To address members’ and family members' back and joint pain from home, Vori Health, a musculoskeletal care company, has joined with employee benefits payer Star Marketing and Administration, known as Trustmark Small Business Benefits, to offer physician-led orthopedic virtual care.

WHY IT MATTERS

By partnering with Trustmark, Vori Health will offer members of small business group plans physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescriptions, imaging and lab ordering, health coaching, nutritional guidance, community support, and more, the telehealth company said in an announcement on Thursday.

A team of board-certified specialty physicians, physical therapists, registered dietitians and health coaches stay with patients throughout their MSK care journeys – from medical diagnosis and clinical care to healthy lifestyle coaching – to deliver long-term results for chronic MSK conditions, Vori said.

The company also offers in-person orthopedic care.

"This relationship will provide access to virtual specialty MSK care for thousands of valued members and their families, streamlining non-operative care in what has traditionally been a fragmented experience for patients across the U.S," Ryan Schoenecker, Vori's chief commercial officer, said in a statement. 

In December, the company partnered with Contigo Health, a health benefits platform, to offer self-funded employers to extend the Charlotte, North Carolina-based payvider's orthopedic surgical Centers of Excellence program to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. 

Millions of employees are struggling with back and joint pain nationwide, according to Vori Health.

THE LARGER TREND

While virtual care has declined in some segments, like mental health – as evidenced by Teladoc withdrawing its 2024 forecast due to a $790 million impairment charge related to BetterHelp in the second quarter, according to Reuters last week – treating pain through digital platforms that offer personalized care plans, exercise regimens and guidance has been growing.

Telemedicine and digital therapeutics can improve orthopedic care and physical therapy, according to Bronwyn Spira, founder and CEO of Force Therapeutics.

She told Healthcare IT News in 2022 that lower-income and minority populations face multiple barriers to accessing healthcare and are less likely to pursue orthopedic care, "which can result in significant functional impairment."

"At least 60% of American adults are affected by a musculoskeletal disorder, and more than 75% of those 65 and older are living with at least one [MSK] condition, which ranges from tendonitis to arthritis, degenerative disc disease and chronic lower back pain," she said.

"Untreated musculoskeletal conditions also can result in sedentary behaviors that lead to or worsen co-morbidities such as diabetes, obesity and depression."

While most small business owners worry about the cost of health coverage, they offer health insurance to hire and retain the best workers. According to a recent virtual MSK report from the Peterson Health Technology Institute, virtual physical therapy could lower healthcare costs. 

The 2024 report updated on Monday said app-based exercise therapy and physical therapist-guided programs could replace in-person care, while remote therapeutic monitoring supplemented in-person orthopedic care by improving care plan adherence.

The researchers recommended that virtual MSK be integrated into medical benefits – not wellness programs. They also said contracts should rely on value-based payment arrangements and encouraged virtual offerings to partner with payers and providers to improve patient triage and build evidence for moderate and high-complexity MSK care.

ON THE RECORD

"Musculoskeletal conditions can significantly affect an individual's well-being," Tim Cremin, vice president of Trustmark Small Business Benefits, said in a statement. 

"Our collaboration is designed to ensure more individuals receive the medical attention they need at a reasonable cost."

Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.