UnitedHealth Group announced plans this morning to distribute a device-controlled diabetes management model to 230,000 employer-sponsored members with type 2 diabetes at no additional cost.
Called Level2 by UnitedHealthcare, the pilot program provides members with a Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that connects to their smartphone, a Fitbit activity tracker, personalized training, and specialized virtual consultations. The last two services can be delivered through voice, text or video chat, and aim to develop care plans and help with medication management.
Level2 will also encourage members who sign up to continue healthy behaviors with rewards like gift cards or cash. According to UnitedHealth, the stipulations for this will vary between states and plans, but could include tiered goals, using CGM, meeting with a virtual coach, reporting behaviors in the Level2 app, or simply signing up.
Members in 27 states and Washington DC are now eligible for the program, and will be available to “select employers with self-financing plans” later in 2020. The payer also noted that the Level2 model could see deployment among members with other chronic diseases. conditions on the road.
What is the impact?
Level2’s technology-assisted approach to chronic care was tested in a pilot study of more than 790 UnitedHealthcare members. According to the company, “certain” participants recorded a clinical A1C reduction in 90 days, and those with an initial A1C greater than 8% achieved reductions greater than 1% on average.
The company’s announcement also highlighted the Level2 program’s ability to detect sudden changes in blood sugar that could indicate a COVID-19 infection, and noted worsened COVID-19 results among patients with type 2 diabetes with high blood sugar. uncontrolled blood.
“With diabetes rates on the rise and people with the condition at increased risk for complications if they get COVID-19, UnitedHealth Group’s Level2 expansion is using technology to help more Americans stabilize their blood sugar and, to some even achieve diabetes remission, “Dr. Amy Meister, CEO of Level2, said MobiHealthNews in an email statement. “Through Level2, the combination of wearable technology, training, and personalized recommendations is making a significant difference for enrolled members, helping participants gain real-time information to drive long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes and achieve better well-being. ”
THE GREATEST TREND
Several providers of diabetes technology have highlighted the role that GCMs and accompanying support programs can play in managing the condition, both in terms of outcomes and costs. But the new UnitedHealth Group model also recalls the various wellness programs employed by the payer and others, which similarly use devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches to track healthy behaviors and provide monetary incentives.
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