Key Takeaways
- Early physical therapy reduces LBP-related costs, saving patients and payers an average of $1,616 per year.
- Faster PT access lowers expenses for medication ($70/day) and imaging ($51/day).
- Delayed treatment leads to lost work, family time, and missed professional opportunities.
In our recent webinar, we talked about how earlier physical therapy can reduce costs for neck and low back pain in patients.
In the webinar, we discuss how the total LBP-related costs were the summed amounts of LBP-related medication and medical costs. All costs included both insurers’ payments and enrollees’ out-of-pocket cost sharing over the 1-year period after the index date.
Over a 12-month period, we found that patients save on average per day:
- $70 on medication
- $51 on imaging
The total of $1,600 LBP-related costs does not include:
- Opportunity costs for patients of lost work
- Family time
- PTO
- Professional development/advancement (ie.: promotions, commissions, bonuses etc)
Study of costs associated with the timing of physical therapy in 7k patients with a diagnosis of LBP
Faster access of patients to PT appointments, resulting in savings on average of $1,616 for the patient & payer.
The data above might seem difficult to put into context, but for payers these are critical numbers as every claim counts…literally.
The webinar covers:
- What Does Earlier Care Mean to Recovery?
- Can Earlier Access to Physical Therapy Reduce Costs for Neck and Low Back Pain?
- Can At Home Physical Therapy Increase Adherence to Plan of Care?
- Can Physical Therapy Decrease Unnecessary Imaging and Procedures?
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Ben Wobker
Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapist
Ben Wobker, PT, CSCS, is a lifelong Redmond resident who turned his passion for sports and rehabilitation into a career in physical therapy. He earned his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Montana and has worked in top clinics with professional athletes and local teams. He is also certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). Outside of work, Ben enjoys outdoor sports and volunteers with organizations like Hopelink to support his community.
Luna
Physical therapy, delivered.
Luna is the nation’s leading provider of in-home outpatient physical therapy, trusted by more than 85,000 patients and thousands of referring physicians across the country. With over 1.2 million visits completed and a 99.7% patient satisfaction rate, Luna delivers high-quality, personalized care directly to the patient's home. Recognized by Forbes and Fast Company for innovation in musculoskeletal care, Luna partners with dozens of healthcare organizations to make exceptional PT more accessible and convenient.
