Priority health, a nonprofit health plan serving 1.3 million members, has recently announced a collaboration with virta Health to provide employers with enhanced support for weight management and diabetes care.

Virta Health, based in Denver, Colorado, specializes in digital health solutions, partnering with both payers and employers. The company offers personalized care plans, incorporating nutrition guidance and, when necessary, medication prescriptions, tailored to each patient’s medical background, individual objectives, and specific risk factors.

Through this new partnership,Priority Health’s employer clients can now access three distinct solutions from Virta Health,designed to meet varying needs and budgetary considerations:

• Sustainable Weight Loss: A program focused on achieving weight loss through comprehensive nutrition therapy.
• Sustainable Weight Loss With Responsible Prescribing: This option combines nutrition and lifestyle support with GLP-1 medications, prescribed and monitored by Virta clinicians.
• Diabetes Reversal: A solution that utilizes nutrition therapy to support members in achieving remission from type 2 diabetes.

All three solutions are available to Priority Health’s self-funded employer clients, while fully-funded clients have access to the Sustainable Weight Loss and Sustainable Weight Loss With Responsible Prescribing programs.

According to Alicia Coronas, vice president of employer solutions product and marketing at Priority Health, the selection of Virta Health as a partner was driven by their leadership in addressing chronic metabolic conditions. “as they are leaders in addressing chronic metabolic conditions, and their approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to the well-being and empowerment of our members,” said Alicia Coronas, vice president of employer solutions product and marketing at Priority Health, in an email.”Their personalized nutrition plans, behavioral support, and ongoing medication supervision offer a comprehensive way to tackle weight management and type 2 diabetes remission.”

The need for such support is underscored by recent data. The American Diabetes association reported that in 2021, 38.4 million Americans, representing 11.6% of the population, were diagnosed with diabetes. Moreover, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases indicates that nearly one in three adults are overweight, and two in five adults are affected by obesity.

GLP-1s are increasingly recognized as a valuable tool in addressing the rising rates of obesity and diabetes, although they can be costly.Virta Health Co-Founder and CEO Sami Inkinen previously told medcity news that the company manages GLP-1 costs by being an “affordable nutrition-first alternative and off-ramp, while our providers can also be responsible prescribers of these drugs to control irresponsible use given our 10+ years of experiance doing so via telemedicine.”

While Virta Health is a prominent player in the weight loss and diabetes support space, other companies such as Livongo, Vida Health, and Omada Health also offer similar services.However, a recent report by the Peterson Health Technology Institute highlighted Virta Health as the only company demonstrating promising results in diabetes management.

Priority Health’s ultimate goal in collaborating with Virta health is “to improve metabolic health in a way that supports long-term wellness for members and cost savings for employers,” Coronas said.

This partnership follows Priority Health’s recent announcement of another collaboration with Ayble Health to provide virtual gastrointestinal care.

“Their personalized nutrition plans, behavioral support, and ongoing medication supervision offer a comprehensive way to tackle weight management and type 2 diabetes remission.”