U.K.-based Vitality, which offers tools to promote positive behavioral change in patients, announced its acquisition of U.S.-based coaching platform WellSpark. 

WellSpark was formed out of EmblemHealth, one of the largest nonprofit health insurers in America, and provides employers with a coaching platform that leverages science, technology and human connection.  

Vitality, also known as Vitality Group, offers health plans and employers patient engagement tools to drive short-term and long-term health outcomes through behavioral change. 

The company, founded in 2005 and born out of one of the largest private health plans in South Africa, utilizes data, science and technology. It is active in over 41 markets globally. 

It offers wellbeing programs, GLP-1 management, care coordination, condition management, medication adherence, prevention programs and offerings to help bolster STAR ratings. 

As part of the acquisition, Vitality will add WellSpark's coaching platform to its offerings for its clients, employers and members. It will also partner with EmblemHealth to offer its tools to the health insurers' members. 

"Our acquisition of WellSpark is a fantastic opportunity to introduce an innovative coaching solution that meets our clients' diverse needs," Maia Surmava, CEO of Vitality U.S., said in a statement. 

“We’re excited about how this acquisition opens up new opportunities to collaborate with EmblemHealth, offering their members our full range of health and well-being solutions.”

THE LARGER TREND

In June of last year, Vitality filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Montana, stating hackers accessed patients' sensitive information, including their names, dates of birth and health information. 

Upon investigation, the company found that its MOVEit file transfer software contained a zero-day vulnerability, meaning the company found a vulnerability in its software or hardware unknown to them and not yet patched or a fix is unavailable. 

The company notified affected individuals and shut down access to the affected server. 

Later that year, Vitality announced a partnership with global behavioral and mental health platform ReThinkCare to allow employers to add caregiver support tools for their employees who may be parents of children who are neurodiverse.