Spanish-Language Diabetes Prevention Program Available to Medi-Cal Members Through Expanded Solera, Blue Mesa Health Relationship

Solera announced this week that the company has expanded its relationship with Blue Mesa Health to offer a Spanish-language Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Transformemos as a covered California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) member benefit.

The Hispanic and Latino population are attributed to 39.3% of California’s total populace, according to the United States Census Bureau. As the CDC found that Hispanic and Latino American adults are 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) over their lifetime compared to non-Hispanic whites (8%), the need for a culturally competent diabetes prevention program to assist in preventing or delaying the development of T2D is warranted for this at-risk population.

The Blue Mesa Health DPP, which includes the Transformemos digital therapeutic, has been recognized by the CDC for its ability to drive high engagement and assist in weight loss by 5%. Transformemos, which is currently available for both iPhone and Android devices, works as an evidence-based lifestyle change program that is designed to assist Hispanic and Latino Medi-Cal beneficiaries diagnosed with prediabetes in preventing or delaying the onset of T2D.

Curtis Duggan, BA, CEO of Blue Mesa Health, highlighted the importance of their expanded relationship with Solera as it will provide California’s at-risk Hispanic and Latino Medi-Cal beneficiaries with vital interventions. “As one of the largest U.S. states and 1 that is the home to a prominent Hispanic and Latino/Latina population, California is now in a position to transform state-wide health for all. Our Spanish-language, evidence-based digital therapeutic enables behavioral interventions, which is well suited to help consumers better commit to a program intended to transform their lifestyle, health, and overall wellness,” said Duggan.

Solera, the nation’s leading network of digital and community health partners, will assist in connecting Blue Mesa Health with patients, payers, and physicians to integrate their chronic disease prevention and management solutions. Solera’s technology works by consolidating highly fragmented health programs and services into a single marketplace that matches patients with the best fit of community or digital programs based on each individual’s needs and language preferences.

Brenda Schmidt, MS, MBA, CEO of Solera Health, emphasized the foundation of the company in “improving people’s lives by connecting them with a diverse range of tools and resources that help them get and stay healthy,” said Schmidt. Providing the Californian Hispanic/Latino population with a culturally competent DPP in their preferred language builds on the recommendation by the CDC for an expansive lifestyle change program.

“Solera and Blue Mesa Health are committed to engaging vulnerable populations that are disproportionately impacted by chronic health conditions. I am excited to broaden our relationship with Blue Mesa Health by now offering the Transformemos Spanish language program as a Medi-Cal covered benefit,” said Schmidt.