Tackle high musculoskeletal spend

10/27/21

More than 1 in 2 adults — 124 million Americans over 18 — reported a musculoskeletal (MSK) medical condition in 2015ⁱ. That’s more than the next two most common health conditions combined: circulatory conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and hypertension, and respiratory conditions such as emphysema and chronic asthma. 

MSK disorders not only result in a significant human cost of lost wages, reduced quality of life, and potentially impaired mental health, but they remain one of the top financial costs to employers. Musculoskeletal disorders account for nearly 70 million physician office visits in the United States annually. 

In addition to increased absenteeism and lost productivity, MSK disorders outpace other conditions in medical spend, ranking as the number one cost driver,ⁱⁱ with an estimated $130 million in total health care encounters including outpatient, hospital and emergency room visits.ⁱⁱⁱ 

Introducing guided virtual physical therapy from Hinge Health, an end-to-end, digital musculoskeletal solution

Hinge Health utilizes wearable, sensor-based technology to provide one-on-one digital physical therapy from home, as a less costly and more accessible alternative to in-person therapy. In addition, Hinge Health offers health coaching and expert medical opinion resources for comprehensive support. 

This best-in-class program not only provides patients with state-of-the-art care, but is an effective tool in reversing current cost trends. A two-year, multi-employer study^iv compared claims for qualifying Hinge Health participants with a matched control group. 

Control group members without a digital intervention had more than 229 percent the treatment spend the next year, driven by surgery, injections and emergency room visits. In contrast, Hinge Health participant claims costs decreased across multiple categories, including 68.7 percent fewer invasive procedures. Participants also experienced a 69 percent pain reduction — on average, four times better than opioids. 

Hinge Health Digital MSK Clinic incorporates a holistic approach that looks at a member’s whole body across their entire MSK journey, eliminating visits to multiple providers with a specific focus. 

A complete clinical care team composed of doctors of physical therapy, board-certified health coaches, physicians, orthopedic surgeons and nurses provides a coordinated treatment plan and streamlined experience. Combined with advanced technology that includes a wearable device for instant pain relief, Hinge Health’s unique model removes the friction from MSK treatment. 

Available for the 2022 plan year 

Contact your Blue Cross representative to learn more about the guided virtual physical therapy from Hinge Health.