Priority Health Attack Australian Health to Resolve Gastrointestinal Diseases
The companies announced Wednesday that nonprofit health program Priority Health is working with Ayble Health to provide digestive health support to its members.
Priority Health, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has more than 1.3 million members. Starting June 1, priority health members with mysterious HMO or employer health plans will be able to provide virtual gastrointestinal (GI) care for various conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or hemorrhoids through Australian health.
With Australian Health, priority health members can access nursing teams including providers, nutritionists, psychologists, coaches and clinical pharmacists. They will also receive personalized nutrition programs to help them avoid triggering foods, as well as educational content for support for gastrointestinal health.
In addition, they receive behavioral health support such as guided audio conferences, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, and meditation and breathing exercises.
Priority Health chose Ayble Health as a partner, “because they have good expertise in enhancing and expanding the provider’s care team through AI-a-Sable Virtual Care,” said Alicia Coronas, vice president of product and marketing for Priority Health employer solutions, in an email. “Airpur enhanced our existing network with advanced nutritional tools and gastrointestinal psychology education and practice, and we were impressed by the results of their methodology, which has been shown to significantly reduce gastrointestinal symptoms in patients.”
Ayble Heath is addressing major markets. According to the American Gastroenterology Association, 40% of Americans stopped routine activities due to discomfort intestinal syndrome. Many people feel uncomfortable talking to doctors about it, and one in three say they will only discuss their gut symptoms if their physician first raised the gut symptoms.
Sam Jactel, CEO and founder of Ayble Health, said GI conditions are also the main driver of costs for employers and health plans.
“Digestive health is characterized by extremely high prevalence (25% of the commercial insurance population, twice the prevalence of diabetes), high utilization of nonclinical care (GI is the number one avoidable ED visit), large drug spending (especially steroids and biology), often associated with poorer phenomena,” Jactels said in an email. “For employers, GI is the second most common cause of short-term disability leave, with an impact of 108 days a year.”
Coronas responded to these cost challenges, noting that priorities have seen the cost and prevalence of digestive health issues increase year by year, one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits among its members. By working with Ayble, the insurer ultimately “is designed to prevent long-term health problems, encourage healthier lifestyles, and ensure members receive first-class care for their digestive well-being.”
Other companies focusing on gastrointestinal care include Oshi Health and Cylinder Health.
Photo: Mikdam, Getty Images
