VA, Virta Health Partner to Improve Care for Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes

According to a press release from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), the agency has teamed up with Virta Health, a licensed medical provider in all 50 states, to explore a new program focused on improving the health of those with type 2 diabetes.  

The partnership, which began on March 22, 2019, will “give 400 veterans the opportunity to participate in the Virta Treatment, which can help individuals safely and sustainable achieve glycemic control while reducing use of medications.”  

Per the VA, the diabetes care given through this new program will be provided up to one year at no cost to VA and veteran participants.

Currently, 1.5 million veterans with type 2 diabetes receive medical care, education, counseling, weight loss programs, and blood glucose monitoring from the VA. As explained by the agency, this partnership “provides a small group of veterans access to Virta’s proprietary, individualized, low-carbohydrate nutrition protocols on a 24/7 continuous remote care platform from medical providers and health coaches, an approach currently not widely in use at VA.” 

“Partnering with community providers facilitates a more comprehensive approach to care,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement. “Many veterans have type 2 diabetes, and it is strongly linked to obesity, so we are excited to explore Virta Health’s approach to tackling this debilitating and costly condition.” —Julie Gould