Managing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity is a growing challenge—for members, for providers, and for health plans. At Abarca, we believe the path to better outcomes lies in combining technology with thoughtful, personalized support. That belief is at the heart of Better Balance, one of the core programs within our Better Care solutions.
As part of Better Balance, we’ve integrated digital tools that help extend care beyond doctor’s visits—offering real-time support, behavior-based insights, and timely clinical action. A collaboration with Welldoc helped bring these capabilities into members’ daily lives. However, the strategy, intelligence, and impact behind Better Balance are driven by Abarca’s Digital health tools, which are playing a larger role in how care is delivered—especially between doctor’s visits or pharmacy fills.
Welldoc brings proven technology to that in-between space, offering AI-powered coaching and personalized feedback to help members manage their conditions day to day.
Why This Approach Works
Better Balance empowers members to stay actively involved in their care while giving our clinical teams timely insights to identify those who may need additional support. In doing so, it not only drives sustained engagement but also addresses one of today’s most pressing challenges: managing the rising cost and complexity of GLP-1 utilization for weight management. Welldoc’s tools are a key part of this integrated approach, enhancing our ability to deliver personalized, scalable care.
Better Balance tackles both clinical outcomes and drug trends through a flexible model that works with or without pharmacy coverage for GLP-1s. Specifically, the program helps clients:
- Reduce unnecessary demand for GLP-1s by delivering effective lifestyle interventions that may eliminate the need for pharmacotherapy in some cases
- Implement tighter utilization controls by requiring enrollment in Better Balance as a condition for GLP-1 prior authorization approval for weight loss indications
- Maximize ROI for approved GLP-1 users through improved adherence, persistence, and clinical monitoring—ensuring medications are used appropriately and effectively
This dual focus—on empowering members and supporting smarter benefit design—makes Better Balance a timely, high-impact solution for today’s health plans.
Inside the Better Balance Experience
Support That Adapts to Each Member
Members receive digital prompts and feedback tailored to their goals—whether they’re managing blood sugar, weight, or blood pressure.
A Connected View of Health
Better Balance can integrate with hundreds of devices—from glucose monitors to smart scales—giving members and clinicians a fuller picture of progress.
Smarter Clinical Interventions
The app helps flag members who may be at risk of complications or falling off track—triggering timely support from Abarca’s clinical team. These interventions can be delivered via text, phone call, or video, and are seamlessly integrated into the member’s app experience for continuity of care and ease of access. Support from Darwin, Abarca’s clinical intelligence engine, helps prioritize outreach and ensure that the right members receive the right intervention at the right time.
Proven Health Impact
When digital tools are combined with personalized engagement, the results speak for themselves. In peer-reviewed studies and real-world implementations, Better Balance helps to support measurable improvements across key clinical and behavioral indicators with persistent use of a digital tool like the Welldoc App:
These outcomes highlight the power of pairing technology with clinical intelligence—demonstrating that digital tools, when thoughtfully deployed, can effectively complement and enhance chronic care programs.
Part of a Smarter, Connected Clinical Platform
Better Balance is just one example of how Abarca is reimagining chronic condition support through technology, clinical insight, and member-centered design. It’s part of a broader clinical strategy that integrates AI-powered tools, behavioral insights, and proactive care coordination to deliver measurable outcomes, at scale. Whether addressing medication adherence, care access, or affordability barriers, our platform is built to adapt to member needs and evolve alongside our clients’ goals.
Total Care, Reimagined
At Abarca, we’re not just adding digital tools—we’re transforming how chronic care is delivered. With Better Balance and the full Better Care solutions, we’re building a future where clinical support is smarter, more connected, and more human.
Because managing a chronic condition shouldn’t mean doing it alone. With the right insight, outreach, and support—better really is possible.
About Abarca:
At Abarca, we believe in an Unstoppable Drive for a Better Way. Our commitment to making healthcare seamless and personalized for all drives us to innovate in AI, specialty pharmacy, and predictive analytics. By transforming challenges into opportunities, we deliver PBM like no one else: better patient outcomes and an overall revolutionary healthcare experience. Join us in shaping the future at the intersection of technology and care!
Sources:
1. Quinn, C.C. Shardell, M.D. Terrin, M.L. Barr, E.A. Ballew, S.H. Gruber-Baldini, A.L. Cluster-randomized trial of a mobile phone personalized behavioral intervention for blood glucose control. Diabetes Care. 2011 Sep;34(9):1934-42. Erratum in: Diabetes Care. 2013 Nov;36(11):3850.
2. IBM Watson Health. Estimating the economic value of a digital therapeutic in type 2 diabetes. Welldoc-sponsored report 2018. Published August 2018.
3. Welldoc Data on File. Subset of multiple Welldoc programs (n = 106 who paired with weight scales/data). 68% of 106 experienced an average of 6% weight loss over a duration of 6 months. Results may vary based on Welldoc App adherence.
4. Kumbara A, Iyer A, Shomali M. Blood pressure improvement in people using a digital health solution for comprehensive diabetes self-management. Poster presented at: 16th Annual Cardiometabolic Health Congress; October 14-17, 2021; National Harbor, MD.