Firstsource Solutions has acquired TeleMedik, a healthcare technology and services firm based in Puerto Rico, in a move to expand its digital and clinical operations in the US healthcare market. The transaction strengthens Firstsource’s position in payer and provider services, particularly in use management and clinical support functions.

The acquisition was announced on 13 January by Firstsource, which is listed on India’s National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange and is part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

TeleMedik develops and implements technology-enabled clinical and administrative solutions for health plans and providers. Its operations are concentrated in Puerto Rico, with additional activity in the mainland United States. Firstsource said the combination would extend its reach in payer-provider networks and add operational capacity in clinical and use management services.

US health plans are facing increased demand for services with pressure to control costs. Higher use rates, coupled with growth in government-funded programmes like Medicaid and Medicare Advantage, have increased administrative and clinical workloads. The shift towards value-based care models has required insurers to track outcomes more closely and coordinate care in providers.

In response, payers have turned increasingly to external service providers to support care management and member engagement functions. Firstsource positions itself as a provider of end-to-end services that combine operational delivery with digital tools, including automation and artificial intelligence.

The company said the acquisition of TeleMedik supports its approach, integrating digital abilities with clinical operations into a centralised service model. It is intended to allow health plans to manage prior authorisation and care coordination without expanding internal teams.

TeleMedik brings experience in use management, care management, disease management, and telemedicine-supported interventions. Its workforce and infrastructure in Puerto Rico provide access to bilingual clinical staff and support services, which Firstsource said are relevant to serving Spanish-speaking populations and dual-eligible members enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

Firstsource stated the deal would also reduce operational risk for clients by ensuring continuity of services and expand delivery capacity. The combined technology platforms are expected to improve onboarding speed for new programmes and standardise clinical processes in companies’ clients.

Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group and Firstsource, said the acquisition aligned with the company’s strategy to expand its role in US healthcare services. He said Firstsource had built a substantial presence in the sector and viewed the transaction as a way to extend its digital and clinical abilities.

Joaquín Fernández-Quintero, president and chief executive of TeleMedik Group, said the company had focused on digital delivery models and expected to scale its services through Firstsource’s global delivery network. He said the combination would allow TeleMedik’s services to reach a wider set of health plan clients.

Following the acquisition, Firstsource plans to offer integrated services covering clinical review, prior authorisation, care and disease management, population health, and telemedicine-supported care. These will be delivered through a unified operating model that the company says is designed to improve turnaround times and reduce administrative workload.

The transaction reflects continued consolidation among service providers supporting US healthcare payers, as insurers seek to manage rising costs and regulation by outsourcing and relying on technology.

(Image source: “Medicine 01” by takacsi75 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

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