Henry Ford Health virtual care program improves outcomes and lowers costs for Medicare Advantage members with back and joint pain

DETROIT, Mich. — New research shows that a virtual musculoskeletal (MSK) care program developed by Henry Ford Health helps Medicare Advantage members improve their health while significantly reducing healthcare costs.

The program, offered through Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford Health, connects members experiencing back, neck, hip, knee and shoulder pain with a multidisciplinary virtual care team through Protera Health, a physician-led care model focused on nonsurgical treatment.

Two recently published studies found the program improved pain, physical function and mental health while reducing healthcare spending by more than 50%.

"I see many MSK patients who are not candidates for surgery but still need timely, effective care," said Dr. Eric Makhni, chief executive officer of Protera Health, an orthopedic surgeon at Henry Ford Health and co-author of the recent studies. "These findings show that when patients have access to coordinated care earlier, they experience meaningful improvements in pain, function and overall well-being while avoiding unnecessary procedures and costs."

Participants in the MSK care program receive personalized care plans that include virtual visits with physicians, physical therapists and health coaches. The program also provides guided exercise therapy, educational content, symptom monitoring, lifestyle support and care coordination to in-person services when needed. Another key benefit is rapid access, with specialist evaluation available within 24–48 hours. Early assessment allows patients to be triaged quickly to the right care plan, whether that means non-surgical treatment or referral to a surgeon for intervention.

A study published in NEJM Catalyst evaluated Health Alliance Plan Medicare Advantage members enrolled in the program and compared them with similar members receiving traditional musculoskeletal care.

Researchers found:

• Musculoskeletal-related costs decreased from $347 to $149 per member per month due to the Protera Health program.
• The program generated average annual savings of $8,652 per member compared with traditional musculoskeletal care, net of program fees.
• Participants reported a 27% reduction in pain.
• 85% of participants achieved meaningful improvement in physical function or pain interference.
• Member satisfaction averaged 9.2 out of 10.

"When care is connected, coordinated and centered on the patient, costs come down and outcomes improve," said Dr. Charles Bloom, chief medical officer for Health Alliance Plan and a study co-author. "By bringing physicians, physical therapists and support teams together virtually, we can reduce unnecessary services and help patients get better at a lower cost."

As a non-profit health plan, Health Alliance Plan invests cost savings from programs like this one back into its member benefits and the communities it serves.

A second study, published in Frontiers in Digital Health, examined outcomes among 308 Medicare Advantage members who participated in the 12-week virtual MSK program.

Researchers found:

• Clinically meaningful improvements in physical pain and mental health, based on validated National Institutes of Health outcome measures.
• Depression symptoms decreased by 36%.
• Anxiety symptoms decreased by 25%.
• Nearly 94% of participants experienced meaningful improvement in at least one health outcome.

Together, the studies demonstrate the potential for physician-led virtual care programs to improve outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal conditions while reducing healthcare spending, particularly when integrated into health plan delivery programs.

"This is a strong example of how Henry Ford Health advances high-value care through its integrated care delivery model," said Dr. Peter Watson, chief clinical success officer for Populance, a Henry Ford Health subsidiary that specializes in care management and population health. Watson is also a co-author of both studies. "This model brings physicians, physical therapy, and care teams together to provide meaningful relief from musculoskeletal conditions through a coordinated episode of care. Our data show that engaging patients early in a multidisciplinary, physician-led approach improves outcomes, enhances the patient experience, and reduces unnecessary cost.”

About Henry Ford Health

Serving communities across Michigan and beyond, Henry Ford Health is a premier healthcare services company dedicated to helping people live their best lives. Fifty-thousand team members provide exceptional care and service at more than 550 sites across Michigan – surrounding patients, members and customers with everything they need – from primary, preventive and urgent care, to the most complex and specialty care; health insurance coverage, retail needs including pharmacy and eye care; and a full suite of home health and virtual care services.
  
Henry Ford Health is also a leading academic institution, committed to advancing tomorrow’s healthcare through clinical innovation, groundbreaking clinical trials and translational research, and training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, for more than a century, Henry Ford Health has also remained proudly committed to serving our most vulnerable communities, advancing community health programming, fighting health disparities and championing health equity, and providing more than $780 million annually in uncompensated care and coverage.  

About Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford Health 

Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford Health is designed to transform what health insurance delivers—not just inside one network, but wherever you get care across Michigan. We handle complexity so you never carry it alone. And while rooted in Henry Ford Health’s comprehensive high-value care model, we partner with a broad network of doctors, hospitals, employers, and community organizations to advance the health, care and wellbeing of over half a million members across Michigan and counting. Together, we coordinate, connect, and advocate—connecting members directly to the high-quality care and coverage they need.

About Populance  

Dedicated to advancing population health while lowering the total cost of care, Populance supports doctors, hospitals and health plans to make sure patients get the right care at the right place and the right time. Populance provides care management to more than 500,000 lives – patients in value-based plans who are at high risk for one or more chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure and COPD. The company’s services are designed to reduce hospitalizations, readmissions and ER visits while enhancing and maximizing the patient’s time at home. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Populance is a population health services subsidiary of Henry Ford Health, one of the leading health systems in the U.S. Learn more at www.populance.org. 

About Protera Health

Protera Health helps health plans, employers, and value-based organizations reduce musculoskeletal (MSK) care costs through a physician-led, multidisciplinary digital solution. The program stands out for its robust clinical model, individualized treatment driven by Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), and in-network delivery (no PMPM or administrative fees). For integrated delivery networks and health systems, Protera Health leverages existing clinical services for in-person treatment, when appropriate. To learn more, visit proterahealth.com.