Background
Obesity is a growing global health concern, leading to numerous health complications, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. Regular weight loss methods usually don't work well because they don't focus on behavior, mindset, or medical aspects, and they're not personalized or intense enough to work long-term. Obesity is becoming more common, and there are expensive medicines that work well for managing it, like GLP-1s. These medications are increasing costs for members and insurance companies, so we need to find ways to control those costs for everyone. Therefore, Vida has created an integrated, digital program that combines behavior change and medicine to address obesity effectively.
Program Description
The Medical Weight Loss (MWL) Program is:
- Science-backed treatment for obesity
- Includes clinical supervision by physicians and medical nutrition therapy with registered dietitians
- Weight-related lab tests, a tailored treatment plan, and regular check-ins
- May include weight loss medicine at the start of the program or later on, depending on prior weight loss success and results during the program
- Goal is to lose a significant amount of weight safely and maintain that loss
- Fully supported by the Vida behavior change app and the care team
- Also targets improvement in weight-related conditions, such as high blood pressure
How is it different from the Weight Loss program?
- Anti-obesity medication prescribing as clinically appropriate
- Full medical assessments with Nurse Practitioner/Medical Doctor
- Labs, medical history
- Full collaboration from our providers
- Members will work with health coaches, RDs, and physicians/nurse practitioners
- Intensive Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Led by an RD.
- Individualized nutrition care plan with follow-ups and side effect management.
Launch Details
Date: 1/1/2024 and throughout Q1 2024
Pay Orgs launching with MWL
- Fortune Brands
- Hilton
- Northrop Grumman (Expansion)
- Boeing (Expansion)
- Good Food Holdings (Optimed)
- Capital Rx
The criteria for getting into the MWL program and getting access to AOMs differs for each organization. For a full breakdown of each use case, please review this KB article:
Anti Obesity Medication (AOM) Prescribing Use Cases
AOM Details
The type of AOM Vida prescribes is known as Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1). GLP-1s are well-known not only for their effectiveness in weight loss, but with diabetes management as well.
Common Brand Names: Trulicity, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus
GLP-1 Side Effects: Loss of appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
If a member has side effects while taking a medicine prescribed by their regular doctor, advise members to reach out to their doctor.
Vida does not address medical emergencies via telehealth. If a member is in a medical or mental health crisis and needs help right away, follow the crisis protocol.
If a member has side effects while taking a medicine prescribed by Vida, follow the escalation steps outlined in the prescribing: support requests article.
Types of providers for this program
- Health Coach - Primary Program Coach
- Registered Dietitians (RD) - For medical nutrition therapy
- Physicians/Nurse Practitioners (NP) - For Labs and AOM prescribing
Members will first enroll with an RD to begin the evaluation of whether they may be eligible for being prescribed GLP-1s through Vida. The member will meet with their RD, then NP for labs assessment, leading to a decision for AOM prescribing. Once evaluation is complete, their health coach will be added to their care team as well.
Eligibility / Inclusion Criteria*
- Obesity: BMI >/= 30 (non Asian) or >/= 25 (Asian)
-
Overweight + comorbidity: BMI >/= 27 (non Asian) with 1+ weight-related condition or >/= 23 (Asian) with 1+ weight-related condition:
- Hypertension
- High Cholesterol
- Prediabetes
If a member qualifies for MWL but they’re currently in WL or WH, etc; we’ll need to manually confirm if they’re eligible.
- Use this BMI Calculator to determine their BMI
- If BMI is categorized as “overweight”, confirm if they have at least 1 weight related condition.
- If a member is confirmed eligible for OST, submit a program switch request.
*Please note, some pay orgs may have specific enrollment criteria different from the above. Please check client specific articles for more information, including messaging to clients if they do not meet the criteria for MWL.
Exceptions for Members who were previously on a GLP-1
Members who were previously on a GLP-1 for weight loss (not for Diabetes) will be assessed by RD or VMP who will discuss if member met org criteria at time of initial prescription or has other factors determining need for med continuation. These members should be added to MWL via change request form.
- Have the member submit evidence of previous GLP1 prescription (screenshot from healthcare portal, prescription, etc), any evidence that their BMI did meet criteria in the past (33 or above) and a supporting letter from their physician. We can provide this for clinical review but no guarantee that an exception will be made. Members can share this in the app in Chat or email to qavida@vida.com.
Exclusion Criteria
- <18 years
- Unable to communicate verbally in English or Spanish
- Pregnant
- Current diagnosis or symptoms of anorexia or bulimia
- Chronic Kidney Disease Stage V w/ or w/o dialysis
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Cytotoxic chemotherapy/radiation in last 6 months
- End Stage Liver Disease
- Organ or bone marrow transplant in past 1 year
- Palliative/hospice/end of life care
- Bariatric surgery in the last 6 months
- Current mental health exclusions and meets mental health criteria for suspending, deactivating
- Symptoms/behaviors indicating danger to self and other safety concerns from Vida Provider
Program Goal
5-10% weight loss within the first year.
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