What does Accurx cost?

Accurx has become a prominent name in digital communication tools for primary care, helping healthcare professionals streamline patient communications with SMS messaging, video consultations, and online triage tools. However, its pricing model has evolved considerably since the company first entered the market. For primary care organizations, understanding the latest pricing structure is essential for making informed decisions, especially given the company’s expansion and significant financial backing from venture capital investors. Here’s a comprehensive look at what Accurx currently costs and how it compares with alternative solutions.

A Look Back: Accurx's Free Beginnings and the COVID Catalyst

Initially, Accurx launched its flagship Accurx Chain product as a free tool, which quickly became widely adopted by primary care providers. Its rapid spread was bolstered by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which healthcare systems prioritized digital communication tools to safely interact with patients and relaxed procurement rules accordingly. However, as Accurx expanded its range of features and solidified its market presence, it gradually implemented an expensive pricing model. This shift reflects a clear direction: as a venture-backed company, Accurx is expected to deliver substantial returns to investors, a factor that has led to consistent price increases over the past three years. Today, the cost for all modules across Accurx’s suite has risen to more than £1 per patient annually—a notable increase since the early days of the 'no charge' Accurx Chain.

Accurx’s Primary Care Pricing Structure

As of November 2024, Accurx’s pricing for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and primary care organizations includes individual module rates, population-based discounts, and bundled pricing options. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:

1. Population-Based Discounts

• Accurx uses a tiered pricing model based on patient list size. Larger patient populations benefit from lower per-patient rates, making Accurx more affordable per capita for large practices and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). Pricing bands are as follows:
  • 1-89,999 patients: Highest per-patient prices
  • 90,000-899,999 patients**: Mid-range pricing.
  • 900,000+ patients: Lowest per-patient prices.
• This cumulative model incentivizes larger contracts, especially for ICSs or ICBs that cover extensive patient populations.

2. Individual Module Pricing

Accurx offers a suite of communication tools for primary care, each available as a standalone module. However, pricing varies significantly across population bands:

Each module addresses a different aspect of patient-provider communication, from video consultations to appointment self-booking, and each is priced separately, giving providers flexibility but also contributing to a rising total cost.

3. Bundling Discounts

  To offer some relief from the à la carte pricing, Accurx provides two main bundling options with a 20% discount, which can make pricing slightly more manageable:

• Messaging Bundle: Includes SMS Plus, Batch Messaging, and Florey Plus.
• Accurx Plus Bundle: Encompasses Remote Consultations (including Patient Triage and Video), SMS Plus, Batch Messaging, and Florey Plus.

Bundle Pricing Examples:

• Messaging Bundle for practices with 1-89,999 patients: £0.318 per patient.
• Accurx Plus Bundle for practices with 1-89,999 patients: £0.606 per patient.
• For larger organizations (900,000+ patients), the cost of the Accurx Plus Bundle is reduced to £0.317 per patient.

While bundling provides some cost savings, organizations will still face high cumulative costs when adopting the full suite of Accurx products.

A Note: Watch Out For SMS Fees

Lastly, Accurx is infamous for driving up SMS consumption, with SMS budgets for ICBs now often outstripping software budgets and running into the millions of pounds. Whilst at an ICB level, Accurx will allow ICBs to plug-in their own SMS gateways, should a message fail to deliver, Accurx will then attempt to send the message through their own Gateway, at a marked up price. Similarly, if you are funding Accurx directly, you'll typically pay their marked up SMS fragment rate.

The Rising Costs of Accurx’s Pricing Model

With each passing year, Accurx’s pricing model has become progressively more aggressive and expensive. Currently, the full package costs exceed £1 per patient annually if an organization uses the full range of Accurx’s functionality. This reflects a strategic move to generate revenue from the NHS and primary care, in line with expectations from Accurx’s venture capital investors. For primary care providers, these incremental price increases mean it’s essential to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using Accurx across all modules, especially given the cumulative expenses for larger practices and ICSs.

Hero Health: A Cost-Effective Alternative to Accurx

For primary care providers seeking a more affordable alternative, Hero Health offers a comparable suite of features—including messaging, scheduling, and triage capabilities—at a lower price point. Hero Health’s competitive pricing structure allows healthcare providers to achieve similar functionality without the escalating costs associated with Accurx.

Accurx has become a powerful tool for primary care, but as its pricing has increased in response to investor pressures, it’s important for practices and ICSs to weigh these costs carefully. With a base cost now exceeding £1 per patient for full functionality, Accurx represents a substantial investment. For practices focused on maximizing their budget, exploring alternatives like Hero Health can provide similar benefits with less financial strain.

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