Regence, a health plan serving 3.4 million people in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington, is launching virtual eating disorder treatment for patients aged 6 to 24 through a partnership with Equip.
Equip's virtual care model provides patients with a five-person care team, including a peer and family mentor, a medical provider, a therapist and a dietitian. A 2022 study on this Family-Based Treatment method found that it was 80 percent effective at helping patients achieve their weight goals.
"For years, the eating disorder treatment landscape has been in desperate need of transformation," Equip co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer Erin Parks, PhD, said in a Feb. 27 Regence release. "30 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder, yet fewer than 20 percent will ever receive treatment — and even less receive treatment that works. Equip's mission is to close this gap, ensuring that affordable, evidence-based eating disorder care is accessible to anyone who needs it. Our partnership with Regence will help us make major strides toward that goal."