Apple Watch, using Aetna customer data, wants to help you stay healthy

REUTERS: Aetna, the health insurer of CVS Health Corp., said Tuesday working with Apple Inc. on a new health app for Apple Watches, which uses an individual's medical history to set goals for personalized health.

Called "Attain", the Apple Watch app will reward Aetna's customers who achieve their business goals and perform recommended tasks, such as getting vaccinated or filling medications, with a grant matching the cost of an Apple Watch or gift cards for US retailers.

Several insurers have proposed such subsidies for the use of portable devices to meet generic business objectives such as several steps in the past. But what is new and important in the Attain application is the use of personal health data held by Aetna to provide personalized goals and recommendations.

Historical health data is strictly regulated by the US government. Apple and Aetna had to sign a partnership agreement to allow Aetna to share it with Apple.

Access to regulated data is required for some application functions, such as recommending an age-appropriate exercise or a less expensive option for testing programmed labs or MRI imaging tests. Aetna said the program is voluntary and the data collected will not be used for premium pricing or coverage decisions.

"We understand that there is no need to be a personal trainer or to train several hours a day to be in better health," said Alan Lotvin, executive vice president. responsible for processing at CVS Health, in a statement.

For Apple, the Aetna partnership continues to advance in the regulated areas, while the company is focusing more on health-related features with its wearable device launched in 2014.

Last fall, Apple announced a watch capable of taking an electrocardiogram, an electrical measurement of cardiac activity able to detect heart problems. The functionality was to be authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Aetna users may choose to share their information anonymously with Apple. Apple will use techniques such as machine learning to fine-tune the application, for example to detect that users are more likely to track tasks when they warn them at noon rather than in the morning.

"As we know with time, the goal is to formulate more personalized recommendations that will help members achieve their goals and lead a healthier life," said Jeff Williams, director of operations and operations. Apple, in a statement.

(Stephen Nellis report, edited by Leslie Adler)