Health New England Partners with Virta Health to Help Members Achieve Sustainable Weight Loss and Diabetes Reversal
Posted on October 16, 2024
SPRINGFIELD, MA – (October 15, 2024) – Health New England, the regional not-for-profit health plan serving western Massachusetts with commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans, today announced a partnership with Virta Health, the leader in diabetes reversal and sustainable weight loss. Through this partnership, Virta’s offerings will be available to eligible Health New England members with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or those seeking to lose weight.*
Virta offers a proven nutrition program and expert support through technology to help members achieve long-term weight loss, control blood sugar, and reduce or eliminate the need for medications. Through its digital platform, Virta coaches and providers deliver nutrition plans, behavioral change support, and continuous medical supervision. Recommendations are personalized to each member, and are flexible based on dietary preferences, budgetary needs, and lifestyle.
For Health New England’s diverse membership, this type of individualized, on-demand support is crucial to driving lasting health improvement.
Kate McIntosh, MD, Health New England’s Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, said, “Many of our members are looking to lose weight and gain control of their type 2 diabetes without having to rely on expensive medications or short-term fixes. Through this partnership, we are offering a pathway to better overall health using real, whole foods—no calorie counting required. Amid the popularity of GLP-1s for weight loss, Virta offers a sustainable, affordable nutrition-first alternative for our members.”
“Employer groups have been looking for sustainable, affordable alternative solutions to help their employees manage their type 2 diabetes and lose weight,” said Gary Tereso, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy Services at Health New England. “Virta’s personalized nutrition-first approach enables members to reduce or even eliminate medication. This approach not only reduces health care costs for employers, but by improving health outcomes, it results in a healthier and more productive workforce.”
In Virta’s clinical trial, participants with obesity and prediabetes saw on average 13% weight loss at one-year, alongside benefits such as improved cardiovascular markers, better sleep, and lower blood sugar. Virta’s approach can also help members maintain weight loss after coming off of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1). GLP-1s are a family of prescription drugs that reduce glycemia and body weight in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
“Health New England’s mission is to improve the health and lives of the people in their communities—we could not be more aligned. Virta delivers many of the same benefits as popular weight loss drugs, at a lower cost, and with results that last,” said Kevin Kumler, President at Virta Health. “We’re excited to empower Health New England’s members with the tools to sustain changes for a longer, healthier life through a personalized nutrition approach that actually works.”
Beyond rapid and sustained weight loss, Virta members with type 2 diabetes living in the Northeast have achieved significant improvements in diabetes markers. At one year, members in the region saw a 1.1% decrease in estimated A1c (a measure of estimated blood sugar) and eliminated nearly half of diabetes-specific medications.
Virta is now available to eligible Health New England members through its commercial (fully funded), Exchange, and Medicare Advantage plans.
*For Health New England Commercial members, eligibility conditions include type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or BMI > 27. For Health New England Medicare Advantage members, eligibility conditions include type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or BMI > 25.
About Health New England
Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Health New England is a not-for-profit health plan serving members in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A wholly owned subsidiary of Baystate Health, Health New England offers a range of health care plans in the commercial, Medicaid and Medicare markets. For more information, visit healthnewengland.org.
About Virta Health
Virta Health is the leader in diabetes reversal and sustainable weight loss. Through a combination of personalized nutrition, technology, and expert support, Virta empowers members to build longer, healthier lives—while reducing or eliminating the need for medications.
Virta partners with hundreds of the nation’s largest employers and payers, including AutoZone, US Foods, Humana, and several state and local government organizations, to improve the health of their members while reducing costs. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Virta’s mission is to reverse diabetes and obesity in one billion people with its nutrition-first approach. For more information, visit www.virtahealth.com.
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