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DiMe and Omada Health's Initiative to Optimize Virtual First Care Integration

In a significant move to enhance patient access to virtual-first care services, the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) has partnered with Omada Health as its title sponsor for the Post-Contracting Operational Readiness for Virtual-First Care project. This collaboration aims to streamline the operational pathways that ensure contracted virtual care providers are not just recognized on paper but are effectively integrated into patient care systems within their first three months of contracting.

The announcement was made on June 9, 2026, in Boston, highlighting the pressing need for operational readiness among virtual care providers as the healthcare landscape shifts increasingly toward digital solutions.

The Objective: Bridging the Operational Gap

Despite the increasing number of contracts secured by virtual-first care providers, the technologies and practices required to make these partnerships function smoothly in daily operations have lagged behind. This gap leaves patients struggling to access available care options, leading to frustration and a loss of potential benefits associated with these partnerships.

Jennifer Goldsack, CEO of DiMe, pointed out that historically, the healthcare sector has viewed contract signing as the culmination of a process, when in fact, it should be seen as just the beginning. “Patients cannot benefit from providers they can’t find or services that are not correctly reimbursed. We need a standardized operational playbook that ensures these providers are discoverable and accessible from day one,” Goldsack emphasized.

The Role of Omada Health

With over a decade of experience in virtual care, Omada Health steps in as a critical partner in this initiative. The company specializes in providing virtual cardiometabolic care and has successfully aided millions of members through innovative care models designed to help manage chronic conditions ongoingly.

Their President, Wei-Li Shao, noted that the effectiveness of virtual care is intrinsically linked to strong operational support: “Payers need evidence, not hype,” he stated, highlighting the necessity of robust operational practices alongside clinical models for achieving meaningful, scalable outcomes in chronic care management.

Developing Operational Best Practices

The collaborative effort aims to create a comprehensive toolkit that addresses operational readiness. Key components of this toolkit include:

• - Designing clear pathways from the signing of contracts to the filing of claims, detailing the teams and systems involved to prevent common breakdowns.
• - Establishing minimum data standards so that information shared by providers is universally understood by payers.
• - Implementing a 90-day readiness scorecard that clarifies responsibilities and sets benchmarks for data accuracy, member access, and claims processing.
• - Identifying and addressing frequent failure points based on empirical payer and provider experiences.

The initiative is expected to begin with an intensive three-month sprint, engaging commercial payers, virtual-first care providers, and policy advisors, and will culminate in resource rollout slated for Fall 2026.

Collaborating for a Common Goal

Organizations involved in the initiative, such as Blue Shield of California, reflect a growing recognition that integrating virtual-first care models is critical for modern healthcare. By developing shared tools and best practices, these partnerships aim not only to enhance access to care but also ensure that virtual first-care becomes a fundamental element rather than an afterthought in health plan design.

The DiMe initiative is also closely aligned with upcoming regulations like the No Surprises Act, focusing on improving provider directory accuracy. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the need for operational excellence becomes paramount to meet both the expectations of patients and the regulations of governing bodies.

In conclusion, the partnership between DiMe and Omada Health represents a crucial step toward creating a well-integrated ecosystem for virtual-first care. Ensuring that patients can access the care they need seamlessly will not only improve health outcomes but also enhance the overall effectiveness of healthcare delivery in a digitally-dominated future.