Whoop joins Medicare to help older adults manage chronic conditions

Whoop, a consumer wearable maker known for its focus on athletes, has been selected for Medicare’s ACCESS program. The program lets Medicare cover the cost of devices and a one-year subscription for patients 65 and older. Those participants can use the band to track heart rate, sleep, and other metrics while the company works to help them manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and prediabetes.

Chief medical officer Ami Bhatt said the company is simplifying the app so older adults can share their data easily. She is working with AARP and the National Council on Aging to tailor the device to each senior’s goals. The goal is to give seniors control over what matters to them without the company deciding what they should focus on.

To receive Medicare payment, Whoop must show it improves or controls measures tied to chronic conditions, including blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, and low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol. The company’s blood‑pressure‑estimating feature had been flagged as a medical device, but the FDA closed its warning letter that had initially said it was not a wellness feature. Whoop also noted that frequent app use does not guarantee better health; measurable outcomes are needed to demonstrate benefit.

One challenge for clinicians is how to use the continuous data from wearables during short visits. Bhatt said the company plans to deliver concise reports that combine raw numbers with the user’s journal entries and coaching advice. Such reports could give doctors a clear picture of a patient’s health trends without the need to sift through hours of raw data.