Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print Care navigation and telehealth firm Included Health is buying Firefly Health, a virtual-first primary care provider and integrated health plan, banking that their combined offerings will be attractive for employers looking for new ways to cut healthcare costs. Included has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Firefly, according to a Tuesday press release. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and a spokesperson declined to share specifics. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter this year pending regulatory approval. The goal of the combination is to give employers a substitute for traditional health plans, with access to higher quality care and more predictable costs. The acquisition builds on the alternative health plan design that Included launched in January, the company said.…

Every customer saved money, the company said. Joining with Included should allow Firefly to scale its model and reach more potential clients. Currently, the company, which was founded in 2017 by two doctors, serves about 20,000 people across the U.S. By comparison, Included has tens of millions of members nationwide through contracts with more than 300 employers and health plans. The company, which was formed from the merger of care navigation platform Grand Rounds Health and virtual care company Doctor On Demand in 2021, offers virtual and in-person care, along with care navigation and coordination services. “We’ve seen firsthand what works, and Firefly’s proven results in total cost of care and member experience align and complement our core offerings,” Included Health CEO Owen Tripp said in a statement. “Together, we’re giving employers a single, connected benefits…