Banner | Aetna Takes Aim at Type 2 Diabetes With Virtual Care Partnership

With the extremely high frequency of type 2 diabetes in Arizona, Virta Health’s partnership with Banner | Aetna can significantly improve the health of this population.

Banner | Aetna is a health insurance company from Arizona that launched in 2011 with the aim of providing healthcare consumers with affordable resources and high-quality care. The company leverages Banner Health’s network of physician, health centers, and hospitals, and Aetna’s advanced healthcare analytics.

Virta Health offers a digital health app for type 2 diabetes patients which leverages personalized nutrition and virtual care. Virta physicians and health coaches provide the nutrition recommendations and answer questions as they arise. Further, the clinicians remotely monitor patient vital signs to facilitate safety scaling down medications when appropriate.

 Following two years of treatment, patients can see up to an 81 percent decrease in average daily insulin dosage, withdrawal of two-thirds of medications, and a weight loss of 12 percent, according to data published by Virta Health in journals like Diabetes Therapy and Cardiovascular Diabetology.   

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes is the seventh most common cause of death in Arizona. Heart disease, which is also often linked to obesity, is ranked No.1.

 “Virta offers that—a clinically sound, evidence-based program that achieves glycemic control while at the same time eliminating the need for medications. It’s a gamechanger for us, our members and the broader community,” said Dr. Robert Groves, chief medical officer at Banner | Aetna, in the News Release.

Initially, the payer will offer Virta’s treatment to eligible members within its fully insured and Administrative Services Only groups.

As interest in digital therapeutics grows, Virta Health has engaged in various partnerships that strive to eliminate type 2 diabetes. West Virginia University Health System recently announced a partnership with the company to provide state employees with diabetes treatment.

Similarly, Virta Health has partnered with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, providing 400 veterans with its treatment that intends to reduce obesity and ultimately eliminate unnecessary medications.

Partnerships between payers and digital health companies are growing.

Last month, health insurance giant Cigna expanded its partnership with RecoveryOne, a virtual care company focused on musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. With the expansion, Cigna's Medicare Advantage members within the Tennessee market, which includes plans in North Mississippi, Virginia, and North Georgia, can now access RecoveryOne's virtual solution to help treat musculoskeletal issues.