Omada Health released research demonstrating that patients using its virtual physical therapy (PT) program, Omada for Joint & Muscle Health, experienced significantly lower healthcare utilization and reduced musculoskeletal (MSK)-related costs and encounters at both six and 12 months compared with those receiving in-person physical therapy, according to the company.
This peer-reviewed claims analysis is among the first to compare virtual PT and in-person PT while including the cost of the virtual program itself. The study, using de-identified claims data between July 2019 and May 2023, reportedly found median per-member-per-month savings of more than $100 during the first six months and median gross MSK savings per member exceeding $1,000 at both six and 12 months, corresponding to a 1.8× return on investment (ROI) at both intervals, the company said.
The company notes that MSK conditions affect over half of U.S. adults and cost more than $420 billion in 2018—the largest expense among chronic conditions, exceeding costs for diabetes or heart disease. It emphasized that virtual PT can help overcome access barriers like provider availability, geographic limitations, and coverage restrictions, which can delay treatment and increase downstream costs.
Omada for Joint & Muscle Health has earned URAC Telehealth accreditation and is delivered by licensed physical therapists.
