Counsel Health Raises $25M to Launch a Physician-Supervised AI Front Door for Care
Counsel Health has launched an AI care platform that blends instant answers with physician oversight, backed by a $25 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and GV. The company positions itself as a safer, more scalable alternative to nurse lines, traditional telehealth, and consumer AI chatbots for payers and employers. Reported outcomes include a 96% issue resolution rate, 2-minute physician response times, and $381 in annual savings per engaged member.
The raise follows an $11 million Seed round in October 2024, also led by a16z, and supports clinical network expansion, AI investment, and enterprise partnerships. Counsel already serves over 100,000 members nationwide and is preparing to reach millions more.
Why this matters for healthcare leaders
Access is clogged and expensive. Nurse lines lean on rigid protocols that escalate unnecessarily. Telehealth is slow and transactional. Consumer chatbots invite safety and liability risks. Employers and plans need a front door that members trust, clinicians respect, and finance teams can defend.
As one investor put it, the system faces unsustainable costs, limited access, and physician shortages. The ask from leadership is clear: deliver fast, safe guidance that closes loops and reduces avoidable spend.
How the model works
Members start with chat or voice to ask any health question and get instant, context-aware guidance. When diagnosis, prescriptions, or referrals are required, Counsel's in-house physicians (licensed in all 50 states) step in and follow through until the concern is resolved.
The AI is augmented by clinical guidelines and patient medical records, and it's trained to escalate to physicians when appropriate. The result is speed without losing clinical judgment or accountability.
Outcomes and safety
Counsel reports a 96% issue resolution rate with physician response times of around two minutes. Estimated savings reach $381 per engaged member per year. One case cited: a member with abdominal pain and concerning labs was on a path to hospital admission for liver failure; Counsel triaged to the right setting and helped avoid a serious hospitalization.
Backers highlight the balance of AI speed with seasoned clinical oversight. As Krishna Yeshwant, MD, MBA (GV) noted, pairing best-in-class providers with AI can make trusted guidance available at scale.
What payers and employers can expect
- Lower avoidable utilization by resolving issues early and directing members to the appropriate care setting.
- Faster, more actionable member guidance than nurse lines or basic telehealth workflows.
- Physician oversight to reduce safety, liability, and governance concerns tied to unsupervised AI.
- Visibility into outcomes with clear definitions of resolution and escalation thresholds.
What provider groups can expect
- A triage layer that filters routine questions and routes clinically relevant cases with context.
- Two-minute physician response benchmarks that help maintain patient trust between visits.
- A model aligned with clinical guidelines and integrated escalation logic.
Funding and growth plan
The new capital will expand the physician network, strengthen the AI stack, and deepen partnerships with payers, employers, and provider groups. Current coverage exceeds 100,000 members across several partners, with plans to reach millions over the next year.
Key quotes
"The U.S. healthcare system is at a breaking point, defined by unsustainable costs, limited access, and physician shortages… Counsel is reimagining care delivery in an AI-native world: scalable, evidence-based, and accessible." - Julie Yoo, General Partner, a16z
"With an AI-enabled approach that combines best-in-class, deeply experienced providers, Counsel is redefining care delivery by making trusted, physician-supervised guidance available to millions." - Krishna Yeshwant, MD, MBA, General Partner, GV
"By combining AI speed with physician judgment, Counsel delivers trusted answers members act on-and real cost savings for plans." - Muthu Alagappan, MD, CEO, Counsel Health
Where to learn more
Explore the service or request access at counselhealth.com. For context on the physician workforce outlook, see projections from the AAMC physician shortage report.
Disclosure
Medical concern resolution and cost savings estimates are based on an internal 3-month analysis validated by physician review. Resolutions are defined as cases in which physicians did not recommend an urgent care or emergency department visit. Annualized projections provide directional insight into potential savings at scale.
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