Aetna®, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), and Equip, LLC (“Equip”), today announced a new relationship to provide Aetna commercial members with in-network access to Equip’s evidence-based eating disorder treatment program. The program is available in California, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington, and the companies are working together to consider expansion to additional states in 2023.
Through this agreement, the companies are tackling the multifaced impacts of eating disorders, for members and their families and caregivers. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified eating disorders, with the number of individuals who were hospitalized for eating disorders doubling in 2020.
“The need for access to evidence-based eating disorder treatment has never been greater,” said Cara McNulty, DPA, President, Behavioral Health and Mental Wellbeing, Aetna. “It is essential that we provide our members with personalized treatments that also account for the well-being of the whole family.”
Jessica Conley, Vice President, Aetna Mental Wellbeing Network, added, “Our collaboration with Equip seeks to address the gap in effective treatment options for members with an eating disorder through a high-impact and innovative service option delivered in a convenient and increasingly desired modality.”
Equip is built on Family-Based Treatment (FBT) – the gold-standard for evidence-based eating disorders care. Equip’s virtual model provides a dedicated five-person care team for every patient – a peer mentor, a family mentor, a medical physician, a therapist and a dietitian – who all assist the family in structuring the home for pro-health behaviors.
“We started Equip with a vision to bring evidence-based care to every person in the United States who has an eating disorder,” said Kristina Saffran, co-founder and CEO of Equip. “Our combination of lived and clinical expertise provides patients with the care they need, and our partnership with Aetna will allow us to reach even more people and make recovery possible.”
In its collaboration with Aetna, Equip treats children, adolescents, and young adults ages 6-24 for a range of eating disorders.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that’s managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications, or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Learn more at www.cvshealth.com.
About Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 34 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna’s customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit www.aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world.
About Equip
Equip is the leading provider of virtual, evidence-based eating disorder treatment in the U.S. Founded in 2019, Equip is built upon a combination of clinical expertise and lived experience to transform eating disorder care and make it accessible to all patients and families.
Built on the Family-Based Treatment (FBT) model, Equip uses a five-person dedicated care team – including a therapist, dietitian, physician, and peer & family mentor – to support patients in their recovery journey. The company operates in most states and is partnered with nearly every major health insurance plan. For more information, visit equip.health.
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