In a move to change the standard of care for psoriasis, Columbus-based AndHealth launched an observational study to create the world’s largest repository of real-world evidence. The goal is to demonstrate the potential to stop the progression of or even reverse psoriasis by addressing its underlying causes, often lifestyle and nutrition-related, alongside conventional treatments.
Titled “Project IMPACT,” the study is the first of its kind, inviting individuals being treated with specialty medications for psoriasis to take part in a journey to reverse their condition – and help countless others by doing so.
The study seeks to demonstrate conclusively that when patients can understand the root cause drivers of their condition and are supported in addressing them, they can improve a condition that many thought would only worsen.
The primary goal of Project IMPACT is to ultimately modify the way psoriasis is treated across the health care system. “We know that we need to consider the multifaceted nature of psoriasis and its causes and consider factors like genetics, lifestyle, nutrition and environmental influences. But that type of care is extremely difficult to provide in our current reimbursement model,” says Dr. Jill Weintraub, the double board-certified rheumatologist and author of “Strategies to Treat Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Everything You Wish Your Doctor Had Told You,” who oversees rheumatologic care for AndHealth.
The company believes that giving patients more comprehensive support with root cause-targeted interventions and personalized nutrition is well worth the added time and investment that often prevents providers from doing this routinely in their practices.
“This type of care has, until now, been accessible only to people with the financial means to pay out of pocket,” says Dr. Myles Spar, the national director of medical services for AndHealth. “Project IMPACT is deliberately designed to engage patients across the socio-economic continuum. More than one-third of our patients at this point are Medicaid participants.”
There is a lot for participants to like about this initiative. They have direct access to their physician, a health coach and support staff through an app on their phone, and they never have to leave home because the visits are conducted online by video using video-conferencing apps.
Removing the financial barriers that have historically restricted access to this type of specialized care is critical to the study. Therefore, anything in a participant’s treatment plan that is not covered by their health plan or Medicaid is provided through the program at no additional cost to participants. This includes nutritional supplements, several weeks of medically tailored meal delivery and even an Oura Ring (digital device) to track patients’ sleep, stress, activity and a number of other health measures.
According to Spar, “Some patients have been craving the opportunity to dive into lifestyle factors and other root causes driving their disease. Others prefer to start slowly by just getting more time and better access to their medical team. We welcome both types of patients.”
An invitation to participants
The company is currently enrolling adults aged 21 and older in Ohio and Indiana who are being treated with specialty medications or have been advised by a physician to start on a specialty medication for psoriasis.
Individuals interested in participating or seeking more information about Project IMPACT can visit www.andhealth.com/impact or email impact@andhealth.com to schedule an exploratory call with a patient enrollment specialist to learn more.
About AndHealth
AndHealth was founded in 2021 in Columbus, OH, with a vision of dramatically improving access and health outcomes for patients utilizing certain types of specialty care, including rheumatology and dermatology. The opportunity to expand the depth and breadth of autoimmune care to include lifestyle, nutrition and other root cause drivers was one of the company’s first priorities. The importance of this work was quickly recognized by a number of US health care stakeholders, including health systems, community health centers, employers and the investment arm of the American Medical Association. Since its inception, AndHealth has begun treating patients in Ohio and Indiana and has published its first peer-reviewed paper, “Implementing Personalized Dietary Interventions for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases.”
