineeta Agarwala, MD PhD, to share more about what Waymark is building. The founders shared how Waymark uses novel “rising risk” machine learning models to identify Medicaid patients who could benefit from timely, community-based interventions – these interventions have reduced avoidable ER and hospital visits by 23%, while also improving care quality by 11 percentage points (as measured by HEDIS metrics) and helping patients meet their own goals. Watch on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/dBWyidrU and Read the NEJM Catalyst publication from Waymark: https://lnkd.in/dmiwvb6f

Can AI truly step into the deeply human realm of mental health care? The founders of Slingshot AI think so. Founded by Neil Parikh sling and Daniel Reid Cahn, the company is training AI models to understand the mind and scale access to therapy, addressing one of the most pressing issues in mental health: the shortage of therapists. In this episode, Neil and Daniel join Julie Yoo, General Partner at a16z, to explore how AI can reimagine mental health care. Listen on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/dG5HJiPd None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see?https://lnkd.in/gjmYWkHi?for more information.

Back-office bottlenecks can mean the difference between timely treatment and worsening health outcomes. AI-driven voice agents, like those built by Infinitus Systems, Inc., are changing this. By handling repetitive calls at scale, AI can speed up approvals, reduce human workload, and ensure patients don’t fall through the cracks. Recently, Co-founder and CEO of Infinitus Systems Inc, Ankit Jain, joined a16z general partner, Julie Yoo, to discuss how we can free up human staff for higher-value patient care. Listen on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/gb_GtynB

Innovation to develop new medicines relies on a very long relay race between academia <> biotech startups <> pharma <> distributors, and ultimately patients. Vineeta Agarwala, MD PhD, a16z general partner, recently joined Angelica Peebles, CNBC, to discuss the deep connectivity and collaboration required across our industry to uncover new ways to treat disease. As she suggests, it’s the job of venture investors and policymakers alike to help more innovators run this relay race – and run it successfully to the end, so they can reach more patients. Listen to the full interview here ???? https://lnkd.in/g4fX2xnh

Delivering high-quality, coordinated cancer care remains a significant challenge in oncology. Humana’s new partnership with Thyme Care aims to overcome this by integrating 24/7 virtual care navigation, community-based support, and seamless provider coordination for Medicare Advantage members. Learn more about Humana and Thyme Care’s collaboration ???? None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see https://lnkd.in/gjmYWkHi for more information.

Imagine being able to text a doctor anytime with even the smallest medical question and getting a response within minutes. That’s the vision of Muthu Alagappan, MD, founder and CEO of Counsel Health, who is democratizing access to expert medical advice through an AI-powered, asynchronous care model. In this episode, Muthu joins Julie Yoo, General Partner at a16z, to discuss how large language models (LLMs) are reshaping healthcare delivery. The duo discuss: ???? How dedicated, AI-augmented providers can reduce burnout and deliver faster, high-quality advice to patients. ???? Counsel’s tech - leveraging LLMs for chart review, triage, and patient-specific communication, allowing doctors to scale efficiently. ???? Plus how Counsel connects patients to the broader care ecosystem, streamlining referrals and navigating complex health benefits. Listen on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/d4JX3CjD

Join Vineeta Agarwala, MD PhD, a16z general partner, for a conversation on the future of biotech fundraising, hosted by Endpoints. ?? Tuesday, February 25, 2025 ? 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET ?? Virtual The panel, led by moderator John Carroll and featuring Peter Thompson, Rajeev Shah, and Kristina Burow, will explore: ?? Key trends shaping biotech capital ?? Who’s driving IPOs & M&A in the year ahead ?? What it all means for startups & investors Learn more & register here: https://lnkd.in/gi2zKNVj

Incyte and Genesis Therapeutics are harnessing the power of AI to accelerate the discovery of breakthrough medicines for challenging targets. By integrating Genesis’ GEMS platform—a generative and predictive AI system—this collaboration aims to optimize molecular design with unprecedented efficiency. With exclusive rights to develop and commercialize collaboration products, Incyte is tapping into AI’s potential to redefine their drug discovery. This partnership highlights a growing trend: AI is not just a tool but a core driver of the next generation of therapeutics. Congratulations to Genesis Therapeutics and Incyte on the collaboration! Learn more???? None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see https://lnkd.in/gjmYWkHi for more information.

Join Julie Yoo, a16z general partner, at SXSW 2025 for a powerhouse panel on the future of medicine! ?? March 11, 2025 ? 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CT ?? JW Marriott, Salon BC She'll be joined by: ?? Sreekanth Chaguturu (CVS Health) ?? Celine Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (KFF Health News/CBS News) ?? Calum MacRae, MD, PhD (Harvard Medical School) The panel will explore how advancements in biology and technology can address today’s healthcare challenges and drive the future of medicine to build a healthier America. #SXSW Learn more & register here: https://lnkd.in/dsXb7cYM

“Nearly 36% of high school students in Chicago are affected by overweight or obesity, underscoring the critical need for more inclusive metabolic care,” says Dr. Anthony Auriemma MD, JD, FOMA, knownwell’s new Market Medical Director. To address this, knownwell is expanding into Chicago, bringing stigma-free, weight-inclusive care to the midwest. Partnering with local health systems, they offer comprehensive services, including bariatric surgery support, medical weight management, and behavioral health. The knownwell care model delivers both in-person and hybrid care, and is available in MA, TX, and now?IL. Congratulations on the expansion knownwell! Learn more ???? None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see https://lnkd.in/gjmYWkHi for more information.