UnitedHealth Group Rolls Out Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance

UnitedHealth Group announced it is launching the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, a partnership with YMCA of the USA and Walgreens to help prevent and control diabetes, pre-diabetes and obesity.

According to a release, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance is anchored by two programs including the Diabetes Prevention Program, which is designed to help people at risk for diabetes prevent the disease through healthy eating, increased activity, and other lifestyle changes, and the Diabetes Control Program, which will help people with diabetes better control their condition through education and support from trained pharmacists. UnitedHealth Group said it will cover these services at no charge to plan participants enrolled in employer-provided health insurance plans.

The company said both programs have been tested through controlled trials or pilot projects with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), YMCA of the USA, Indiana University, clinical centers, employers and retail pharmacies. There is substantial evidence that supports early and aggressive intervention to help people avoid the health and financial toll of diabetes.

"We're privileged to bring together partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors to launch the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, which reinforces our commitment to stem the rising tide of diabetes and obesity that is already having devastating consequences for individuals, families and our country," said Stephen Hemsley, president and CEO of UnitedHealth Group. "We are leveraging our national health care resources, the YMCA's and Walgreens' presence in local communities, our combined wellness expertise and the experience of two innovative, proven pilot programs to help people make lifestyle changes to prevent or control diabetes."

UnitedHealth Group noted it is using its national presence and broad assets in technology, health data, evidence-based medical decision-making, disease management and wellness programs to enhance and expand the Diabetes Prevention Program and Diabetes Control Program.

"It is through innovative partnerships like this one that we can improve progress against an epidemic that threatens both the nation's health and its resources," said Ann Albright, director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation. "This proven intervention provides an outstanding opportunity for community-based, health care, and public health communities to substantively work together to prevent type 2 diabetes in people at risk."

"As part of our charitable heritage, YMCAs are committed to helping those in our communities live longer, stronger and healthier," said YMCA of the USA President and CEO Neil Nicoll. "UnitedHealth Group's vision represents a major paradigm shift for health care delivery in our country and YMCAs stand ready to be part of a new health care model that values prevention. We look forward to working with UnitedHealth Group's Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance to help the millions of Americans at highest risk of developing diabetes - a disease that often robs individuals of their good health and quality of life.

"Walgreens is proud to be selected by UnitedHealth Group, alongside YMCA of the USA, to be part of this new program and we look forward to collaborating with such strong and innovative partners," said Colin Watts, Walgreens Chief Innovation Officer. "For years, Walgreens has been committed to serving the needs of people with diabetes and believes the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance is the right approach for treating one of the most pervasive chronic disease states in the country.

"For the first time in the U.S., health plans and employers will offer real-time reimbursement to community-based health care providers and pay for services not historically covered," said Tom Beauregard, executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group. "The pilot data showed that paying for these services works - people get and stay healthier, leading to dramatically lower health care costs for employers and the health care system."