Invest in Pitch Perfect Pospight: How Duos uses technology to support the elderly
By 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 and over will increase to 82 million, a 47% increase from 58 million in 2022. Access to quality health care is often confusing and poses a major challenge to this population.
That's what Duos, a technology service provider that supports the technology advantage program, hopes to change. It supports older people and their caregivers by meeting social needs related to health and connecting patients. The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company was recently crowned the winner of the Health Tech Consumer/Medcity News track of Medcity News'Invest Pitch Perfect competition. Investors evaluated six startups focused on nursing navigation and coordination.
“We don’t want people to live longer,” said Karl Ulfers, CEO and co-founder of Duos, in a recent interview. “We want them to have more lives in the years they actually experience, so that’s why we really focus on developing the technology and automation coverage of these older people with social needs related to health. Because everyone should have the right to have transportation to attend doctor’s dates or go out in the community.
When a company signs up with a health plan, it can begin interacting with members via text, email, and email to inform them of this benefit and the choice to join the duet. Members can then share the highest social determinants of their health and care needs, such as food or transportation support. The company can then connect them to resources and providers based on their coverage, location, and other needs.
Ulfers give examples of people eligible for the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Through our experience, older people can actually not only be sure that they are eligible for Snap-ebt, but we actually chat with them and answer questions that are automatically written on the Snap-ebt app,” he said. “Then once we explain the program to them and get their approval, we capture their digital signature and then click on it, we can actually send their application to state or county officials, depending on where they live, and then connect them to the Snap-Ebt benefits.”
The duo can also aggregate membership data and provide actionable insights to health plan clients.
One of the investor judges in the Pitch Perfect competition said he chose the duo’s title because “the family caregiver is the greatest unsung hero in health care.”
“Any technology or service that can provide them with additional benefits, leverage, and overall inner self will surely win all healthcare stakeholders when delivered effectively,” said Cedar Pine, who leads the company’s healthcare investment. “The duo seems to be unlocking this ability.”
Duos raised about $30 million. Some of its investors include leading companies and prime time partners.
Humana is one of its health program clients, and Duos announced a partnership with last year to support seniors. The company also expanded to prescription drug programs and Medicaid.
According to Ulfers, government plans are facing significant changes due to cuts in federal budgets.
“In every area of Medicare benefits, prescription drug programs and Medicaid, all of these plans will change over the next few years, which will create incredible confusion,” he said. “We want to be the simple and access voice of older people in this country to understand what has changed and how they can ensure they continue to receive incredible quality of care.”
Companies that provide similar services include Mpulse and Cleo. However, Duos' main competitor is usually the health plan itself, as many people try to provide these services themselves.
Photo: Nick Fanion, breaking the media
