HabitNu, a health and wellness company dedicated to helping users build healthy life habits, received a $14 million award in a new agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company’s platform connects users with community-based providers of diabetes prevention programs, or DPP for short.
HabitNu’s initiative with the CDC serves to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and advance health equity in underserved communities. Under the five-year agreement, the company will launch a nationwide administrative network that connects referral organizations, DPP providers and payers to deliver these programs. The company will also partner with social determinants of health networks: groups that focus on conditions that influence health outcomes, like safe housing, transportation and neighborhoods.
With the $14 million award, HabitNu will fund capacity building and infrastructure development for organizations that grow DPP in their communities with a focus on priority populations. The initiative aims to recruit at least half of participants at risk for type 2 diabetes from these populations, particularly adults aged 18 and over, older adults aged 65 and over as well as people of color.
“HabitNu’s vision is to bring long-term financial sustainability to DPP delivery by deploying integrated networks across each state,” Dr. Sindhu Rajan, CEO of HabitNu, said in a statement. “The goal of this award is to promote broader payer coverage and improve DPP delivery by connecting DPP providers with referral organizations and payers to drive financial sustainability.”
Chicago-based HabitNu counts several of the country’s largest health systems among its customers. The platform also works with community-based organizations, health plans, pharmacies and state and county health agencies serving populations with high rates of diabetes.
