Over 8,700 Bronx residents partook in New York City-based EmblemHealth’s community diabetes wellness program in its first year, according to a Nov. 12 news release from the insurer.
The program offers screenings, nutrition workshops and individualized support, hosting 109 events over the year. EmblemHealth Chief Health Equity Officer Abdou Bah spoke with Becker’s about the program’s progress.
Mr. Bah said EmblemHealth leveraged digital channels, word of mouth and community partnerships to recruit participants. To further boost event participation, no ID cards were required.
In the first year, EmblemHealth started seeing positive health outcomes. Of the participating EmblemHealth members who measured results, 43% lowered their A1C blood sugar levels, and just under one-quarter reversed their diabetes, with an A1C level below 6.5.
Participants also demonstrated greater clinical engagement, with 13% completing more primary care appointments and 9% continuing their diabetes-related care.
EmblemHealth also screened 2,860 people for certain social determinants of health, such as housing insecurity and loneliness.
“Knowing the problems is obviously half the challenge, but a big component of our program was really making sure that we were connecting members to the right solution … to ensure that they were getting the services that they needed,” Mr. Bah said.
While the insurer has not finalized a savings analysis, an earlier diabetes management program through Capital Blue Cross saved employer group customers $20 million from 2021 through 2024. Program members lost more than 66,000 pounds in body weight over that time span and averaged a 46% reduction in prescription medications in their first year of participation.
In terms of next moves, Mr. Bah said “there’s more that we can and should do in the Bronx” regarding diabetes, but he also sees potential for scaling neighborhood models to encompass other conditions.
“We are now looking to expand and think about, ‘Where are the next population health opportunities?'” he said.
