Aetna recently announced a significant new partnership with Equip, a leading provider of virtual eating disorder treatment, to offer enhanced care options for its commercial members. Initially, the program will be available to Aetna members in six states — California, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington — with plans to expand to additional states next year. This collaboration aims to increase access to evidence-based, personalized care for individuals struggling with eating disorders, leveraging telehealth to reach more people in need.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of Equip’s successful $58 million Series B funding round, led by The Chernin Group. The fresh capital brings Equip’s total funding to $74.7 million, reflecting strong investor confidence in its innovative treatment model and growth potential. Owned by pharmacy giant CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), Aetna’s decision to partner with Equip is rooted in Equip’s proven clinical approach and commitment to improving outcomes for those with eating disorders.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Eating Disorder Care
Eating disorders remain some of the most complex and challenging behavioral health conditions to treat, with many patients facing barriers to accessing effective care. Traditional treatment options can be limited by geographic, financial, and logistical constraints. With rising rates of eating disorders across the U.S., there is an urgent need for scalable solutions that deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions directly to patients.
Cara McNulty, president of behavioral health and mental wellbeing for Aetna, highlighted this critical need in a recent statement: “The need for access to evidence-based eating disorder treatment has never been greater. It is essential that we provide our members with personalized treatments that also account for the well-being of the whole family.” This emphasis on family involvement is a cornerstone of Equip’s treatment philosophy and a key factor in its effectiveness.
Equip’s Unique Evidence-Based Approach
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Diego, Equip has rapidly grown to offer virtual eating disorder treatment services in over 40 states. It is currently in-network with 10 major commercial insurance plans and also partners with Medicaid providers like Partnership HealthPlan. This broad insurance acceptance helps lower financial barriers, enabling more patients to receive care.
Equip’s treatment is based on the Family-Based Treatment (FBT) model, recognized as one of the most effective approaches for eating disorders, especially among adolescents. The FBT model emphasizes empowering families to support their loved ones’ recovery, providing structured and personalized care.
Equip’s care teams consist of five dedicated professionals: therapists, physicians, peer and family mentors, and dietitians. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that patients receive comprehensive support addressing the psychological, medical, and nutritional aspects of their illness. According to Equip, patients who engage in their program experience a 71% reduction in eating disorder symptoms within just eight weeks, and approximately two-thirds report significant overall improvements.
Leadership Driving Innovation in Eating Disorder Care
Kristina Saffran, co-founder and CEO of Equip, expressed optimism about the partnership and the broader mission: “We started Equip with a vision to bring evidence-based care to every person in the United States who has an eating disorder. Our combination of lived and clinical expertise provides patients with the care they need, and our partnership with Aetna will allow us to reach even more people and make recovery possible.”
Saffran’s background in both clinical practice and lived experience adds credibility and authenticity to Equip’s mission. By combining traditional clinical expertise with peer support, Equip fosters a uniquely supportive environment that helps patients and families navigate the challenges of eating disorder recovery.
Expanding Access to Quality Care Through Virtual Treatment
The partnership between Aetna and Equip is part of a broader trend toward virtual eating disorder treatment, which has surged in demand since the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual care offers several advantages, including increased convenience, reduced stigma, and the ability to reach patients in underserved or rural areas where specialized eating disorder treatment is often unavailable.
By integrating Equip’s virtual treatment model into Aetna’s commercial insurance network, this initiative aims to remove many traditional barriers to care. Patients will benefit from tailored, evidence-based treatment plans delivered by experts, all accessible from the safety and privacy of their homes. This model also supports family involvement, which has been shown to improve treatment outcomes for eating disorders.
What This Means for Patients and Families
For individuals and families impacted by eating disorders, this partnership represents a hopeful new chapter. Access to specialized, effective treatment can be life-changing, and Equip’s approach addresses not only symptoms but also the broader emotional and familial context of the illness.
As Equip’s services expand to more states through Aetna’s network, more patients will have the opportunity to begin their recovery journey without the delays and obstacles often associated with traditional care pathways. This could translate into earlier intervention, better health outcomes, and a higher quality of life for those affected by virtual eating disorder treatment.
Looking Ahead: Growing the Reach of Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment
With plans to extend the program beyond the initial six states, Aetna and Equip are positioned to transform the landscape of eating disorder care in the U.S. Continued innovation, backed by strong clinical evidence and robust insurance partnerships, will be essential to meeting the growing need.
As awareness of eating disorders increases, so too does the imperative to provide accessible, affordable, and effective care. Virtual eating disorder treatment models like Equip’s are proving that high-quality, evidence-based care can be delivered in ways that fit patients’ lives — expanding reach, reducing stigma, and fostering sustainable recovery.
The Aetna-Equip partnership is a meaningful step toward that future, demonstrating how health insurers and specialized providers can collaborate to improve behavioral health outcomes nationwide. It offers renewed hope for those facing eating disorders and their families, signaling a brighter path forward through compassionate, personalized virtual eating disorder treatment.
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