Blue Shield of California's Wellvolution debuts new features for Type 2 diabetes
The new services include a digital health tool that enables members to engage in shared decision-making with their care team.
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Blue Shield of California is enhancing its Wellvolution program by adding two new services that provide personalized care and nutrition support for members living with or at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
Wellvolution is a digital lifestyle medicine and health platform that can be personalized to each member's individual health needs and preferences. The platform, including these expanded programs, is available to plan members at no additional cost.
The new services include a digital health tool that enables members to engage in shared decision-making with their care team, and a fresh-food delivery service for eligible members.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Treating and managing chronic conditions has long been a goal of insurers, since it saves them and the healthcare system money when it's done effectively.
Through the new tool, powered by WiserCare, members with Type 2 diabetes are provided with support to build a personalized treatment plan. With Care Compass, eligible members can share information – such as their target blood sugar, a plan for lifestyle treatments and their understanding of medications – with their physicians, family and friends to help them manage their care.
And then there's Betr Health, a program within Wellvolution. Betr Health is a diabetes treatment and reversal program that helps members control blood sugar without medications through nutrition science and remote care from physicians and behavioral experts.
Betr Health provides eligible, low-income members with diabetes up to six months of healthy meals to help them follow their diabetes-prescribed diets and reverse their chronic conditions.
Betr Health's digital program – designed for all members, but especially relevant for people with diabetes – helps members monitor weight, food intake and blood-sugar levels. The tool is backed by professional health coaches and an online support community.
In all, 81% of members in the diabetes care program use Betr Health and VirtaHealth.
THE LARGER TREND
Most adults in California have prediabetes or diabetes. Nearly half of California adults, including one out of every three young adults, have either prediabetes – a precursor to Type 2 diabetes – or undiagnosed diabetes, according to a study released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2020, diabetes in the U.S. was highest among Native Americans (14.7%), Hispanics (12.5%) and Blacks (11.7%), followed by Asians (9.2%) and non-Hispanics whites (7.5%).
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
