DexCare Acquires Mila Health to Automate Patient Scheduling
Seattle startup DexCare is buying Mila Health to integrate AI agents that handle appointment calls and texts for major health systems.
Key points
- DexCare acquires Seattle startup Mila Health to integrate AI agents for patient scheduling and qualification checks.
- DexCare serves 57 million patients and has raised $146 million, while Mila has 25 employees and no disclosed VC funding.
- The combined platform aims to provide auditable, configurable AI solutions that reduce staffing burdens for major health systems.
Seattle-based health-tech company DexCare has acquired Mila Health, a local startup focused on artificial intelligence agents for patient communication. The deal combines DexCare’s existing appointment management infrastructure with Mila’s technology, which uses AI to answer questions about availability and patient qualifications via phone and text.
Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the acquisition. DexCare, which originated from Providence’s digital innovation group, already serves 57 million patients across the United States. Major clients include Kaiser Permanente and Tampa General, relying on DexCare to manage complex scheduling protocols, insurance referrals, and capacity coordination.
AI agents handle routine scheduling tasks
Mila’s core function is to deploy AI agents that interact directly with patients. These agents can field inquiries about open appointment slots and verify whether a patient meets specific clinical or insurance requirements. The company claims its technology can be embedded into existing hospital systems within hours, allowing for rapid deployment without extensive custom engineering.
Shailu Verma, co-founder and CEO of Mila, emphasized that generic large language models are often too unpredictable for clinical settings. He argued that healthcare providers need auditable, configurable agents that can perform specific tasks where human staffing is insufficient. This approach allows health systems to maintain strict boundaries on what the AI can say and do.
DexCare scales infrastructure for regional systems
Matt Blosl, CEO of DexCare, noted that while AI solutions are ubiquitous, health systems often struggle with the operational burden of building and scaling them. He described the process of managing agent boundaries and pilot expansions as unsustainable for most organizations. By acquiring Mila, DexCare aims to provide a ready-made infrastructure that handles these complexities.
DexCare has raised $146 million in total funding, including a $75 million round in 2023. The company previously acquired Womp, an online commerce platform, in 2022. According to GeekWire, DexCare is ranked No. 43 on the GeekWire 200 index of top Pacific Northwest startups and employs approximately 133 people.
Smaller team joins larger platform
Mila Health, launched in January 2024, operates with a much smaller footprint of 25 employees. PitchBook reports that the startup participated in the Advanced Technology Development Center accelerator but did not exchange equity or receive funding through that program. It appears Mila has not raised venture capital, making this acquisition its primary exit strategy.
Verma brings experience from UnitedHealth Group and Amazon Web Services to the combined entity. His background in product management and strategy is intended to guide the integration of Mila’s AI agents into DexCare’s broader scheduling platform. The merger positions the combined company to compete more aggressively in the automated patient acquisition market.
