When New York-based Zocdoc was founded back in 2007, the idea was to help patients get off the phone, founder and CEO Oliver Kharraz told Healthcare Brew.

The company created a website that helps patients find clinicians who fit their needs in their area and are under their insurance, and books appointments online.

But on May 1, Zocdoc launched a new product to get people back on the phone: an artificial intelligence (AI) voice agent called Zo. Zo helps people book doctor appointments 24/7—but instead of speaking with a person, patients speak with an AI voice that is trained to meet their needs.

“Until recently, we didn’t do the phone because the experience on the phone was just so miserable,” Kharraz said. “Now you can actually have a consistent experience, where the AI can pick up after the first ring an unlimited number of times concurrently [and] have a natural conversation with you.”

Click here for more on the rise of voice agents in healthcare.—CM

Medicare may soon be able to reimburse physicians for using artificial intelligence-based medical devices, thanks to a bipartisan bill recently introduced to Congress.

The bill, called the Health Tech Investment Act, would set up a payment system for devices that use AI or machine learning, which the bill’s cosponsors say would encourage providers to use the technology in clinical settings and help improve diagnoses.

“Medicare patients deserve access to the life-changing care that artificial intelligence-enabled devices can offer,” Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, one of the bill’s cosponsors, said in a statement on April 10. “There is currently no clear Medicare payment system for these devices, meaning that it can take years to be approved and paid out by Medicare accurately.”

Learn more about the bill and its potential impacts here.—MA

After filing for bankruptcy earlier this month for the second time in less than two years, Rite Aid Corporation is offloading more than 1,000 pharmacies to rivals such as CVS and Walgreens as well as grocery chains such as Albertsons and Kroger.

In a press release, Rite Aid CEO Matt Schroeder said that the goal of transactions is to ensure continuity of care during the bankruptcy process; the company emphasized that all pharmacies will remain open through the transition to provide prescription refills and immunizations without interruption.

“These agreements ensure our pharmacy customers will experience a smooth transition while preserving jobs for some of our valued team members,” he said.

Keep reading on Retail Brew here.—AV