WebMD Health Acquires US-based Healthwise to Widen Service Reach

Per the deal, Healthwise's operating assets including content, products, technology, client relationships, and certain trademarks will join WebMD Ignite.

Global leader in health information services, WebMD Health Corp has acquired the operating assets of Boise-based nonprofit Healthwise, Inc. This acquisition seeks to strengthen WebMD’s position in the healthcare engagement platform

However, the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Healthwise was represented by Canaccord Genuity LLC throughout this process.

On the acquisition deal, Dr Adam Husney, CEO, Healthwise, said, "We now have an opportunity to extend our mission through the broader solutions and delivery platforms offered by WebMD Ignite. This transaction will have an even greater impact on health consumers by uniting the potential of two leading organizations in the patient education space."

What went Behind the Acquisition

Per the deal, Healthwise's operating assets including content, products, technology, client relationships, and certain trademarks will join WebMD Ignite.

This division of WebMD caters to health organizations, professionals, providers, and payers, enhancing healthcare engagement and growth. It aims to transform the healthcare ecosystem by driving personalization, championing education, and connecting at every touchpoint along the health journey.

Ann Bilyew, executive VP, health, and president, Healthcare Solutions Group, Internet Brands, said, "The addition of Healthwise's business increases our already significant scale in content, technology, data, and AI."

According to him, this collaboration will accelerate WebMD’s ability to create engagement solutions that are deeply personalized and that are delivered in the moments that matter.

“With these expansive, industry-leading resources, we are the dominant provider of engagement and education solutions for healthcare," Bilyew noted.

Internet Brands is the parent company that acquired WebMD Health Corp in 2017. As part of this acquisition, WebMD became a subsidiary of Internet Brands. The acquisition was valued at approximately $2.8 billion and aimed to strengthen WebMD’s position in the healthcare engagement platform.

Future Outlook

With the acquisition of Healthwise's operating assets, WebMD Ignite will serve more than 650 healthcare organizations with its patient education, including more than 50% of hospitals in the US and 85% of the top 20 players.

In a broader context, WebMD Ignite is set to become the leading healthcare growth engagement platform nationwide, with more than 500 professionals serving providers, payers, disruptors, and other healthcare organizations.

"This transaction will put the best content at the point of care for significantly more than half of US hospital patients, as well as for the membership of most major payor organizations. We will empower every health system, healthcare provider, and health plan with the education their patients and members need to move successfully through their care journey – from Discovery to Recovery," Bilyew added.

Going forward, Healthwise’s board of directors will continue to explore new ways for the Healthwise nonprofit entity to achieve its mission of helping people make better health decisions through an independent go-forward nonprofit entity outside of the payer and provider space.

Founded in 1975, Healthwise is a non-profit organization that develops health content and patient education materials. Their primary focus is on providing reliable, evidence-based information to empower patients, healthcare professionals, and consumers.

Additionally, Healthwise collaborates with health insurance companies, care management organizations, hospitals, and consumer health websites. It seeks to improve people’s quality of life by offering accurate health information and educational resources.

WebMD, on the other hand, was incorporated in 1998 by Jeff Arnold. The WebMD website serves as a comprehensive healthcare information platform, covering topics such as symptoms, drugs, expert commentary, and personalized medical information storage.

Over the years, WebMD has expanded its offerings, including acquisitions and partnerships, to enhance its impact in the healthcare industry.