Stay up to date on the latest in health tech, digital health and health AI news with this weekly brief. This is news from the week of May 11 to May 15.
Headspace app launches on Apple Watch
Mental health companion Headspace debuted a newly updated Apple Watch app, letting users take mindfulness on the go.
With permission, the app uses Apple Health data to identify “moments when members are naturally more receptive to a mindful break.” The app offers meditations, breathing nudges, a tap-to-calm interface for stressful moments, sleep support and on-the-go collections.
Apple Watch sessions will contribute to a member’s progress and streaks.
“Breathwork is a critical micro-intervention for managing stress and staying mindful throughout the day,” said Fay Kallel, Headspace chief product and design officer, in a statement. “We're proud to bring this experience to our members, giving them clinically backed content at their fingertips and helping them build resilience through small, consistent practices that seamlessly fit into their lives.”
Carrot expands metabolic health program to include menopause care
Global fertility and family care platform Carrot announced Thursday it has expanded Sprints, its artificial intelligence-native metabolic platform, to include menopausal care.
The solution combines clinically-backed care plans with AI-driven hyper-personalization to deliver daily guidance tailored to an individual’s symptoms, goals and lifestyle. The company says it measures across “four key pillars” of metabolic health: movement, nutrition, sleep and stress.
Carrot Chief Medical Officer Javine McLaughlin, M.D., said in a statement that menopause is a “whole-person transition” unfolding “largely between doctors' visits, and that's where today's fragmented care falls short.”
“By the time most people seek care, they're already suffering and the focus narrows to treating the most acute symptom, with little time to address the rest,” McLaughlin said. “Sprints closes that gap with continuous, evidence-based support that pairs symptom management with education on the quieter shifts in metabolic health, including sleep, mood, and daily functioning. This integrated, context-driven approach helps people understand what's happening in their bodies, make informed decisions, and feel real control of their menopause journey.”
The care is now available to Carrot plan sponsors and members.
Visby Medical, RAINN launch at-home STI testing program for sexual assault survivors
Visby Medical and Rainn launched a Safe Access Program, a national initiative aimed at providing sexual assault survivors with at-home, clinically accurate sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing.
The program will distribute 1,000 test kits across 20 RAINN partnership programs nationwide during its first phase, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.
Visby says its PCR at-home tests are the first-of-its-kind. The tests deliver lab-quality results for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis in 30 minutes, with over 98% accuracy.
“For many survivors, accessing care isn’t just a logistical challenge — it’s an emotional one,” said Megan Cutter, RAINN chief of victim services, in a statement. “Returning to a clinical setting after experiencing sexual violence isn’t always possible. This partnership with Visby provides a more accessible, private option, without requiring survivors to re-enter spaces that may feel overwhelming.”
IKS Health acquires ARAI Solutions
Inventurus Knowledge Solutions (IKS) Health acquired AI management and tech company ARAI Solutions to accelerate the development of a full agentic AI technology stack.
IKS Health, the U.S. subsidiary of IKS Limited, said the acquisition will make it the “only full-stack player” with a comprehensive proprietary domain intelligence. The following areas will see accelerated platform development:
- Autonomous coding
- Clinical decisions
- Denial prevention
- Prior authorization reasoning
- Precision medicine
“ARAI’s clinical knowledge infrastructure makes IKS Health AI operational models even more economical, reliable, auditable, and capable of reasoning,” said Sachin K. Gupta, IKS Health founder and global CEO, in a statement. “Uniting ARAI with IKS Health adds a valuable and complementary layer to our platform as we scale our powerful AI-driven and human-in-the-loop approach with evolving clinical and regulatory guidelines.”
Scripta Insights, Quantum Health partner to lower pharmacy costs
Prescription navigation company Scripta Insights partnered with healthcare navigation company Quantum Health to lower the total costs of pharmacy care.
Scripta’s capabilities will be delivered through an integration of Quantum’s solutions suite. Through the partnership, Quantum will enhance several capabilities, including personalized identification of savings opportunities, education outreach, targeted engagement strategies and more.
"Quantum Health has built a highly trusted navigation experience for members and employers," said Eric Levin, Scripta Insights CEO, in a statement. "This partnership allows us to extend that experience more deeply into everyday prescription decisions. By strengthening pharmacy navigation inside Quantum's existing model, we can help members access the right medications at the best price while giving employers a more effective way to address prescription drug costs."