Over the last five years, Blue Shield of California's members have collectively lost 272,880 pounds through the payer's digital weight management programs.

Offered through a platform called Wellvolution, members have shed weight through lifestyle coaching, dietary intervention, exercise and physical activity, stress reduction and improved sleep, according to Blue Shield's senior director of lifestyle medicine, Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi.

"We are looking into adding an obesity center of excellence next year specifically for people who are either thinking about GLP-1s, already taking them, or are trying to get off of them," she told Becker's. "This would offer a decision partner, health coaching and tools to manage any side effects."

First launched in 2019 alongside Solera Health, Blue Shield's Wellvolution isn't just for weight loss. The platform offers 19 digital health programs to address and prevent a variety of needs, including diabetes, mental health, and tobacco cessation.

Members on the platform range from 18 to 97 years old, and more than 355,000 Blue Shield of California members across insurance markets have accessed the platform, which is available to all adult members.

"All the payment models that we have set up with the vendors on Wellvolution are milestone-based, such as reaching a certain enrollment, engagement or clinical outcome," Ms. Kalousek Ebrahimi said. "We're really committed to our value-based payment models. In the last couple of years, more and more solutions are willing to put their money where their mouth is."

In order to boost engagement with members, she noted regular and targeted marketing of the program to members. Wellvolution will also continue to grow and evolve alongside members' healthcare needs.

Since its launch five years ago, 82% of members reported a "worthwhile experience" with Wellvolution. Through the programs offered, 74% of members with moderate to severe depression saw their symptoms improve, and 49% eliminated diabetes-related medications.

"What we're trying to do here is keep members from getting sicker," Ms. Kalousek Ebrahimi said. "Through the analysis we've done, we are at the very least cost-neutral on these programs, which is a good place to be for prevention."

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Source: https://www.beckerspayer.com/virtual-care/how-blue-shield-of-california-helped-members-lose-272k-pounds.html