The Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) https://www.mehi.masstech.org at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative recently awarded grants for the new Right Care 4 You grant program totaling $189,360.
The funding will go to two digital health companies to support pilot projects with Massachusetts employers to help reduce their healthcare costs.
One grant awarded for $100,000 will help conduct a randomized controlled trial of Fitbit’s Premium and Health Coaching Services with 600 UMass Memorial employees to help prevent and manage cardiometabolic diseases.
Fitbit Premium is a personalized resource in the Fitbit app that includes guided programs and advanced tools to help users reach their goals. The Fitbit Health Coaching includes in-app messaging, personalized guidance, and a structured plan from a certified health coach.
The Fitbit https://www.fitbit.com randomized controlled trial with UMass Memorial includes empowering participants to improve physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and stress management. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive standard healthcare benefits and services offered by UMass Memorial, or the same benefits and services plus a Fitbit Inspire™ tracker or Versa 3™ smartwatch. They also will be able to use the Fitbit Aria Air™ smart scale along with access to Fitbit Premium and Fitbit Health Coaching services for one year.
The other grant award for $89,360 went to Vincere Health https://www.vincere.health and Boston Medical Center (BMC) to conduct a pilot of Vincere’s smoking cessation platform with some of BMC employees.
The technology in the pilot will use a smartphone connected remote monitoring solution to deliver real time incentives to users in return for meeting smoking and vaping cessation objectives and engaging with educational tools.
Vincere’s project was launched in the fall of 2020 and the initial pilot period is projected to wrap up by April 2021. Vincere will follow up with pilot participants at six months and one year post intervention to check recidivism rates.