What You Should Know:
– Marathon Health and Medbridge have announced the launch of a new virtual musculoskeletal (MSK) care program, which is integrated directly into Marathon’s advanced primary care and MoveWell$^{\text{TM}}$ MSK solutions.
– Powered by Medbridge’s Pathways platform, the new solution is designed to increase access to and enhance the experience of MSK care, aiming to improve outcomes, curb costs, and reduce care fragmentation.
Personalized, Whole-Person Care
MSK conditions are a top concern for organizations, with 71% of employers reporting them as one of their top three healthcare cost drivers. Yet, many virtual point solutions for MSK operate outside of primary care, which contributes to a disjointed experience and higher overall costs.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to personalized, whole-person care. The new offering includes digital self-guided and hybrid MSK programs integrated with Marathon’s in-person and virtual care. This model allows primary care providers to address the increasing number of MSK conditions in their population by delivering care in a way that meets patients where they are—in-person, virtually, or both.
Key features of the solution are designed to expand access while maintaining continuity of care:
- Direct Integration: The solution integrates directly with the employer’s existing primary care providers, enabling immediate patient enrollment with ongoing support from MSK experts.
- Right Level of Care: Triage and care planning tools match patients to the right level of care based on preferences and needs.
- Advanced Technology: The platform utilizes leading-edge motion capture technology to improve assessment and outcomes.
- Robust Reporting: It provides transparency into engagements and outcomes to share with employers.
A Streamlined and Cost-Effective Approach
By integrating the Pathways platform directly into the primary care experience, Marathon Health offers a solution that addresses employer frustration with siloed point solutions. This integrated approach is expected to:
- Reduce Episodic Care Costs: Lower episodic care by an estimated 50% to 63% compared to traditional and digital MSK point solutions, contributing to an overall reduction in total cost of care.
- Ensure Consistency: Keep patients in their care ecosystem to ensure consistency of care and reduce care coordination burden.
- Support Primary Care: Provide a unified experience that supports the 90% of care that can be delivered through primary care relationships.
Availability/Expansion Plans
The partnership has launched with a limited release across select Marathon Health locations. Based on early outcomes and demand, the organizations plan to expand access across Marathon’s over 630 health centers and 3 million covered members in 2026.
