Silicon Valley device maker iHealth is looking to make a big impression with its new Align mobile blood glucose monitor, launching the produce alongside a major reduction in the cost of testing strips after winning FDA clearance this month.
iHealth says that its Align device, which is a little wider in circumference than a standard quarter, is the smallest FDA-cleared blood glucose meter on the global market. The device contains no display area on its own, but connects with smartphones to display information and maintain logs via the iHealth Gluco-Smart app, available for iPhones and Android phones.
The company is also taking a bold step to cut out insurance carriers by offering its proprietary testing strips at price comparable to typical co-pays for brand name strips. The test strips now cost about 75% less than their original listing price, according to the company.
iHealth said the initiative, dubbed the iHealth Simple Savings program, aims to "eliminate complexities associated with insurance paperwork" so that patients can "avoid hassles associated with reimbursement for insurance coverage." In later iterations, the program will also offer a subscription service to automate test strip reordering through the mobile app, which would "intelligently" measure strip usage and order refills when necessary.
The device itself is available for pre-order now at $16.95, and comes in a few colors. The Align device will also be available through Apple, Best Buy and Walgreen’s stores, according to the website.
