Virtual Lifestyle Management™ Goes Beyond Mobile Weight Loss Applications by Delivering Successful Results

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Health plans are reporting significant weight loss success with Virtual Lifestyle Management (VLM), the online version of the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). While a recent study by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School revealed that a majority of weight loss mobile applications are not effective and fail to help individuals change behaviors, lose weight or improve their health, health plans such as Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) are finding VLM is different.  VLM is a year-long weight management intervention that adheres to the DPP's proven methods to engage individuals and improve their physical activity and nutrition habits, resulting in lasting and medically significant weight loss.

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Kathy Ross, director of Clinical Quality for GEHA explained that, "VLM is an evidence-based model that has demonstrated very good results. We feel confident the online program is clinically solid.  The program is-tailored to overweight and obese adult members with, or at risk for, diabetes and other obesity-related problems. - VLM is engaging our members and those who have participated are losing weight."

Ross shared GEHA's success with VLM at the annual Care Continuum Alliance Forum this past week. She discussed how GEHA expanded its offering of VLM from hundreds of members per year to 5,000 in 2013. GEHA's decision to expand the program was based on members' weight loss success, their satisfaction with the program, and its ease of implementation. Ross also presented VLM's return on investment (ROI) results through reduction of medical claims for past participants.

With respect to ROI, VLM demonstrated savings to GEHA through reduction in healthcare utilization and expenditures.  Estimated savings directly to GEHA more than covered VLM's costs in the first year and generated over $1,000 in reduced GEHA expenditures over two years.  And the savings were even greater when considering member out of pocket and Medicare reimbursed expenses.  The more than 2.8 to 1 return that GEHA received on its VLM investment was important to the decision to expand the program, noted Ross.

Neal Kaufman, MD, MPH, founder and chief medical officer, DPS Health, noted that, "VLM is different.  It provides value over weight loss apps because it is an evidence-based program that engages participants over time, leveraging the proven protocol of the DPP. It can be delivered at a low-enough cost to effectively engage the moderate risk cohort of individuals. This means the program can help middle-aged participants that are obese and diagnosed with, or at risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, and other obesity-related illnesses before they reach the high-risk status."

Dr. Kaufman, an experienced clinician and public health advocate added, "Through VLM, we help the moderate risk population before they become high cost. By providing a turnkey solution to commercial health plans and at-risk provider organizations, we empower those in the moderate risk group to take charge of their health so they can live happier and healthier lives while positively impacting the cost of healthcare."

About DPS Health    
Founded in 2004, DPS Health enhances the capacity of organizations to improve the health of their members, employees and/or patients through research-proven, web and mobile self-management support interventions. For additional information, visit www.dpshealth.com.

About GEHA
As the second-largest national health plan for civilian federal employees and retirees, GEHA provides health and dental plans to more than one million individuals worldwide. GEHA was one of the first insurance carriers eligible to provide coverage to federal employees under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act (FEHB) of 1959. The FEHB Program contracts with several hundred health insurance plans to provide coverage for over eight million federal enrollees and dependents, including retirees.  For more information, visit www.geha.com.

Media Contact:
Brittny Quinn
KNB Communications
[email protected] 
203-504-8230 ext. 134

SOURCE DPS Health

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