Leading the way in solving MSK issues and reducing costs

We are facing an epidemic of musculoskeletal (MSK)-related problems and costs in our country, and Gravie is tackling this issue head-on with innovative solutions and tools for our members.

Recently, our Chief Strategy Officer, Ben Simmons, presented a Fierce Healthcare webinar alongside our partners at Sword Health. Together, they discussed our revolutionary, collaborative approach to reducing this widespread yet often silently endured problem.

MSK issues are one of the leading cost drivers for health plans and employers. In fact, more than 15% of high-cost claims exceeding $50,000 are MSK-related, amounting to a direct cost of $20 billion for employers. The only category with higher-cost claims than MSK is neoplasms and cancer. Studies have shown that this applies to businesses of all sizes.

The difference between MSK and cancer is that MSK pain affects a larger portion of the population – up to 50% of Americans – and can often be managed and improved with conservative care such as physical therapy. In our complex health system, it’s encouraging to find health problems that are fixable, and MSK is one of those categories.

So how do we address this issue? We are currently facing a shortage of physical therapists, while the demand for these services continues to rise. As a result, surgeries and opioids are more frequently prescribed solutions, even though physical therapy is often the best solution due to its safer intervention and lower cost.

The need to treat MSK patients more efficiently and improve value for both patients and employers drove Gravie to partner with Sword Thrive, a provider of clinical-grade digital physical therapy solutions – offered at no additional cost to members. Thrive combines personalized care from licensed physical therapists with innovative, sensor-based technology, offering treatment wherever and whenever is most convenient for members.

Not only do Thrive’s FDA-approved devices deliver physical therapy that can outperform traditional in-person care, but they also remove barriers traditionally faced by members. One significant barrier is cost. Since physical therapy often requires multiple sessions, copays can add up with a traditional health plan and make it inaccessible for many. Other barriers include the patient’s proximity to PT clinics, fitting appointments into work hours and navigating mobility issues. But Thrive offers a more convenient option that makes it easier to stick with treatment and live pain-free. And if members don’t have internet access, Thrive even provides mobile hotspots.

This type of offering has historically been rare for health plans catering to small and midsize businesses. Our partnership ensures that these businesses now have access to innovative programs like this, which many large employers have enjoyed for years.

We’re already seeing the results of this hybrid care model since we began offering it to members on January 1, 2023, including:

• Members that start therapy are averaging 1.6x more sessions vs. traditional PT
• Over 60% of sessions occur after hours – saving time during the workday
• High sustained engagement throughout sessions (70% complete 9+ sessions)
• 38% of members continue to engage with the PT via the app after completing treatment

In addition to the partnership with Sword Health, Gravie recently launched an MSK care navigation program. This program connects members suffering from MSK issues with nurses dedicated to helping members manage pain, increase mobility and improve bone and muscle health. For those who prefer traditional in-person physical therapy, we also in-network physical therapists at a clinic or doctor’s office (bye-bye, copays) on our Comfort® plan.

MSK issues are widespread and compounding. But the good news is most people can be freed from their pain with the right treatment plan, personalized to meet them where they’re at.

Want to learn more? Contact us today.