The news: Digital health startup Wheel is teaming up with drug discount platform GoodRx to integrate real-time drug pricing and discounts into Wheel’s services. Now, Wheel’s provider clients will be able to offer their patients access to discounts at over 70,000 pharmacies across the US.

More on Wheel: The startup offers a plug-and-play telehealth platform that helps providers power their virtual care services. Wheel has also built out its own nationwide clinician network to make it easier and faster to match patients to providers for virtual visits.

How we got here: This marks yet another major partnership for GoodRx—which has been scaling its digital health footprint this year.

• In September, it launched GoodRx Health, an online health hub where consumers access information about health concerns and trends, tools for guiding healthcare decisions, and video content on areas like financial guidance and drug-related FAQs.
• In August, GoodRx linked up with e-prescription giant Surescripts to give Surescripts’ provider clients access to GoodRx’s discount pricing tools within their EHRs.
• Also in August, GoodRx teamed up with health insurance marketplace GoHealth to engage more Medicare Advantage members on GoodRx’s platform.
• In April, it acquired health video content platform Healthination for $75 million and its competitor RxSaver for $50 million.
• Not to mention, it reported 39% year-over-year growth from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021.

The bigger picture: Lack of pricing transparency and high drug costs contribute to low medication adherence. GoodRx is primed to capture and hold consumer interest because of its ability to address these pain points.

• 18.7% of US adults said they delayed a refill, and 16.4% said they rationed medication to extend a prescription because of drug costs, per GoodRx’s 2021 Medication Debt Survey.
• When patients are better able to adhere to their treatment plans, providers can ensure patient retention, greater patient satisfaction, and better outcomes.